This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Classic apple pie with a buttery crumb topping! Juicy apples with a flaky crust, topped with irresistible streusel. This is the best apple pie!
Is there anything better than the smell of apples and cinnamon on a fall day? There’s nothing like a slice of this Apple Pie with Crumb Topping to put a smile on your face. This easy apple pie is perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner, or a cozy fall dessert for Sunday dinner.
You might know this pie as a Dutch Apple Pie – which is simply the name for an apple pie that features a cinnamon crumb or streusel topping in place of a double crust. I will happily take a buttery crumb topping over extra pie crust any day!
And because apples are available year-round at the grocery store, make this any time of year, although it’s extra incredible in the fall with orchard fresh apples that you’ve twisted and pulled from an apple tree with your very own hands.
Let’s make this together.
Ashley ❤️
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin It NowBest Apples for Apple Pie
When you are baking with apples, it is best to use a firm, tart apple like a Granny Smith. Those are the bright green, beautiful apples that you see at the grocery store. When baked, Granny Smith Apples become less tart and more sweet and delicious.
Granny Smith are my preferred choice for this recipe, but here’s a list of options to choose from:
- Granny Smith
- Honeycrisp
- Braeburn
- Golden Delicious
- Fuji
Crust for Apple Pie with Crumble Topping
Baking apple pie from scratch is something that everyone should experience at least once. While the crumble topping is the star of the show, the bottom crust is important too and part of the fun of making a pie from scratch.
Of course you can use a pre-made crust to save time, but I recommend that you make your own. In the recipe card below, you will find detailed instructions on how to make homemade pie crust. Here are a few tips to be successful:
- Cold Ingredients – make sure that all of your pie crust ingredients are as cold as possible. Do not pull anything out of the refrigerator until you absolutely need it.
- Cut butter into cubes – then freeze the butter for about 30 minutes. If it is warm out, I also recommend that you measure out the flour that you need and freeze it as well.
- Use chilled flour to coat the rolling pin
- Place the rolling pin in the refrigerator or freezer – about 5 minutes before making the crust.
Are you seeing the trend here? Cold, cold, cold ensures you have the perfect pie crust.
After you roll out the dough and place it in the pie tin, keep it in the freezer while you work on the other parts of the pie.
Pre-Made Crust
If you do not want to make a homemade crust, use your favorite pre-made crust from the grocery store. Marie Calendar makes a pastry pie shell that works well for this easy Apple Pie with crumble topping. The baking time will not change.
Crumb Topping for Apple Pie
The cinnamon crumb topping / streusel is the star of the show and it is so easy to make! It adds texture and sweetness and adds a buttery rich element to the apple pie. To make crumb topping for an apple pie, you will need:
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter – cut into cubes and frozen prior to using
- Brown Sugar
- Salt
Pro tip: when making the crumble topping, feel free to use your fingers to combine the flour, butter, and brown sugar. A food processor is not required.
How to Warm Up Apple Pie
Apple Pie is always even better when it is eaten fresh out of the oven and topped with vanilla ice cream and my homemade caramel sauce.
Should you have leftover pies or intend to make Apple Pie ahead of time, it’ll last for up to three days. To reheat apple pie:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To reheat the entire pie: cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes
- To reheat slices of pie: cover with foil and bake for about 10 minutes or until warm.
I hope you enjoy this recipe for Apple Pie with Crumb Topping as much as we do! As always, if you enjoyed the recipe, please come back here and leave a comment to let us know what you think or tag us on social media.
Enjoy!
Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
PIE CRUST INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter cut in cubes and frozen
- 2 tablespoons ice water
FILLING INGREDIENTS
- 5 large apples
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
CRUMB TOPPING INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut in cubes and frozen
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the pie crust: Mix together flour, sugar, and salt and place in a food processor. Add in the cubed butter and pulse 10 times, or until the mixture looks like crumbs the size of lentils.
- Pour the ice water around the flour mixture and pulse for another four times. Check the mixture by gently pressing on it. If it does not stick together, add another tablespoon of ice water and pulse another two times.
- Turn out the mixture onto plastic wrap and shape into a disc. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
- Once chilled, roll out until it is about 12 inches in diameter and place in a 9-inch pie tin. Freeze the pie tin with the dough while you make the filling.
- Cut and core the apples. You can peel them first, but it is not mandatory. Quickly toss with the cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature as you make the crumb topping.
- Add the flour, butter, brown sugar, and salt together in your food processor (you don’t have to wash out the food processor from making the pie crust). Pulse for about 10 times until the mixture resembles large crumbs. You can also use clean hands for this step or two forks.
- Take the pie crust from the freezer and fill with the apple filling, then the crumb topping.
- Place in the freezer as you preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake the pie for about 20 minutes. Cover, then bake for another 30 – 40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling.
More Fall Desserts with Apples
Looking for more delicious apple recipes? I’ve got you covered.
Try these Mini Apple Pies with Streusel Topping for a bite-sized treat,
Or this Homemade Apple Pie for a more traditional Apple Pie recipe.
Oh! And let’s not forget this Easy Stovetop Apple Butter
Or this Pumpkin Apple Spice Cake
Pie Crust Recipe from Martha Stewart
