This delicious French Apple Pie has an easy-to-make flaky crust that is packed full of tasty cinnamon apple filling. Covered with loads and loads of sugary crumbs, this dessert is bound to make your fall, Thanksgiving, and holiday tables sweeter!
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Table of Contents
- Fall and Holiday Baking
- Why You'll Love This French Apple Pie Recipe
- What is French Apple Pie?
- Ingredients for a French Apple Pie
- How to Make Pie Crust for Apple Pie
- Easy Pastry Pie Crust Tips
- How to Make Crumble for Apple Pie
- How to Make French Apple Pie
- Recipe Variations
- How to Serve French Apple Pie
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Delicious Pie Recipes
Fall and Holiday Baking
When you can smell all the sweet aromas of cookies, pies, cakes, and breads in the air you know it's holiday time. I have such fond memories of coming home from school and smelling all the wonderful treats my Mom was baking especially her delicious Gingerbread Cake and Apple Oatmeal Cookies.
Maybe that is why I still love cooking up a storm for the holidays and inviting family and friends alike to the house to share in the warmth of the season.
Which brings me to this French Apple Pie. When we are in the middle of apple season, there's nothing better than a slice of warm apple pie topped with a scoop of ice cream on a cool fall day. Are you with me?
Why You'll Love This French Apple Pie Recipe
No matter what your level of baking skills, this recipe is for you! Are you a beginner baker? Use a premade crust, either refrigerated or frozen. Are you an experienced baker? Make a homemade pastry pie crust.
And what could be better than a one-crust pie? Half the work and just as delicious! My favorite one-crust pie is probably Pumpkin Pie but it was my easy Blueberry Galette that turned me into a convert for good.
The apple pie topping is a classic blend of butter, flour, and brown sugar. Nothing fancy, just deliciously crumbly to give a nice texture balance with the soft apple filling.
And the apple filling couldn't get any easier. Just slice up some apples, toss them with a few simple ingredients, and put it all in the crust. You don't even have to peel the apples, only cut out the core and seeds.
What is French Apple Pie?
French Apple Pie, also known as Dutch Apple Pie, Apple Crumble Pie, or Apple Streusel Pie in America, is a delectable dessert that harmoniously balances a medley of flavors and textures. It's a delightful twist on the traditional apple pie, boasting a flaky pastry crust, a spiced apple filling, and a characteristic crumbly topping.
The filling of this pie highlights the wonderful flavor of apples, amplified with warm spices. The apples, typically a blend of tart and sweet varieties, are cored and sliced, then mixed with sugar, spices, and a touch of lemon juice for a pop of freshness. The outcome is a filling that's sweet, tangy, and subtly spiced, truly letting the apple flavors shine.
What sets this French Apple Pie apart is its streusel topping. It's a sweet, crumbly mixture of flour, butter, and sugar. This topping is sprinkled over the spiced apple filling before baking, forming a crispy, golden layer that provides a wonderful contrast to the soft, tender apples underneath.
The foundation of this pie is a classic pastry crust, which forms a flaky yet sturdy base capable of holding the juicy apple filling.
After baking, French Apple Pie emerges with a bubbly apple filling and a beautifully bronzed crumbly top. The final result is a pie that's crisp and tender, sweet and tangy, embodying the comforting warmth of home. Whether it's enjoyed at a festive holiday gathering or a casual family meal, this pie turns any moment into a celebration of apples at their finest.
Ingredients for a French Apple Pie
French apple crumb pie ingredients are standard ones you most likely have on hand and available in any grocery store.
Pie crust:
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Shortening
- Ice water
Apple filling:
- Apples
- Lemon juice - freshly squeezed is best
- Ground cinnamon
- White granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour
French Apple Pie topping:
- All-purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- Butter
Best Apple for Apple Pie
You may be wondering "What is the best apple for apple pie?". Choosing the right apples for your pie is key to achieving the perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and texture. Here are some of the best apple varieties to use in an apple pie:
- Granny Smith: These apples are one of the most popular choices for pies due to their high acidity and firm texture. They hold up beautifully during baking and provide a tart contrast to the sweet pie filling.
