Such a delicious apple pie that’s sure to impress! It’s a great Thanksgiving dessert that won’t disappoint. A combination of sweet and tart apples, perfectly spiced with a hint of lemony tang, makes this Dutch Apple Pie the best in flavor.

I have a delicious Dutch apple pie bars recipe on the blog, which is one of our most popular fall desserts. Since it’s gotten a lot of good feedback on social media, not to mention friends and family, who I made this for, I’ve decided to use it and make a pie version.

I have never made many pies before. In fact, apart from this new recipe, I probably only have three other pie recipes. For the two of them, I even used a storebought crust. I have always been scared I would mess up making the pie crust!

Thankfully, a good friend of mine who herself makes a wonderfully delicious classic apple pie shared with me her mom’s very simple recipe for pie crust, and after making it a few times, I know I am ready to venture into pie making!

Armed with my delicious dutch apple pie bars recipe and my friend’s recipe for easy pie crust, I set out to make what became for my family – the best Dutch Apple Pie!

I actually prefer the Dutch-style apple pie because I love that delicious crumbly, buttery topping! I think it adds another layer of flavor to the pie instead of just the usual less flavorful pie crust.

Presentation-wise, it looks more impressive as well as you can see from the photo!

Sometimes, I add a little bit of cinnamon to it too for just a little hint of spice.  I divide the 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon between the crumb topping and the apple filling. I suggest you do that when you make this!

The crumb texture is also another factor why I prefer this topping over the usual pie crust. It gives it that extra crunch when you bite into the pie! So good!

With regard to the pie crust, I always use a food processor to make it. I highly suggest using one if you have it at hand because it makes things so much easier. Takes less than 5 minutes to make the crust when you use it so by all means, do so!

I suggest making this a day or two ahead so the flavors of the pie develop even more as it sits. I simply leave it at room temperature and loosely covered. Giving it a day or 2 to rest allows the pie to be fully set so they slice so nicely when you are about to serve it!

Of course, you can also serve this warmed-up and definitely a la mode – with vanilla ice cream! Heavenly!!!

Best Dutch Apple Pie

Such a delicious apple pie that’s sure to impress! A combination of sweet and tart apples, perfectly spiced with a hint of lemony tang, makes this Dutch Apple Pie the best in flavor. This is my family’s favorite.

FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.

NOTES ON INGREDIENTS FOR BEST DUTCH APPLE PIE

Easy Pie Crust

•  all-purpose flour
• sugar (optional)
• salt
• Chilled butter cut into small pieces – it is important for the butte to be cold so make sure it is.
• ice-cold water

How to Make Easy Pie Crust

Place the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse about 5-6 times. Add the cut-up chilled butter and continue to pulse just until flour looks and feels almost like sand. Turn on the processor and slowly pour in the ice-cold add water and process until mixture comes together and looks and feels like clay.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin (or simply knead by hand) to form a disk. Wrap the disc in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes before using it. I place the disk in the fridge and work on the apple pie filling. That should allow more than enough chilling time for the dough.

Delicious Apple Pie Filling

• brown sugar 
• flour
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• lemon juice, freshly squeezed 
• apples, peeled and thinly sliced (I use a combo of gala and granny smith, 4 each) – the combination of sweet and tart apples give this pie such a delicious flavor.

How to Make Delicious Apple Pie Filling

As the pie dough chills, make the apple pie filling and crumb topping.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Peel and slice the apples thinly. In a bowl, mix the sugar,  flour, and cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Stir in the apples to coat. Set aside to allow the apples to absorb the flavors.

For the Crumb Topping

• flour
• brown sugar
• salted butter, softened 

How to Make Crumb Topping

Mix the flour, sugar, and softened butter until crumbly. You may do this by hand using a pastry cutter or simply pulse a few times in a food processor. 

Take the pie dough out from the fridge, roll, and spread over the pie pan (use a deep 10-inch pie pan).  Crimp as desired. Spoon the apple mixture all over including any juices or liquid with it. Sprinkle the crumb topping all over the apples. Cover loosely all over with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Increase to 400 F and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and you see fillings bubble. Cool completely. This can be made 1-2 days ahead. This allows the flavors to develop even more and the apples set well for easier slicing. Serve with some ice cream. 

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Best Dutch Apple Pie

Manila Spoon

Such a delicious apple pie that’s sure to impress! A combination of sweet and tart apples, perfectly spiced with a hint of lemony tang, makes this Dutch Apple Pie the best in flavor. This is my family’s favorite.

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Save Saved!

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

Easy Pie Crust

• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) chilled butter cut into small pieces
• ¼ cup ice-cold water

Delicious Apple Pie Filling

• ½ cup brown sugar plus 2 tablespoons (white sugar)
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 8 apples, peeled and thinly sliced (I use a combo of gala and granny smith, 4 each)

For the Crumb Topping

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup or 6 tbsp salted butter, softened

Instructions

 

Easy Pie Crust

• Place the flour, sugar (if using) and salt in a food processor and pulse about 5-6 times. Add the cut-up chilled butter and continue to pulse just until flour looks and feels almost like sand. Turn on the processor and slowly pour in the ice-cold water and process just until mixture comes together and looks and feels like chunky clay. If you don't have a food processor this can be done by hand, too. I use the food processor to make pie crust as it's so quick and convenient.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin (or simply knead by hand) to form a disk (about 1 inch in thickness). Wrap the disc in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes before using it. I place the disk in the fridge and work on the apple pie filling and the crumb topping. That allows more than enough chilling time for the dough.
• As the pie dough chills, make the apple pie filling and crumb topping.

Delicious Apple Pie Filling

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Peel and slice the apples thinly. In a bowl, mix the sugar,  flour, and cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Stir in the apples to coat. Set aside to allow the apples to absorb the flavors.

For the Crumb Topping

• Mix the flour, sugar, and softened butter until crumbly. You may do this by hand using a pastry cutter or simply pulse a few times in a food processor.
• Take the pie dough out from the fridge, roll to about 1/8-inch thickness and spread over the pie pan (use a deep 10-inch pie pan). Crimp as desired. Spoon the apple mixture all over including any juices or liquid with it. Sprinkle the crumb topping all over the apples. Cover loosely all over with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil and increase the temperature to 400 F and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and you see fillings bubble. Cool completely. This can be made 1-2 days ahead. This allows the flavors to develop even more and the apples set well for easier slicing. Serve with some ice cream.

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS

If you don’t have a food processor this can be done by hand or manually, too. I use the food processor to make pie crust as it’s so quick and convenient.

Using a combination of apples gives this apple pie such a delicious flavor. Gala apples add sweetness and they retain their shape so the pie looks pretty when sliced up. Granny smith apples add tartness which perfectly contrasts with the sweet gala apples. 

Sometimes, I divide the 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon between the crumb topping and the apple filling. I suggest you do that when you make this! 

Keyword best dutch apple pie, best dutch apple pie recipe

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Last updated on November 16th, 2024 at 05:49 pm