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    Home » Pies and Tarts » Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    July 15, 2022 by Liz @ Tasty Treats & Eats 1 Comment

    125 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Apple Pie Filling

    Homemade Apple Pie Filling is the best fall dessert! Make apple pie filling from scratch for your next homemade pie! Delicious and easy.

    whole apples with a jar of apple pie filling

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy about affiliate links.

    This Homemade Apple Pie Filling is so delicious and easy to make. Obviously it's indended to be used in pie, but you can use it for other recipes too. Sub the apples for peaches in this Peach Cobbler Recipe or substitute them in for the berries in these Blueberry Pie Bars Recipe!

    I love to make a big batch of it and freeze it for my next few uses. It is a wonderful ingredient to always have on hand if you love to bake!

    whole apples with a jar of apple pie filling

    Apple Pie Filling from Scratch:

    This tasty apple pie filling is perfect every time! Our homemade pie filling is generously flavored and much cheaper than store-bought filling.

    Making your own apple pie filling ensures the ingredients are fresh, no added unnecessary ingredients and you can customize your recipe as you see fit.

    why we love homemade apple pie filling

    • Delicious: Some of the best recipes are simple and still have a ton of flavor. Even though this recipe is made with only a few ingredients it’s loaded with flavor.
    • Quick: Don't be intimidated, this recipe comes together so quickly!
    • Total Comfort Food: When you need something comforting, this is the ultimate recipe!

    Apple Pie Filling Ingredients

    To make homemade apple pie filling you'll need:

    • Apples
    • white sugar
    • Water
    • cornstarch
    • butter
    • Lemon juice
    • vanilla extract
    • ground cinnamon
    • sea salt
    apple pie filling ingredients

    What kind of apples should you use for apple pie filling?

    While choosing the perfect type of apple for pie filling may seem daunting, you should choose your favorite!

    While some are better suited than others, here is a list of a few of the best apples for apple pie filling.

    • Granny Smith Apples
    • Honeycrisp
    • Golden Delicious
    • Jonathan
    • Braeburn

    The Best Way to Peel and Slice Apples for Pie Filling

    First, wash and dry your apples.

    With a sharp knife slice ¼ inch off the top and bottom of the apple

    Next, using a vegetable peeler, peel the apples.

    Cut the apple into 4 pieces to remove the core

    Lastly, cut the apple into thin slices. Use any of these options.

    • Mandolin - Be careful and use the hand guard. This will yield the thinnest slices.
    • Apple cutter/corer - Cut into wedges, then cut the wedges into thinner slices.
    • Knife - A sharp knife will make quick work on slicing apples as well.

    How to Make Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    Here's how to make homemade apple pie filling

    1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. 
    2. Toss the chopped apples with the lemon juice. 
    3. Add the rest of the ingredients except the apples to the saucepan. Bring to a boil. 
    4. Add the apples and simmer until softened and thickened, about 20 minutes. 
    apple slices in a pan with spices
    cooking apple slices in a pan
    sliced apples in syrup in a pan
    sliced apples in syrup in a pan
    fully cooked apple pie filling in a pan

    Storing Pre-Cooked Apple Pie Filling

    Storing: Store cooked and cooled apple pie filling in an airtight container, Ziploc bag, or mason jar for 3-4 days.

    Can you freeze apple pie filling?:

    If you'd like to freeze the apple pie filling, whether you've made enough for one pie or two be sure to portion them out first.

    Before freezing, allow the pie filling mixture to cool completely.

    Store in a plastic freezer bag for 3-4 months.

    Can you can apple pie filling?

    Yes! If you have an abundance of apples you've picked with your family. Absolutely make loads of apple pie filling and can it.

    While preparing the apple pie filling for canning may take a bit longer than you'd like to spend, it will cut down the time for making an apple pie in the future.

    Make sure to follow an apple pie filling recipe that is meant for canning.

    sliced apples in syrup in a pan

    Substitutions for this Homemade Pie Filling Recipe:

    Unsalted Butter: Butter is essential to this recipe. We haven't tried it with dairy free butter but it might work!

    White Sugar: We don't recommend substituting white sugar unless you have to, but White sugar can be used interchangeably with brown sugar. You can add 1 teaspoon of molasses to white sugar to make brown sugar. Check out this post on Sugar Substitutes for Baking for other ideas.

    Vanilla Extract: Helps to add flavor, we don't recommend substituting.

    Apples: Star of the show, we don't recommend substituting apples.

    Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the filling, so it isn't liquidy.

    Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is essential in preventing oxidation of the apples, vinegar can do this as well as it is also tart and acidic.

    Ground Cinnamon: Apple pie spice would be a tasty substitute or a combination of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice.

    Sea Salt: Helps to add flavor, we don't recommend substituting.

    Ways to Use Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    • Filled doughnuts: Feeling ambitious, fill doughnuts with a delicious apple pie filling.
    • Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Bake: If apple pie and cinnamon rolls had a baby, this would be it. Delish!
    • Simple Pastry: Place apple pie filling in the center of a puff pastry square and fold into a triangle and bake.

    Apple Pie Filling with Cornstarch FAQ

    How do you make a pie filling?

    Slice your fruit and toss them in lemon juice. Add fruit, sugar, water, and thickener to a pan. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat and add your spices and extracts. Allow to cool. Then either use or store your pie filling.

    Do you cook apples before putting them in a pie?

    The most common method is to pre-cook the apples. This ensures that the filling does not reduce in size during cooking and you end up having filling from bottom to top of the crust. Not pre-cooking the filling yields a slightly different pie. It is very important to vent the crust and really fill it up with apples to ensure that the pie is nice and full. 

    Why do you add lemon juice to apple pie filling?

    Adding lemon juice doesn't just brighten up the flavors, but it actually helps prevent the apples from turning brown. When apples sit out in the air they start to oxidate and using lemon juice or vinegar to coat them will protect them from the air by creating a barrier between the fruit and the air.

    Why did my apple pie turn out watery?

    When baking your pie and it appears that its juices are bubbling out, that is a good sign that the filling is hot enough to boil. If you've used a thickener in your filling, boiling will activate the thickener. Be sure to leave the pie to cool for a couple of hours, this will allow the juices to settle and thicken further.

    How do you thicken apples for pie filling?

    There are a lot of great ways to thicken up a pie filling. Flour and cornstarch are often the most common options for thickening agents where pie filling is concerned. You can also use xanthan gum or simply let the filling simmer, uncovered, for a longer period of time until the correct amount of liquid has evaporated from the mixture. 

    More Pie Filling Recipes You’ll Love

    • No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
    • Cranberry Pie Filling
    • Apple Pie Filling
    • Blueberry Pie Filling
    • Homemade Peach Pie Filling
    • Mini Cherry Pies
    • Homemade Pie Crust
    • Easy Custard Pie Recipe
    • Blueberry Bars
    whole apples with a jar of apple pie filling

    Homemade Apple Pie Filling

    Homemade Apple Pie Filling is the best fall dessert! Make apple pie filling from scratch for your next homemade pie! Delicious and easy.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: apple pie filling, apple pie filling recipe, canning apple pie filling, easy apple pie filling, homemade apple pie filling
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 8 ½ cup servings of filling (4 cups filling total)
    Calories: 164kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups peeled + sliced apples
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 2 cups water
    • ¼ cup cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. 
    • Toss the chopped apples with the lemon juice. 
    • Add the rest of the ingredients except the apples to the saucepan. Bring to a boil. 
    • Add the apples and simmer until softened and thickened, about 20 minutes. 

    Notes

  • Storage - Store in the fridge, for up to 1 week, in a sealed container. This apple pie filling can be stored in the freezer, in an airtight container, for up to 2 months. 
  • Reheating -  Reheat using the microwave or over the stove. You can also let it sit out and thaw and then add it straight to your dessert or recipe before cooking for the baking process to finish warming it up.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    « Easy Peanut Butter Pie (No Bake Recipe)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alexis

      August 01, 2022 at 2:59 am

      5 stars
      Awesome

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Liz! On Tasty Treats & Eats you'll find simple, delicious desserts that you can enjoy in no time!

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