- Honeycrisp: Known for their crispness and balanced sweet-tart flavor, Honeycrisps are another excellent choice. They retain their structure well when baked, and their natural sweetness can allow you to cut back a bit on added sugar.
- Golden Delicious: These apples are quite sweet with a thin skin. They bake well and can balance the tartness of other apple varieties if you're mixing and matching.
- Braeburn: Braeburn apples offer a strong tartness and are very crisp. They hold their shape well in the oven, making them a good choice for pie.
- Jonathan or Jonagold: These apples have a lovely balance of sweet and tart. Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathans and Golden Delicious, and share the best qualities of both.
- Northern Spy: This apple is a traditional pie favorite, known for its sweet-tart balance and firm, juicy texture.
- Cortland: Cortlands have a nice tart balance and don't brown as quickly as other varieties, making them good for pies and other apple dishes.
Remember, the best apple pies often use a mixture of apple varieties to create a more complex flavor profile. Feel free to experiment and find the mix that suits your personal taste best.
Best Pie Pan for Apple Pie
A 9-inch deep dish pie pan is best for this apple pie with streusel topping.
How to Make Pie Crust for Apple Pie
- Sift flour and salt into a medium bowl.
- Add cold shortening to the flour.
- Use a pastry cutter to cut the shortening into the flour until it is crumbly.
- Add cold water a little at a time.
- Continue to work with a fork until the dough holds together.
- Test it by pressing it between your fingers. If it holds together it is ready to roll.
- Press the dough into a ball and place it on a floured surface.
- Roll out the dough until it is ⅛-inch thick. It should be about 12 inches in diameter for a 9-inch pie plate.
- Carefully roll the dough around your rolling pin and then unroll it over the pie plate.
- Gently press the dough into the bottom and sides of the plate. Trim the excess dough, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhang under itself, and crimp or shape the edges if desired.
Note: You do not need to blind bake pie crust for apple pie.
Easy Pastry Pie Crust Tips
Love pies but stay away from them because of the crust? Trust me, you'll have no problem with my Mom's crust recipe. It's easy to make and comes out flaky every time. Here are a few tips on getting the same perfect pie crust.
- #1 Most important tip - your shortening must be very cold. Refrigerate it, cut it into small pieces, and freeze it for best results. Using shortening in lieu of butter will allow you to incorporate it more quickly thus ensuring a flakier crust.
- You want to work it with a pastry cutter just enough to make coarse crumbs, not fine like cornmeal. Leaving larger crumbs will allow the fat to create steam causing the air pockets needed for a flaky crust.
- Always add the water a little at a time. The water aids in gluten development, which you don't want for a tender crust, so you only want enough to hold the dough together. (pinch it between your fingers and if it holds together, you've added enough water.
- Some people chill the dough before rolling and prior to filling but I haven't found this necessary unless you live in a very warm climate.
How to Make Crumble for Apple Pie
- Place flour and brown sugar in a medium bowl.
- Mix well.
- Add cold butter that has been sliced thin or cubed to make it easier to work into the dry mixture.
- Work with a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles small crumbs. Set aside.
How to Make French Apple Pie
- Place sliced apples in a bowl and toss with lemon juice.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar and add to apples. Stir well.
- Sprinkle in flour.
- Toss apples with the flour. This will help thicken the filling as it bakes.
- Pour apples into the pastry crust. Overfill it because as it bakes the apples will shrink down. Cover with crumbs.
- The pie is ready for the oven.
How Long to Cook an Apple Pie
The baking time for this French Apple Pie is 45 to 50 minutes at 375°F.
How to Tell if Apple Pie is Done
Apple pie is done when the juices are bubbling, the apples have no resistance and are soft when poked with a toothpick, and the internal temperature in the middle of the pie is 195°F.
Recipe Variations
- Apple Pie with Apple Pie Spice - Substitute cinnamon with apple pie spice.
- French Apple Pie with Icing - Make a simple vanilla icing glaze of 1 cup of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 3 tablespoons of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Drizzle it over the cooled pie or individual slices when serving.
- French Apple Pie with Raisins - Add ½ cup of raisins to the filling mixture. You can use either regular or golden raisins.
- French Cranberry-Apple Pie - Replace 1 cup of apples with 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries.
- Gluten Free French Apple Pie - Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour substitute instead of regular all-purpose flour.
