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Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie Filling

August 31, 2020 by thedomesticrebel | 15 Comments

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Photo of apple pie filling in an unbaked crust with cinnamon sticks and apples in background

It’s almost pie season and you’ve gotta be prepared with this Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie Filling! Thick, flavorful, and bursting with tender, juicy apples for all your pie baking needs and more!

I cannot believe we are one day away from September! This year has both felt like it has sped by but also dragged by, if that makes any sense! Certain times I felt like time was zooming by, but other times everything felt as if time was crawling. Let’s just say, I’m excited for this crazy year to be over!

However, despite the craziness that has affected the world and me personally, I am still excited for fall weather and the end-of-the-year holidays. I’m hoping nothing too insane will happen, like a rabid baboon invasion or fire-breathing lizards. I’m just glad the murder hornets were like, “yeah, we’ll come back later. Looks like ya’ll are a lil busy on Earth for us.” Thank you, murder hornets!

Anyway, back to fall! Fall food and baking is probably one of my faves, a very close second only to Christmas baking. When the weather starts to change here in Sacramento, I really get that cozy fall feeling – the cooler temps, the crisp breeze in the air – it’s such a nice reprieve from the sweltering, punishing summer heat! And of course, the second the temps change, I have fully transitioned into fall mode: sweaters, boots, scarves, apple cider, pumpkin! And obviously: PIES! Pies may be my fave part of fall!

My all-time fave pie is apple, so I knew I wanted to make my own Homemade Apple Pie Filling to have on stand-by for all my pie-baking cravings. This homemade version is SO simple to make, uses pantry staples you already have on hand and tastes a million times better than the canned stuff (and truthfully, I do like the canned stuff!). But once you have homemade, you’ll be able to taste the difference.

Apple pie filling in an unbaked pie crust with a wooden spoon and a green appleFor the best homemade apple pie filling, I like using a mixture of apples: Honeycrisp and Granny Smith. Granny Smith are quintessential baking apples and most commonly used in pie recipes, but I love the bright and slight tartness of the Honeycrisp, and it is sturdy enough to bake with. Other great options are Braeburn and Golden Delicious.

Closeup of wooden spoon holding some apple pie filling over a black potYou’ll simply prepare the “sauce” in a saucepan, then toss in the apples and lightly simmer for 10 minutes which tenderizes the apples and thickens the sauce. Let cool slightly, then jar up and store in the fridge or immediately bake into a pie! I recommend making my Apple Crisp Pie topping!

And don’t let Homemade Apple Pie Filling be limited to only pies! Spoon it warm over vanilla ice cream, fold it into thawed whipped topping and serve with graham crackers, or blend it into a milkshake!

Apple pie filling in an unbaked pie crust on wooden background with apples

Apple pie filling in an unbaked pie crust
Print Recipe
4.20 from 5 votes

Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie Filling

This truly is the best Homemade Apple Pie Filling! Easy, comes together quickly, uses pantry ingredients you have on hand and tastes amazing!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Dessert, Pie
Cuisine: American, Dessert
Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (about 3 medium) Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced thin
  • 1 cup (about 1 medium) Honeycrisp apple peeled, cored, and sliced thin
  • 3 cups water
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg until blended. Add in the water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Carefully add the apples to the boiling sauce mixture and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer the apples in the sauce, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until apples are tender and sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove the apple pie filling from the heat and stir in the salted butter. Let the mixture cool for about 10-15 minutes before transferring to a Mason jar or resealable container to store, or use it immediately to bake a pie. Apple pie filling can be stored airtight in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

I like using a mixture of Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp for a little different flavor and variety. You can use all Granny Smith, or try using Granny Smith with Braeburn or Golden Delicious. Choose sturdier apples that won't disintegrate into the cooked filling. 
Apple pie filling can be stored airtight in a jar in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. 

Closeup of apple pie filling in a pot with a wooden spoonButtery, thick, gooey and so delicious, this apple pie filling immediately evokes feelings of coziness in fall weather!

Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie Filling photo collage

Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

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Comments

  1. Paige says

    September 5, 2020 at 12:11 pm

    I was wondering if you could use this for cobbler? Also, does recipe yield for one pie? Thanks so much. Can’t wait to make this!! Love all your recipes!

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      September 6, 2020 at 3:11 pm

      Hi Paige, yes, it yields one pie – I will add that to the recipe for future reference. And you may absolutely use it as a cobbler filling!

      Reply
      • GEORGEOXENHO says

        October 27, 2021 at 10:31 am

        5 stars
        Makes terrific cobbler filling..

        Reply
  2. Tave says

    September 26, 2020 at 7:09 am

    Does lend well to being canned?

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      September 26, 2020 at 7:02 pm

      Hi Tave! I have never canned before so I cannot say for sure unfortunately!

      Reply
    • Shirley says

      September 5, 2021 at 11:55 pm

      If you going to can the apple pie filling you need to use clear jel instead of corn starch

      Reply
  3. Chrissy says

    November 23, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    How long do you cook the apple pie for if cooking immediately?

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      November 23, 2020 at 2:03 pm

      Hi Chrissy, I would probably bake for about 45-50 minutes at 350, tenting with foil if the top browns too quickly.

      Reply
  4. bcolliemom says

    November 25, 2020 at 6:29 am

    4 stars
    Very good but a little too much liquid for one pie. I will cut it down next time

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 5, 2022 at 5:50 am

      Yes, I was wondering that looking at pic.
      It looks like there’s too much liquid. 🙁

      Reply
  5. Jazzy says

    November 27, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing pie filling!! One of the best I have tried. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness and the thick filling doesn’t make my crust soggy.

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      November 27, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      Jazzy, so happy you enjoyed the pie filling!

      Reply
  6. Christina says

    January 10, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    2 stars
    Too wet and too sweet. The flavor of the apples was lost and the pie was slop. I do not recommend.

    Reply
  7. Astrid says

    November 25, 2021 at 11:38 am

    I think cooking the apples in the liquid on the stove then baking the pie for 45-50 min. I imagine the apples would turn into apple sauce. I have extra apples so I may cook them on the stove with the left over liquid and then jar it up. My guys will be happy eating it right out of the jar. They loved my copycat Cracker Barrel fried apples. The fried apples were so easy.

    Reply
  8. Suzanne says

    November 22, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    5 stars
    This is the only recipe I use to make apple pie! Also, I found that using 2 cups of water is better than 3 cups as it has less liquid overflowing as it cooks. It turns out perfect with 2 cups water!!

    Reply

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About me

Welcome to The Domestic Rebel! My name is Hayley and I am the 31-year old writer, photographer, recipe developer, taste-tester and creator of this blog. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by my little slice of sprinkly, butter-laden heaven on the interwebs. If it wasn’t apparent, I like to bake… a lot. Read More…

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