Apple Pie Filling is the perfect recipe for the apples you got from apple picking! This makes great apple pies, but can be used in dozens of recipes.
Every fall our family goes apple picking, so we have a wealth of apple recipes here on Simple Joy. Lately, we have been getting requests an easy Apple Pie Filling. This recipe is perfect and can be made in no time at all.
This recipe comes together with just six ingredients. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. With all of our tips on what apples to use and how to turn it into pie, you are going to fall in love.
I have been making apple pie filling for more years than I want to count. This is the best. The recipe is the same as mine except I used water and this uses apple juice, trust me the Apple juice is better very delicious. Thank you so much.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
This is a brief overview of how easy this recipe is to make. For the full recipe with all of the ingredients and measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post?
- Combine ingredients for the sauce over heat. Add apple juice, sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Stirring consistently, allow the mixture to cook and thicken for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add in the apples. Stir in the apple slices and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the apples soften. Remove it from the heat.
- Use or store. This recipe can be used right away, or you can keep it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Please see below about canning and freezing.
Best Apples for Apple Pie
My strong feeling on this is that you should use the apples you love most. That being said, I think a mixture of sweet and tart apples is what works best. My first pick is always half Gala Apples and half Granny Smith.
Here are great options for this recipe that will hold up to heat and baking:
- Gala: This provide sweetness and hold up well to baking. They pair perfectly with the tartness of Granny Smith Apples
- Granny Smith: Nice and tart these are a great way to balance a sweeter apple.
- Johnathan: These are both sweet and have a subtle tartness to them.
- Honey Crisp: Deliciously sweet and very juicy, these are great for baking.
- Cortland: These apples are both sweet and tart and are great for baking.
- McIntosh: With almost a subtle spice to them these are great for making pies.
How to use Apple Pie Filling in an Apple Pie
Once you have made the filling, it is perfect to combine this recipe is the perfect recipe to use with my Fool Proof Pie Crust. Just follow the steps listed below.
- Double my pie crust recipe. You can find it linked below. You will want to make it the day before you are craving that apple pie.
- Roll out the dough, and put in a deep dish pie pan. You will want a pie pan that is 9 inches in diameter.
- Add the apple pie filling. If you have just made it you will want to let it cool just a little. If it is boiling when you add it to the crust it will begin to melt the crust.
- Cover with the second pie crust. Pinch the crusts together, and cut a few holes in the middle for venting. Alternatively, you can make a lattice top as you see here, weaving the pieces of pie dough together and then pinching it to the lower crust.
- Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees. Lower the temperature to 325 and bake for an additional 25 minutes, covering the top of the crust to prevent burning if necessary or using a pie shield.
Easy Pie Crust Recipe
Freezing Apple Pie Filling
This recipe can be frozen. Be sure to leave at least an inch for expansion in whatever container you use to store it. This recipe will keep in the freezer for three months.
FAQ
This recipe has not been tested for canning. As written it isn’t safe for canning. You would need to add lemon juice and switch the cornstarch for Clearjel. This is our favorite resource on canning.
It lasts for 3 to 4 days.
This recipe will keep in the freezer for three months.
Many people have had great luck with Clearjel, which is what you should use in canning pie fillings.
Apple Pie Filling Recipes That Aren’t Pie
There are so many great things you can do with this recipe! Here are just a few:
If you make this apple pie filling recipe or any of our other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Apple Pie Filling
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 6 medium apples 6 cups slices
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan over low to medium heat, combine the apple juice, sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir regularly until the mixture thickens and darkens in color, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in the apples. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until the apples soften. Remove from the heat.
- Use right away in pie crust (see our instructions in the post) or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Tara says
I don’t know were mine went wrong. I followed it exactly and it would not thicken at all. Any reason why that maybe?
I’m not sure. The thickening agent is the cornstarch. Did you use the correct amount of cornstarch?
Tara Woolard says
Yes Lisa I did use the exact ingredients and corn starch.
I’m really sorry, without me being there with you it’s so hard to know what went wrong.
Alice Britt says
I have been making apple pie filling for more years than I want to count. This is the best. The recipe is the same as mine except I used water and this uses apple juice, trust me the Apple juice is better very delicious. Thank you so much.
I’m so happy to hear that Alice!
Eaten an Sanchez says
You have a lots of very good recipes I am planning to use some of your recipes.
I hope you enjoy them!