How to Serve French Apple Pie
An apple crumb pie is best served warm or at room temperature. You can serve it plain or with toppings:
- Caramel Sauce
- Ice Cream
- Powdered Sugar
- Icing Drizzle
- Whipped Cream
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
To Store: Allow the pie to cool completely to room temperature. This prevents condensation from forming and making the pie soggy. Cover the pie with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. If you have a pie carrier or an airtight container large enough, that can work as well. Place your covered pie in the refrigerator. It will keep well for about 4 to 5 days.
To Freeze: Allow the pie to cool completely to room temperature. Wrap the pie tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place your wrapped pie in the freezer. It can last up to 4 months, but it's best enjoyed within the first 2 months for optimal flavor and texture.
To Reheat from the Refrigerator: If your pie is in the refrigerator, you can serve it cold, let it come to room temperature, or warm it in the oven. To warm, cover the pie with foil and heat it in a preheated oven at 350°F until heated through. You can also microwave a slice of the pie in 10 to 15-second increments until warm.
To Reheat From the Freezer: If your pie is frozen, you have two options:
- Thaw then reheat: Thaw your pie overnight in the refrigerator, then heat it wrapped in foil in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
- Heat from frozen: Remove all wrapping and place the pie in a preheated 350°F oven. Heat until the filling is bubbling and it's warmed through, about 45 minutes to an hour. If it starts to brown too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil.
Remember to always check your pie while reheating to prevent it from overheating and burning or drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Homemade apple pie will last for up to 2 days at room temperature, 5 days in the refrigerator, or 4 months in the freezer.
Yes, it's generally recommended to refrigerate apple pie. While it can be left at room temperature for a short time period, usually up to two days, refrigerating the pie will extend its freshness.
Yes, you can absolutely freeze an apple crumb pie, and it's a great way to make the pie in advance or preserve any leftovers.
Bake it now for a super fall dessert or change it up this Thanksgiving or Christmas and make this French Apple Pie full of sweet crumbs the star of dinner.
More Delicious Pie Recipes
Pumpkin Pecan Pie when you can't make up your mind between a pecan pie or pumpkin pie!
Key Lime Pie is a tart and sweet dessert that will have you thinking of warm weather and beaches.
Deep Dish Cherry Pie is rich and full of sweet flavor. Perfect for any time of year.
Pear Crumble with ginger snaps is like a crustless pie.
Find lots of dessert recipes here on 2CM!
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French Apple Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 cup flour sifted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup shortening, chilled
- 2-3 Tablespoons ice water
Apple Filling
- 6 cups sliced apples, a mix of about 4 tart Granny Smith and 2 red Fuji apples
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅔-3/4 cup sugar (I tend towards the low end)
- 2 Tablespoons flour
French Crumb Topping
- ¾-1 cup flour
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup chilled butter, cut into small slices
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Sift flour and salt together into large bowl.
- Using a pastry cutter, or two knives, cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the water a tablespoon at a time, stirring lightly with fork, and continue until the dough holds together when pinched between your fingers.
- Sprinkle your surface with flour, as well as the top of the dough, and roll the dough into a circle that is slightly larger than the pie plate.
- Fold over rolling pin and lift over pie plate. Let settle into pie plate, gently patting into place. Trim overhanging sides of dough to within 1-½-inches and fold over to form a standing rim, pinching dough together. Using your index or pinkie finger, press from outside-in to form a depression, skip ½" and make another depression with finger. Continue all the way around. Set aside.
Apple Filling
- Slice apples. Pour lemon juice over them to keep them from turning brown.
- Mix cinnamon with sugar and toss with apples.
- Add in flour and mix to incorporate. Pour into prepared unbaked pie crust.
French Crumb Topping
- Using a pastry cutter, mix butter, sugar and flour together until it resembles small crumbs.
- Top pie with crumbs.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool on wire rack then store in refrigerator.
- Optional: You can garnish with powdered sugar after the pie has cooled.
Video
Notes
Gluten-free options
- Use a nut crust in lieu of the pastry crust for the base.
- Change the flour in the apple filling and crumb topping to a gluten-free flour.
Nutrition
This post has been updated and was first published on December 1, 2013.
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