This 30 minute easy apple pie filling is delicious, and includes apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and spices, making for a nostalgic and kid friendly fall classic. This apple filling recipe is perfect for the holiday season. The apple flavor goes great with a flaky pie crust, and can be canned for further use. Apple pie is a must-have dessert for any Thanksgiving table.
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Delicious Facts on Apple Pie Filling
Apples, of course, are the star of this family-favorite dessert. But in addition to their crisp, autumnal taste, they are known to have health benefits as well. Of course, you probably know the classic saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but there is some truth to this, as apples contain malic acid, which can help treat fatigue and digestive issues. Apples are also high in fiber and may also help reduce the risk of cancer. Making an apple pie from scratch is not just delicious, but has some nutritional value as well!
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- Easy to Store: If you have leftover cooked apple pie filling, you can make more pies and other desserts with it, such as turnovers, cakes, apple crisp, or apple fritters. This classic apple pie recipe makes for many different delicious meals!
- Time-efficient: This easy apple pie filling only takes 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook. It’s easy to make homemade apple pie filling, leaving you with more time to prepare your perfect holiday meal.
- Family classic: Kids love this recipe, especially with vanilla ice cream. The best homemade apple pie filling recipe is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. This is the best recipe for any family gathering, and when you make a pie with your family, you’re sure to also make memories as well.
If you’re looking for more apple recipes, try these: Air Fryer Cherry Pie Danish, Apple Pie Tart, Easy Apple Pie with Crumb Topping, and Mini Apple Pie Bites.
What are Some Uses for Apple Pie Filling?
You can use this homemade apple pie filling in a pie, but it can also be used as a spread, or in other great apple desserts, such as tarts, crumbles, and more, or you can use the pie filling as a topping. There are lots of ways to use apple pie filling, not just in apple pies!
Ingredient Notes for the Easy Apple Pie Filling Recipe
A few simple ingredients can make your delicious apple pie the talk of the holiday season:
- Apples: You can make this filling with any variety of apples, but the best apples for apple pie are Red Delicious apples, Granny Smith apples, and Honeycrisp apples, which you can find in any grocery store. The best apple pie filling is made with fresh apples, so if possible, you can go apple picking with your family to find the perfect ingredients for this delicious recipe!
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The secret to the best pie filling is apple cider vinegar. It improves the consistency of your filling, so it isn’t too dry. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, use apple juice instead.
- Spices: Use either pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for this delicious apple pie filling recipe.
- Cornstarch: When added to your apple pie filling, cornstarch makes for the perfect apple pie texture, making the filling deliciously gooey. The filling will thicken with the addition of cornstarch, improving the taste.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Variations and Substitutions for the Homemade Apple Pie Filling
- Sugar Substitute: For a zero-sugar option for your filling ingredients, you can make this apple pie filling with honey instead of brown and granulated sugar. You can also make the filling with artificial sweeteners as well.
- Cornstarch Substitute: Try this recipe with flour or potato starch, if you’re looking for apple pie filling without cornstarch.
- Bake the Pie: After you have the filling made you can use refrigerated pie crust and bake until crust is golden brown.
Special Equipment Needed for the Best Apple Pie
- Jar Lifter: When canning your apple pie filling, a jar lifter can be used to remove the jars of canned filling from the boiling water after they have been processed.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
With just a few simple steps, you can make this easy recipe for apple pie filling from scratch. Our storage tips will also help you preserve the filling for further use, allowing you to preserve the rich apple flavor for future recipes.
These are the basic steps for making apple pie filling. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
STEP 1: Prepare the Apples
After apples have been peeled, cored, and sliced thin, add the butter, then the apple slices to a large sauce skillet, and sauté the apples until they are tender. You can use an apple peeler, but if one is not on hand, a knife will work fine.
STEP 2: Add the Spices
Add the apples to the sugars and spices, and continue to sauté until the sugars have dissolved and simmering.
STEP 3: Dissolve the Cornstarch
Add the cornstarch to water and vinegar and whisk until cornstarch has dissolved and the apples are soft. This will thicken the filling.
STEP 4: Stir the Mixture
Add the wet mixture to the apples and gently stir to mix. Bring to a simmer and allow the filling to thicken.
