This Apple Pie with Crumble Topping is filled with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a sweet, buttery crumble. It’s a delicious old-fashioned recipe that is easy to make and perfect for fall gatherings, family dinners, holidays, or whenever you’re craving a homemade apple dessert.

A slice of apple pie on a plate with the rest of the pie in the backgound.

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Unlike a traditional apple pie with a top crust, this recipe has a golden, buttery streusel topping that bakes into a crisp, crumbly topping over the sweet, cinnamon apple filling. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic dessert everyone will love.

If you have made my Peach Pie with Crumb Topping, you know my aunt shared this recipe with me many years ago. She noted that the peaches can be swapped for apples, so when I found an abundance of fresh-picked apples at my local Farmers Market, I decided to make the apple version using her recipe. I shared the pie with some friends, and they were begging for more.

Why You Will Love This Old-Fashioned Apple Pie with Crumble Topping

You will love this apple pie because it has all the flavors you expect from a classic homemade apple pie without the extra work of making a second pie crust.

The apple filling comes together with just a few ingredients, and the crumb topping is made with butter, flour, and sugar. The hardest part is peeling and slicing the apples, and once that is done, the pie goes together quickly.

Apple peeler, corer, slicer on the counter with apples lying around.

If you love making anything with apples, one of the best investments you can make is an apple peeler, corer, and slicer. I use mine whenever I make apple desserts because it peels, cores, and slices the apples all at once. You will get perfect slices every single time, and your pie will bake evenly.

This is also a wonderful recipe for a family gathering, Thanksgiving dinner, a potluck, or a fall dinner party.

INGREDIENTS

This apple pie recipe uses simple ingredients that let the flavor of the apples shine.

Apples
All-purpose flour
White sugar
Cinnamon
Butter
Unbaked pie crust
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional

EQUIPMENT

You will need the following to make this homemade apple pie with crumble topping:

How to Make Apple Pie with Crumble Topping

To make this apple pie, begin by peeling and slicing the apples. You will need 5 to 6 cups of peeled and thinly sliced apples. I recommend slicing the apples fairly thin, so they have plenty of time to become tender while the pie bakes. If the apple slices are thick, they will be crunchy instead of soft.

Apple peeler, corer, slicer on the counter with a sliced apple.

Note: If you make a lot of apple recipes, I highly recommend using an apple peeler, corer, and slicer. It will save you a tremendous amount of time.

For the apple pie filling, combine the sliced apples, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Stir until the apples are evenly coated, then pour the apple mixture into the unbaked pie crust.

Apple filling in one bowl and crumble topping in another.

Make the Crumbly Streusel Topping

The crumble topping is quick to prepare and only requires three ingredients.

Melt the butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the flour and sugar to the melted butter, then mix with a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture becomes crumbly and the pieces are about the size of small peas.

Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the top of the pie.

Apple Pie with Crumble topping before it is baked.

Bake the Apple Pie

Heat the oven to 375 degrees and bake the pie for 50 to 60 minutes. I usually bake my pie the full 60 minutes. This helps ensure a perfectly baked pie with tender apples and a flaky crust. If the pie is underbaked, the apples may still be crunchy, and the filling may not have thickened properly.

The crumble topping should be golden brown, and the apple filling should be bubbling around the edges. If the edges of the pie crust begin to brown too much before the pie is finished, cover the edges with a pie shield or a 2- to 3-inch-wide strip of aluminum foil. Be careful not to cover the crumble topping. You want it to bake until it is beautifully golden brown.

Whole Apple Pie with Crumble topping after it is baked it is baked.

Once the pie is finished baking, place it on a wire cooling rack. It is delicious served warm, but the filling continues to thicken as it cools, so cutting into the pie too soon can leave the filling a little soupy.

Helpful Tips for Baking Apple Pie

One thing I have learned from making fruit pies is that the filling can bubble over the edge of the pie dish while baking. To make cleanup easier, place the pie on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet before putting it in the oven.

A deep-dish 10-inch pie crust is also a good option if you want more room for the apple filling. If you are using a shallow 9-inch premade pie crust, be careful not to overfill it.

If the edges of the crust begin to brown too quickly, use a pie shield or cover just the edges with aluminum foil. Be careful not to cover the crumble topping.

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Pie?

You can use several different varieties of apples for this pie. When choosing apples for baking, look for varieties that hold their shape while baking. You can use sweet, tart, or a combination of both, depending on your preference.

Granny Smith apples are a classic choice for apple pie because their tart flavor pairs nicely with the sweetness of the sugar and crumble topping. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Braeburn apples are also good options. My personal favorite is Honeycrisp because I prefer a sweet, crisp apple over a tart variety. They are also my favorite apple to eat by itself.

NOTE: Red Delicious aren’t generally considered one of the best baking apples because they tend to become soft and lose their structure.

If you don’t have fresh apples on hand, you can use canned apples instead. However, the texture won’t be quite the same as if you use fresh apples.

Can I Use a Store-Bought Pie Crust?

Absolutely. A store-bought pie crust makes this apple pie especially convenient, but you can also use your favorite homemade pie crust. A gluten-free pie shell works well, too.

How to Store Apple Pie

If time allows, I generally bake my pies the morning of the day I plan to serve them. I let the pie sit at room temperature until it is time for dessert.

If you are serving the pie the same day, there is no need to cover it until after serving. If you are saving it for the next day, cover the cooled pie with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container. It will keep at room temperature for two to three days.

For longer storage, you can refrigerate the pie for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the crust will become softer and may get soggy the longer the pie sits.

Bon Appétit

There is something special about a homemade apple pie, especially when the kitchen smells like cinnamon and baked apples.

This Apple Pie with Crumble Topping is a wonderful dessert for fall, but there is no reason to wait for a special occasion to make it. It is just as welcome at a family dinner as it is on a Thanksgiving table.

And if you love old-fashioned pies, you might also enjoy my Grandma’s Chess Pie Recipe or Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie.

xoxo,
Molly