This homemade apple pie filling is warm, cozy, and bursting with cinnamon-spiced apples. It’s quick to make on the stovetop and perfect for pies, crisps, or spooning over ice cream!
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Sweet-tart apples and warming spices meld in a buttery, caramelized glaze. So cozy and comforting!
- Difficulty: With this easy stovetop recipe, any baker can make the most delicious pie filling right at home.
- Recommended Tools: An apple slicer is indispensable to easily core and cut the apples after peeling.
- Serving Suggestions: Use this delicious filling for all your apple desserts, from crisps and cobblers to fritters and pastry.
Essential Apple Filling Ingredients
- Apples: Granny Smith is the gold standard for baking. They’re crisp and tart, even slightly sour, making a pleasant pairing with sugar and spice. Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Cortland are also suitable for baking.
- Spices: Cinnamon & nutmeg are all you need for that scrumptious apple pie filling flavor and aroma. Add some pumpkin pie spice for an extra boost of Fall flavor.
- Butter: Butter adds a creamy & savory flavor that makes the filling taste almost like caramel. Go ahead and use salted butter, because a little salt always brings out more of the sweetness in baked goods.
Flavorful Twists
- Raisins, currants, or other fruits, such as rhubarb, cranberries, or pears, can be added to round out the fruit filling.
- Feel free to make a signature spice mix by adding ginger, allspice, or even a pinch of cloves.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
- Melt butter with spices (full recipe below) and stir in prepared apples, sugar, & water.
- Cook, then add the thickener.
- Once apples are soft and the filling has thickened, cool completely, then store or use.
Time Saving Tips
- Save time on prep and buy pre-frozen apples that are already peeled, cut, and cored.
- Peeling takes the most time, so use an apple corer or a Y-shaped peeler; they make the job quick and easy!
- If you’re using a knife, core the apples by cutting through the core into quarters. Then slice through the inside edges to carve out the core and seeds.
- If prepping apples ahead to save time later, toss the cut apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Apple Pie Filling Storage
Keep homemade apple pie filling in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The sugar will preserve it, as long as it’s kept cool.
Add to freezer-safe containers or zippered bags, and for best results, use within 6 months.
Ways to Use Apple Pie Filling
Did you make this easy Apple Pie Filling? Leave a rating and comment below.
Easy Apple Pie Filling
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 granny smith apples
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples cutting them into small pieces.
- Melt butter in a saucepan with cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in the apples, sugar, and water.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes or until the apples are tender. Stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water, then stir into the apple mixture.
- Continue to cook apples until they are soft and the filling has thickened. Cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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