A buttery pastry filled with slices of sweet apple slices and topped with an irresistibly crunchy crumble topping is all it takes for an irresistibly delicious apple pie! Plus, it takes only minutes to put it together!
Roll out the pie dough and place in a standard pie dish; crimp the edges as desired and chill before making the crumb topping and setting aside.
Ingredients
This festive apple crumb pie boasts everything you’d need for an impressive dessert: flaky bottom crust, tightly packed layers of cinnamon-spiced apples, and an irresistibly delicious crunchy buttery topping. Perfect served alongside vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!
Recipe instructions call for either store-bought or homemade pie crust that can be easily made ahead and refrigerated until needed.
Creating the crumb topping requires only standard ingredients: light brown and granulated sugar, flour, and melted butter rubbed together into crumbly pieces – this adds extra texture and makes this pie truly delectable!
If you’re creating your pie crust, be sure to chill the dough before rolling it out and again after fitting it into the pie plate. Doing this helps prevent shrinkage during baking and ensures an exquisite, flaky crust!
For my apple filling, I use a combination of Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apples because their firm texture won’t turn mushy over time.
Additionally, I add lemon juice for zesty, citrusy notes, along with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves to enhance their sweetness and add depth of flavor.
Preparation
Start by preheating your oven to 400deg. On a floured surface, roll one of the discs of pie dough into a 12-inch circle before placing it into a 9×2-inch pie dish with its edges tucked under itself and crimped to form an edge-crimping effect. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling and topping for this pie.
To create the crumb topping, combine sugars, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl before mixing in butter with the tines of a fork or pastry cutter until pea-sized pieces form.
You may optionally incorporate nuts. Once formed, spread evenly across an apple pie. It may be stored in the refrigerator until ready for use and even works well as an addition to other fruit pies, streusel muffins, or even ice cream!
Prepare the apple filling by tossing apple pieces with lemon juice, sugar, both types of flour, and spices in a large bowl. Transfer this filling to chilled crusts and top with crumb topping.
Bake at 400deg for 30 minutes, reducing to 375deg, and continue baking until topping has turned golden-brown and bubbling, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes more – use aluminum foil if edges begin to brown too quickly!
When making an apple crumb pie, it’s essential to use high-quality apples that will retain their shape while baking and have an aromatic sweet-tart flavor – Granny Smith or Honey Crisp are great options, while adding different apple varieties will provide even greater depth in textures and flavor.
Baking
Place the pie in the oven for approximately one hour, until its crust and crumb topping are golden-brown and its apple filling bubbly.
If the pie begins to get too dark, loosely cover it with aluminum foil or a pie shield for extra protection before taking it out to cool on a wire rack for at least thirty minutes before serving.
Both the crust and crumb topping can be prepared a day or two in advance and stored separately in the refrigerator until needed. You could even consider making and freezing your pie before baking; once ready to use, simply thaw overnight in the fridge before refrigerating.
To create apple pie filling:
- Begin by peeling, coring, and slicing apples into slices.
- Combine in a large bowl the apples with lemon juice, both sugars, flour, and cinnamon, and toss to evenly coat.
- Transfer to your prepared pie crust before topping with crumb topping!
The crumb topping is an irresistibly delicious combination of common ingredients like brown sugar, flour, and butter that, when mixed, transforms into something much greater than its parts.
Although similar to streusel in terms of structure, crumb topping does not feature nuts as an element – though if desired, you could add chopped pecans or walnuts for additional crunch!
Serving
Apple pie is often served with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce; however, other toppings, such as whipped cream or even plain yogurt, can make for a wonderful twist!
Prep ahead by making both the pie dough (remember to chill it!) and crumble topping two days before you need the pie for cooling and shaping into your pie pan. Apple filling can also be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container.
Once the pie is ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes before turning down to 350 degrees to finish baking until its crust has turned golden brown and apples are tender when pinched by a knife, approximately an hour total.
To create the crumb topping, combine flour and light brown sugar in a medium bowl. Rub cubed butter into this mixture using your fingers until clumps form, or mix further by hand until larger crumbs appear. You may store it airtight at room temperature until ready for use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the crumb topping on an apple pie transforms a classic dessert into a symphony of textures and flavors. As you savor each bite, the buttery, cinnamon-infused crumbs perfectly complement the sweet and tart notes of the apple filling, creating a delightful culinary experience.
This simple yet indulgent addition to your apple pie not only enhances the overall taste but also adds a satisfying crunch that elevates the pie to a new level of deliciousness.
The crumb topping, with its golden-brown perfection, serves as a visual cue to the delectable treat that awaits underneath.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, the crumb topping is a foolproof way to impress friends and family with a homemade apple pie that goes beyond the ordinary.
So, as you slice into the warm, aromatic pie, take a moment to appreciate the magic that a well-crafted crumb topping brings to this timeless dessert.
May your apple pie moments be filled with joy, warmth, and the irresistible allure of that perfect crumb topping. Happy baking!
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