STEP 5: Cool the Filling
Once the filling is thickened, remove from the heat and let the apple filling cool before canning or storing. If you are using it immediately, let the filling cool slightly before using it.
Canning this Recipe
STEP 1: Clean the Jars
Clean and sterilize your jars by washing them in hot, soapy water, rinse them well, and then boiling them in a pot of water for about 15 minutes. (Make sure the jars are completely dry before filling them.)
STEP 2: Fill the Jars
Allow the filling to cool completely, then fill your jars. When you add the filling, it’s important to leave about 1/4 inch of headspace at the top of the jar. This will allow the filling to expand as it cools following the sealing process.
STEP 3: Clean the Jars
After you let the apple pie filling cool and put the filling into the jars, wipe off any excess filling from the rims with a clean, damp cloth to ensure a tight seal.
STEP 4: Seal the Jars
Place the lids on the jars, ensuring they are centered and flat. Twist on the screw bands until they are “fingertip” tight. You don’t want to over-tighten the lids, air needs to be able to escape during the canning process.
STEP 5: Process the Filling
Place the filled jars back into the boiling water bath, cover with at least one inch of water. Boil times: For 12 oz and under, boil for 10 minutes, for 16 oz, boil for 15 minutes, and for 32 oz, boil for 25 minutes. Add 2 minutes of boiling time per 1,000 feet above sea level.
STEP 6: Remove the Jars
Once the jars have finished processing, remove them from the water using a jar lifter and allow them to cool on a towel or rack for about 24 hours. Once cooled, check to ensure each jar has sealed properly by pressing on the center of the lid-if it pops up, it has not sealed and should be refrigerated and used first.
STEP 7: Store the Jars
Put the pie filling jars in a cool, dry place and let them set for about two weeks before using. This allows the flavors to develop. Keep your jam should for up to a year when you store properly. When you’re ready to make the pie, you can use your canned apple pie filling whenever you want.
Recipe FAQs for the Best Apple Pie Filling
Expert Tips to Use Apple Pie Filling / Apple Recipes
- Apple Slice Sizes: Depending on the texture of your filling, as well as your plan for use for it, apple apples in varying degrees of thickness. Thin slices are best for pies, but you can make your pie filling with differently-sized slices if you’d like.
- Uses for Filling: You can use this apple pie filling in other fall desserts, or you can eat it with ice cream. You may have some left over after making your pie, so feel free to get creative! Make this recipe and freeze the rest.
- Apple Varieties: Different varieties of apples will give your pie different tastes. Using multiple kinds of apples will add variety and flavor, especially if you mix both sweet and tart apples. Wonderful for caramel apple pie and other desserts.
Similar Recipes to Apple Pie Filling
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Easy Apple Pie Filling
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 5 Large Apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- 10-15 Medium or Small Apples
- ¾ Cup Brown Sugar, packed
- ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon Apple Pie Spice or Pumpkin Pie Spice
- ⅛ Teaspoon Salt
- 6 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 ½ Cups Water
- 2 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
- After apples have been peeled, cored, and sliced thin, add the butter then apple slices to a large sauce skillet and sauté the apples until they are tender.
- Add the sugars and spices and continue to sauté until the sugars have dissolved and simmering.
- Add the cornstarch to water and vinegar and whisk until cornstarch has dissolved
- Add the wet mixture to the apples and gently stir to mix. Bring to a simmer and allow the filling to thicken.
- Once you have reached the desired thickness, remove from the heat and let cool before canning or storing. If you are using it immediately, let cool slightly before using it.
Expert Tips
- Apple Slice Sizes: Depending on the texture of your filling, as well as your plan for use for it, apple apples in varying degrees of thickness. Thin slices are best for pies, but you can make your pie filling with differently-sized slices if you’d like.
- Uses for Filling: You can use this apple pie filling in other fall desserts, or you can eat it with ice cream. You may have some left over after making your pie, so feel free to get creative! Make this recipe and freeze the rest.
- Apple Varieties: Different varieties of apples will give your pie different tastes. Using multiple kinds of apples will add variety and flavor, especially if you mix both sweet and tart apples. Wonderful for caramel apple pie and other desserts.