Apple Pie Filling Recipe
My homemade apple pie filling cooks on the stovetop with fresh apples, brown and white sugar, and cinnamon for a perfect, glossy filling. Makes enough filling for one 9-inch pie!
Equipment
- Large Pot
Ingredients
- 8 medium apples peeled, cored, and sliced (3 pounds, 1.35kg)
- ⅓ cup lemon juice (80mL)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar (133g)
- ⅔ cup brown sugar light or dark (140g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (113g)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ cup water (120mL)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice.
- Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then toss to combine.
- In a large skillet or pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer about 2 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the apples soften and release most of their juices, about 7 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Add it to the apples and continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- For a more intense apple flavor: You can substitute the water for apple juice or apple cider.
- Use different warm spices: You can add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Or, swap the cinnamon for apple pie spice. Play around with other baking spices like ginger, allspice, and cardamom to suit your taste.
- Add vanilla: After removing the filling from the heat, you can mix in two teaspoons of vanilla extract or a scraped vanilla bean. Vanilla complements the apple flavor very well and adds depth of flavor.
- Add liquor: A splash of bourbon, aged or spiced rum, or amaretto stirred in at the end will liven up the flavor! I love jazzing up the apples this way when I plan to use them as a topping on ice cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 475kcal Carbohydrates: 88g Protein: 1g Fat: 16g Saturated Fat: 10g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 41mg Sodium: 13mg Potassium: 314mg Fiber: 6g Sugar: 71g Vitamin A: 607IU Vitamin C: 16mg Calcium: 48mg Iron: 1mg