Homemade Apple Pie Filling

This recipe for Homemade Apple Pie Filling is incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious. It has a thick and gooey texture, filled with cinnamon-flavored apples that have a sweet-tart taste. You can use this filling in your favorite pie crust or serve it alongside other pastries like Peach Crisp.

Recipe Details

This Homemade Apple Pie Filling is a simple and flavorful treat that everyone will love. Here are some details about the taste, texture, and preparation time:

• Taste: The filling has a sweet and tart flavor from the green apples, with a touch of cinnamon. The brown sugar adds a rich sweetness to it.
• Texture: The filling is thick and syrupy, with chunks of tender apples throughout.
• Preparation Time: It takes just 25 minutes to make this filling.
• Ease: This recipe uses simple ingredients and the best apples for baking, making it quick and easy to create this homemade treat.

What You’ll Need

To make this Homemade Apple Pie Filling, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredient Notes

Here are some notes about the ingredients used in this recipe:

• Apples: Granny Smith apples are recommended for their sweet-tart flavor, but you can also use other varieties.
• Cornstarch: This ingredient is used to thicken the filling and give it a syrup-like texture.
• Brown Sugar: The molasses in brown sugar adds a richer sweetness to the filling.
• Lemon: Lemon juice is added to enhance the sweetness of the apples and prevent them from browning.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Here are some additional ingredients you can use or substitute in this Homemade Apple Pie Filling:

• Substitute the Cornstarch: Instead of cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder, potato starch, or tapioca starch to thicken the filling.
• Add Butter: For added richness, you can incorporate unsalted butter into the filling. Avoid using salted butter to prevent adding excessive salt to the recipe.
• Substitute the Apples: You can use other apple varieties such as Jonagold, Golden Delicious, or Honeycrisp.
• Add Other Spices: Consider adding nutmeg, cloves, allspice, or ginger for a warm and spicy flavor.

How to Make Apple Pie Filling

Follow these steps to make Homemade Apple Pie Filling:

1. Prepare the liquid base: In a saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
2. Slice the apples: Peel and slice the apples into 1/4-inch thick slices, and add them to the saucepan. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the apples simmer for 6-8 minutes, or until they become moderately soft. Mix in the vanilla extract.
3. Thicken the filling, if necessary: If the filling is too runny, remove a few tablespoons of the liquid and mix it with cornstarch to create a slurry. Add the slurry back into the filling to thicken it.
4. Cool and store: Allow the filling to cool. Then, you can either pour it into a pie crust or transfer it to glass jars. Close the lids tightly and store in the refrigerator. The filling will continue to thicken as it sits.

Recipe Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind when making Homemade Apple Pie Filling:

• Peel the Apples: Removing the peel before slicing the apples ensures they become tender and juicy while baking. The peel can be tough in the filling.
• Don’t Overcook the Apples: Be careful not to let the apples simmer for too long as they can become mushy. You want them to be moderately soft.
• Avoid Clumps when Using Cornstarch: Make a slurry by mixing cornstarch with water separately before adding it to the filling. This prevents clumps from forming.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Homemade Apple Pie Filling:

Serving Suggestions

This Homemade Apple Pie Filling is versatile and can be served in various ways:

• Ice Cream: Bake the filling in a pie crust and serve it alongside some vanilla ice cream.
• Pies/Cobblers: Pair the filling with other pies or cobblers like Blueberry Pie, Perfect Peach Pie, Cherry Cobbler, or Chocolate Cream Pie.
• Pastries: Enjoy the filling with pastries such as Pear Tart, Peach Galette, Easy Raspberry Cheese Danish, or Peach Crisp.
• Cakes: Serve the filling with a slice of New York Style Cheesecake, Pumpkin Cake, Lemon Pound Cake, or Berry Chantilly Cake.

Make This Recipe in Advance

You can make this Homemade Apple Pie Filling ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it in a pie crust. It will last for about 2 weeks in an airtight container like a mason jar. Alternatively, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to a year.

More Tasty Pastries and Fillings!

If you enjoy this Homemade Apple Pie Filling, check out these other delicious recipes:

• Blueberry Pie Filling
• Easy Napoleon Cake Recipe
• Simple Cherry Pie Filling
• Baked Brie in Puff Pastry