This pie series isn't over yet! We've got one more pie for this up coming Thanksgiving season! Caramel Apple Pie. A delicious spin on traditional apple pie that will surely become a new family favorite. This pie is bursting with flavor while still keeping the integrity of traditional homemade apple pie. Who doesn't love a little caramel with their apples? Sign me up! You won't want to miss out of this amazing and easy recipe!
Easy Apple Pie
I know when many people see apple pie, they think a hard, labor intensive pie. Not this one! This easy caramel apple pie is quick to assemble and delicious to eat. Within 30 minutes, you will have a beautiful pie baking in the oven filling your home with the best smells of fall.
What apples should be used in apple pie?
The two best apples to use for apple pie are Honey Crisp, and Granny Smith. Both these apples make great pies because the both are firmer apples that maintain their shape and don't break down when baking. Honey Crisp apples are sweet and will intensify the sweet flavor of the caramel. Granny Smith Apples are more tart and will give the perfect balance with the caramel sauce.
Should I precook my apples before baking?
No! Do not precook the apples before baking. This pie bakes for 45 minutes and the apples will become a perfect tender texture in that time frame. If you precook the apples you will have a mushy mess of apples. It also would make it hard to work with while assembling the pie.
Should I precook my crust before baking?
Just like the apples, NO! Do not precook the crust. The time allotted gives both the apples and the crust plenty of time to cook at an even rate leaving you with a perfectly cooked caramel apple pie.
How do you thicken Apple Pie filling?
Most apple pies use cornstarch to help thicken the apple pie filling. This pie uses cornstarch and also the caramel topping that goes in the pie as well. Depending on what time of caramel you use, this may make your pie a little runnier. If you allow the pie to fully cool and set, your pie shouldn't be runny.
We recommend using our homemade caramel sauce for Caramel Apple Pie.
How to make Caramel Apple Pie
Let's make caramel apple pie!
Start by making or buying your favorite double pie crust. You will need a enough pie crust for the bottom of the pan and the top of the apples.
Next peel and cut your apples, either Honey Crisp or Granny Smith, into thin, quarter inch slices.
Put the sliced apples into a large bowl. Pour lemon juice over the apples and set aside. Lemon juice helps the apples from discoloring.
In a small bowl combine white sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Pour the spice mixture on top of the sliced apples and stir gently until the apples are well coated.
Pour the season, sliced apples into the prepared pie crust.
Now for the caramel sauce! Pour the warmed caramel sauce evenly over the apple pie filling. Some of sauce will stay on top of the apples while some of the sauce will seep down. This is perfect! The flavor will be well distributed.
Top the pie with more crust and seal the sides. An easy way to seal the sides is wetting the bottom lip of the pie crust and pinch together the two crusts. Top the pie with an egg wash and sprinkle with course crystal sugar. Make three slits on the top the crust to help with ventilation as the pie cooks.
Bake your Caramel Apple Pie for 40-45 minutes. Let cool before cutting and serving to help maintain the shape of the apple pie.
Serve with additional caramel sauce for the top and ice cream or whipped cream!
Other Delicious Thanksgiving pies for entertaining
Cranberry Cheesecake with White Chocolate
PrintCaramel Apple Pie
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Homemade apple pie with the delicious flavor of caramel, topped with your favorite vanilla ice cream and extra caramel sauce for serving.
Ingredients
- 1 double pie crust
- 5-6 medium Honey Crisp or Granny Smith apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Start by making or buying your favorite double pie crust. You will need a enough pie crust for the bottom of the pan and the top of the apples. Press the pie dough in a 9 inch pie pan.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Peel and cut your apples, either Honey Crisp or Granny Smith, into thin, quarter inch slices.
- Put the sliced apples into a large bowl. Pour lemon juice over the apples and set aside. Lemon juice helps the apples from discoloring.
- In a small bowl combine white sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- Pour the spice mixture on top of the sliced apples and stir gently until the apples are well coated.
- Pour the seasoned sliced apples into the prepared pie crust. The apples should go about an inch higher than the rim of the pie pan. This will help prevent a gap between your pie crust and apples when the apples bake and settle.
- Pour warmed caramel sauce evenly over the apple pie filling. Some of sauce will stay on top of the apples while some of the sauce will seep down. This is perfect! The flavor will be well distributed.
- Top the pie with the top portion of the crust and seal the sides. An easy way to seal the sides is wetting the bottom lip of the pie crust and pinch together the two crusts.
- In a small dish, mix together the egg yolk and water. With a cooking brush, brush the pie with the egg wash. Make sure to cover the whole pie, but don't leave any puddles of egg wash.
- Sprinkle with course crystal sugar.
- Make three slits on the top the crust to help with ventilation as the pie cooks.
- Place the pie on a cookie sheet and bake your Caramel Apple Pie for 40-45 minutes.
- Let cool before cutting and serving to help maintain the shape of the apple pie.
- Serve with additional caramel sauce for the top and ice cream or whipped cream!
Notes
- Use Honey Crisp or Granny Smith Apples for best results
- Place the pie pan on a cookie sheet while baking to prevent spilling in your oven.
- Save the egg white for another meal!
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: caramel apple pie, What are the best apples for apple pie? Apple pie recipe, Homemade apple pie, Caramel apple pie, Easy apple pie, Moms apple pie, Homemade Apple pie filling, Thanksgiving pie, Thanksgiving recipe, Do you cook the apple before making apple pie?, Should I precook my pie crust for apple pie?, How do you thicken apple pie filling?
Shara Nelson
This was absolutely delicious! The caramel and the seasoned apples worked together perfectly! So yummy!
★★★★★
JC
I don't usually like apple pie, but I really enjoyed this one.
★★★★★
Jed
I was worried it would be too runny. I used the caramel recipe in the link and it turned out perfect
★★★★★
Lauren Michael Harris
My husband loves two sweets more than anything - apple pie and caramel. I've never thought to put caramel in an apple pie before, but it was amazing! We really enjoyed it!
★★★★★
Zach
I did add some extra sugar/cinnamon mixture, but it was a great twist on my favorite holiday treat.
★★★★★
Sara Welch
This was everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Excited to serve this again for Christmas; will be the perfect ending to a holiday meal!
★★★★★