Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Apple Pie Filling takes less than 15 minutes to make and has a great homemade flavor.

Tender chunks (or slices) of apples are perfectly sweet-tart simmered in a simple cinnamon sauce. They take just minutes to prep and taste so much better than canned!

They can be used in pies or tarts or replace a can of apple pie filling in any recipe. Scoop it over ice cream, yogurt, or cake for an easy treat.

I looooove Apple pie filling but not just for filling pie crust! It’s great over anything from yogurt to cake to oatmeal.

Much like when baking apple pie, you’ll want apples that stand up well so you don’t end up with applesauce! We think granny smith apples are the best for pie filling because they have a tart flavor which means the filling isn’t overly sweet.

Other ingredients needed in this recipe are sugar, water, spices and cornstarch (this makes the sauce portion).

This easy apple pie filling recipe makes the equivalent of 1 can of apple pie filling and takes just about 10 minutes.

It’s perfect to substitute for a can of apple pie filling (and tastes so much better than the store bought)!

This apple pie filling is delicious and can be used right away. We mainly make it to replace cans of pie filling in recipes, if I am making an actual apple pie from scratch, I don’t pre cook the filling. If you do make this filling you can of course freeze it.

Simply cook as directed and cool. Freeze in a freezer bag. Once ready to use, defrost overnight in the fridge and use as you would from fresh!

We love this on its own or served over ice cream but this easy apple pie filling works perfectly in the recipes below!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Quick Stovetop Apple Pie Filling! This easy recipe replaces 1 can of apple pie filling and is so much better than the store-bought filling!

Prep: 5min

Total: 12min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 109 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Fat 2 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Sodium 26 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 17 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 4 medium apples
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

Instruction:

1. Peel, core, and chop or slice apples*.
2. Melt butter and cinnamon over medium heat. Stir in apples, sugar & water.
3. Cover and cook stirring occasionally for 4-6 minutes or until very slightly softened.
4. In a small dish combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Add to the pan while stirring and continue to cook until apples are soft (not mushy) and filling is thickened.
5. Let bubble 1 minute. Cool.

Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Homemade Apple Pie Filling is easy to make with fresh apple, brown sugar, and spices. It tastes so much better than the store-bought version.

Prep: 15min

Total: 30min

Yield: 9

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 218 kcal, Carbohydrate 56 g, Sodium 75 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 46 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 6 medium apples (peeled, cored, and diced – 7 cups chopped)
• 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 1/3 cup cornstarch (plus more if needed)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• pinch all-spice (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)

Instruction:

1. Wash, peel, and core apples. Chop them into 1-inch chunks.
2. Add chopped apples to a large bowl and add lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir to combine.
3. Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add water, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cornstarch, and salt. Stir to combine until the cornstarch is dissolved.
4. Bring to a boil while stirring often, and boil for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the apples, reduce heat from medium to low, cover saucepan with a lid and let the apples simmer for 6-8 minutes, or until apples have softened, but are not mushy. Stir often.
6. If the filling is too watery for your taste, in a small bowl mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until fully dissolved and add the slurry to the filling, simmer for 2 minutes to thicken. Keep in mind that the filling will thicken more once completely cooled, so while it may look a bit watery when hot it will thicken more when chilled.
7. Remove from heat and stir in the butter if using.
8. Cool it to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container or jars and refrigerate. The mixture will thicken more as it cools.

Make This Apple Pie Filling for your Pies & Tarts

FAQ

Should you cook apples before putting them in a pie?

What is the secret to a good apple pie?

• Keep Your Ingredients Cold.
• Stick With an All-Butter Crust.
• Make a Butter-Flour Paste.
• Use Vodka (or Don’t)
• Fold in Liquid With a Spatula.
• Choose Tart Apples.
• Go Easy On the Seasoning.
• Par-Cook Your Apples.

Is flour or cornstarch better for apple pie filling?

What is apple pie filling made of?