Caramel Apple Pie Recipe (with Crumb Topping!) - foodiecrush (2024)

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This caramel apple pie features an ultra-flaky pie crust, a sweet-tart apple filling, and a chewy crumble topping, and it’s finished with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

In Ree Drummonds’s signature style,The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrationsreplicates the recipe style that’s made legions ofThe Pioneer Woman fans melt with each blog post.

Plus it features this recipe forCaramel Apple Pie.I mean, what’s not to like?

If you’re looking for a cookbook that introduces fancy cooking techniques and intricate recipe stylings, keep on looking through those bookshelves, because this is NOT that book.And that’s exactly why it’s so good, because it’s a treasure trove of family favorites and other scrumptious excuses to gather around the table for a year of holiday celebrating.

With regular appearances by her basset hounds Charlie and Walter, plus photos and stories featuring life on the ranch with her two-legged family members, A Year of Holidaysfeatures real-life food for the family with hundreds of step-by-step photos. There’s so much in there it’s sure to turneven the most novice chef into a confident cook in the kitchen.

And as with everything Ree does, it’s delivered with a humorous twist.

Along with holiday do-ahead game-plans—what to do the day before, and the day of the big day to make your celebrating easy for even the hostess— here’s why, in Ree’s words, you need to make the recipes in this book:

For New Years Day, Ree says her Coconut Ginger Baked French Toast is, “So wonderfully tropical you’ll be struck with the sudden urge to rub zinc oxide all over your nose.”

Huevo In the Heart is a tex-mex version of Frog In the Hole using tortillas and salsa to create a bleeding heart, which Ree says, “May not be terribly romantic at all. But at least it tastes good.”

Peach Cobbler heads up the summertime cookouts where Ree declares cobbler to be a very controversial subject. “I don’t care which cobbler is the correct version! I’ll eat it however I can get it!”

She just might be my soul sister. And I like a sister who will feed me good food and make me laugh all at the same time.

A Year of Holidaysis sure to become a go-to resource for every home cook, sharing the basic building blocks to create many new recipes and family memories.

When deciding what I might make from her book, I had plenty of choices thanks to the 140 recipes packed into 400 pages. Then I flipped to Caramel Apple Pie, a standard at Ree’s Thanksgiving Feast. I was a goner when I read her words, “This apple pie will make you cry. But in a good, cleanse-your-soul way.”

Who couldn’t use a good cry thanks to pie? Especially when it’s with tears of joy while savoring a mix of oatmeal crumble, creamy caramel and classic apple pie.

Thank you Ree, for helping my soul become pure once again with your Caramel Apple Pie.

What’s in This Caramel Apple Pie?

This caramel apple pie is essentially an apple pie with crumble topping that’s been drizzled with caramel sauce. It requires a little more prep work than your average apple pie recipe from scratch, but I pinky promise the few extra minutes in the kitchen are worth it.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this caramel apple crumble pie:

  • Single pie crust
  • Apples
  • Lemon juice
  • Granulated sugar
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Brown sugar
  • Quick oats
  • Chopped pecans
  • Jarred caramel topping

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Pie?

It’s taken me years to figure out which apples are best for pies. Granny Smith, with their firm texture and tart punch, are the classic filler. I found Braeburn and Pink Ladies are a great combo too thanks to this guide.

How to Make Caramel Apple Pie

You’ll first need to prep and roll out your pie crust, then place it in the pie dish and crimp it. I’ve linked my go-to butter pie crust recipe in the recipe card below, but you’re welcome to use your favorite store-bought pie crust too.

Once the pie crust has been prepped, you can move onto the apple pie filling. Peel and thinly slice the apples, then toss them with a little lemon juice, sugar, flour and salt.

Next, prep the apple crumble pie topping. It’s essentially an apple crisp topping that’s made with quick oats instead of the usual rolled oats.

Mound the apples in the pie crust, then sprinkle the crumble topping over them. Bake the apple pie with crumb topping until it’s golden brown. You’ll need to let it cool before drizzling with caramel sauce and serving.

How to Store Apple Pie

This caramel apple pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you plan on making this pie in advance, I recommend waiting to drizzle the caramel sauce over top until you’re ready to slice and serve it. This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy as the apple crumble pie sits on your counter.

Can You Freeze Apple Pie?

Yes, this apple pie with crumb topping freezes incredibly well. Again, you’ll want to freeze it without the caramel sauce, if possible. You can freeze the pie whole in its pie plate, or wrap slices in plastic wrap and freeze them individually.

Tips for Making Caramel Apple Pie

When you first assemble the pie, the mound of apples looks massive. Don’t worry, the apple pie filling cooks down a lot in the oven and flattens out by itself.

This pie cuts best when it has cooled completely and firmed up, so allow yourself at least several hours of resting time before cutting and serving. Then if you’re dying for a piece as a warmed up base for cold ice cream, just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes.

The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Okay, not necessarily a recipe note, but throw that apple fact out at the Thanksgiving dinner and you’re sure to impress.

More Pie Recipes to Whip Up for the Holidays

  • The Berry Best Four Berry Pie
  • Apple and Pear Chocolate Hand Pies
  • Key Lime Pie
  • Skillet Cherry Pie
  • Raspberry Peach Hand Pies
  • German Chocolate Brownie Pie

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats.

Caramel Apple Pie Recipe (with Crumb Topping!) - foodiecrush (8)

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5 from 18 votes

Pioneeer Woman's Caramel Apple Pie

This caramel apple pie features an ultra flaky pie crust, a sweet-tart apple filling, a chewy crumble topping, and it's finished with a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple pie, pie

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Chill Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8 - 10

Calories 603kcal

Ingredients

Apple Pie

  • 1 unbaked pie crust
  • 7-8 cups peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples
  • juice of half of a lemon
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Crumble Topping

  • ¾ cup butter (or 1 ½ sticks)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup quick oats
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans
  • ½ cup jarred caramel topping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

  • Roll the pie crust on a lightly floured surface until about 1 inch larger in diameter than the top of a 9-inch pie pan. Fold the crust in half and transfer it to the pie pan and unfold it.

  • Carefully cut the edges of the pan so it hangs just below the lip and then tuck the edges underneath to form a neat crust rim then crimp the edges of the crust.

  • Toss the apples with the lemon juice, sugar, flour and salt in a large bowl and set aside.

  • In another large bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar and salt and blend with a pastry blender into pea size pieces.

  • Add the oats and pecans and combine.

  • Mound the apples into the pie crust then sprinkle with the oat topping.

  • Lightly cover the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Cover the entire pie with aluminum foil if it seems to be baking too quickly.

  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Drizzle with caramel sauce, slice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 603kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 515mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 604IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg

More Apple Desserts to Make This Fall

  • Quick and Rustic Apple Tart
  • Apple Cherry Strudel
  • Caramel Apple Brownies
  • Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Almond Streusel
  • Apple and Blueberry Crumble

Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.

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Caramel Apple Pie Recipe (with Crumb Topping!) - foodiecrush (2024)

FAQs

Why is my apple crumb pie watery? ›

The starch and pectin in the filling needs to set. If you add cornstarch or flour to the filling it gels st oven temperatures and sets once it has cooled. The same is true for the natural pectin in many fruits. If you cut the pie before the filling has set, it will never solidify and your pie will be runny.

What are the crumbs made of on a Dutch apple pie? ›

Let me fill you in: dutch apple pie is traditionally made with a streusel topping made up of butter, flour, brown sugar and sometimes, nuts or oats. It's just slightly sweeter than traditional apple pies made with a lattice crust or regular crust on top and perfect with ice cream on top.

What's the difference between apple pie and apple crumble? ›

Dessert-wise, in this case, specifically apple centric, pie would be the apple filling encased in upper and lower pastry sheets with a nice decorative crimp at the join. A crumble is most usually the Apple filling directly in the dish with a crumble topping, most often basically made up of sugar, butter and flour.

What is the best thickener for apple pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

How do you keep the bottom of an apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

During that time, the egg cooks into a glossy layer that will later prevent the filling from seeping into the crust and making it soggy.

How do you keep crumb topping from getting soggy? ›

The right time to put the streusel on top of the base is a short while before serving - long enough that the hot mash can warm them up and that they can get a tiny bit soft at the bottom (more authentic!) while staying crisp on top. A few minutes should suffice, but a quarter of an hour would still be fine.

Should you cook apples before putting in pie? ›

Should you cook the apples before baking apple pie? You don't have to pre-cook the filling before spooning it into the pie crust, but it's a quick step I recommend. Just 5 minutes on the stove begins the softening process, and also helps the flavors start to mingle.

Why is my apple crumble topping not crunchy? ›

The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.

What is crack pie made of? ›

Fun Fact: I've never been to New York City so I've never actually tried the famous Momof*cku Milk Bar Crack Pie. As the name suggests, it is a super addictive pie made with a homemade oat cookie pie crust and a rich, buttery brown sugar filling.

What is flapper pie made of? ›

A custard pie made with a graham cracker crumb crust and topped with meringue.

What is massachusetts pie? ›

Upon the announcement of the official state dessert of Massachusetts, the Boston Cream Pie was proclaimed on December 12, 1996. The pie defeated candidates such as the toll house cookie and Indian pudding. Not only that, but chocolate chip cookies were also invented in Massachusetts!

What is a Dutch apple pie? ›

Dutch apple pies have a crumbly streusel topping, while classic apple pies have a top layer of regular pie crust. Learn more about these types of apple pies.

What is a Dutch apple pie vs apple pie? ›

What's the Difference Between Dutch Apple Pie and Apple Pie? Unlike traditional apple pie with a double crust or lattice topping, Dutch apple pie has a crumbly streusel topping, made from sugar, flour, and butter, that covers the delicious apple pie filling.

How is Dutch apple pie different from apple pie? ›

What Makes it “Dutch”? The unique crumb topping of butter, sugar, and flour is what sets this dessert apart. While traditional apple pie boasts a regular double crust (a crust on the bottom and a crust on top), a Dutch apple pie has a regular bottom crust, but a crumble topping.

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

The Most Common Pie Crust Mistakes (And Ways To Avoid Them)
  1. The ingredients are too warm. ...
  2. The pie dough is overworked from excessive mixing or rolling. ...
  3. The pie dough isn't given enough time to relax and chill. ...
  4. The pie dough is shrinking down the sides of the pan.
Oct 18, 2022

Why did my apples turn mushy in my pie? ›

Perfect Pie Tip #6: Choose Tart Apples

When apples are cooked, this pectin breaks down, and the apples turn mushy. However, there are ways to control this pectin breakdown, helping you to ensure that your apple slices are tender, but still hold their shape in the pie.

What apples not to use for pie? ›

For more on all these apples, including what they look and taste like, see our baking apple guide below. There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

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