Description
Grandma’s classic apple crumble pie brings warmth and nostalgia to family gatherings. Buttery pastry, cinnamon-spiced apples, and crispy crumble topping invite comforting memories of home-baked goodness you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Ingredients:
Fruits:
- 6 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 teaspoons granulated sugar
Flours and Thickeners:
- 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
Butter:
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Spices and Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Additional Ingredients:
- 2–4 tablespoons ice water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 0.25 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 375°F (190°C) to ensure optimal baking temperature for the pie.
- Combine apple slices with lemon juice, creating a bright coating that prevents browning while adding a subtle tang to the filling.
- Incorporate sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla into the apple mixture, thoroughly coating each slice to develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Transfer the seasoned apple mixture into the prepared pie crust, arranging the slices evenly to create a uniform base.
- Create the crumble topping by blending flour, sugars, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl, ensuring a consistent dry mixture.
- Integrate cold butter into the dry ingredients, using a pastry cutter or fingertips to generate a coarse, crumbly texture that will provide a delightful crisp layer.
- Distribute the crumble topping generously and uniformly across the apple filling, covering the entire surface for maximum textural contrast.
- Position the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit filling that indicates complete cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool for a minimum of 30 minutes, enabling the filling to set and flavors to meld before serving.
Notes
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced sweet-tangy flavor and perfect texture that holds up during baking.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose blend in both crust and crumble topping.
- Prevent a soggy bottom crust by preheating a baking sheet and placing the pie directly on the hot surface, which helps crisp the bottom and ensures even cooking.
- Enhance the crumble’s texture by freezing butter chunks for 10-15 minutes before cutting into the dry ingredients, resulting in a more flaky and distinct crumbly topping.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 315 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg