Apple Caramel Crumble Pie

Welcome to my Apple Caramel Crumble Pie recipe. Two flavors that are are synonymous with deliciousness are caramel and apples. Add in a crunchy oat topping and a sweet pie crust and - voila! - you have a a dessert to please any apple lover. The combination of apples and a crumb topping is often referred to as a Dutch apple pie.

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Many of the ingredients in the filling are repeated in the crumb topping, which keeps all the flavors in balance with this dessert - it also simplifies your shopping list!

Jump to:

• Ingredient tips
• Pie Assembly
• Step by step video
• Baking tips
• More apple dessert recipes
• 📋 Recipe

Ingredient tips

Pie Crust

• A sweet pie crust works pairs beautifully with the other elements of this pie. Check out my sweet pie dough which produces a soft cookie-like crust and is strong enough to hold up to the heavy apple filling.

Apples

• I recommend Granny Smith, Fiji or Honey Crisp apples or a combination of these types.
• It is important to macerate the apples in sugar before filling your pie shell. This process simply draws out some of the juices from the apples - helping to prevent a soggy bottom crust. Here is how:
  • Peel, core and chop apples into ¼ inch slices.
  • Place apple slices in a bowl. Drizzle one tablespoon of lemon juice over apples and toss.
  • Sprinkle ½ cup of granulated sugar over apples. Toss gently until apples are evenly coated with sugar.
  • Allow apples to rest at room temperature for one hour.
  • Drain extra juices and begin preparing the pie filling.

Caramel sauce

• Use a caramel sauce that pours easily. You may make your own using my recipe here or purchase from your grocer's or online.

Pie Assembly

• The first step in making my fruit pies is to apply an egg wash to the pastry. To do this, lightly beat an egg and use a pastry brush to coat the bottom, sides, and outer edges of the crust. This simple step helps keep the bottom crust from getting soggy and also protects the outer crust from burning as it bakes. The egg wash creates a thin layer that seals in the moisture from the fruit filling, giving you a pie with a nicely baked crust.
• Layer the ingredients into the pie shell as follows:
  • Place half of the apples into the pie shell.
  • Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over apples.
  • Place the second half of the apples over caramel sauce.
  • Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over the apples.
  • Pile the crumble over the filling, mounding it up in the middle. Lightly press down on the crumb topping.

Step by step video

Baking tips

• If you have read my other pie recipes you already know I recommend chilling assembled pies for several minutes before placing in the oven. This helps prevent the crust from shrinking and burning.
• Bake on a pie drip shield or a cookie sheet - who wants to scrub pie drippings out of their oven! I recommend a pie drip pan with a hole in the middle. This allows heat to reach the bottom crust more thoroughly.
• Check the crust after 25 - 30 minutes of baking. Place a pie shield over the crust if it is turning too dark - alternatively wrap the crust loosely in foil.
• Cool pie completely before serving. Consider scoring the crumb topping while the pie is still warm. This will give you cleaner slices as the topping is quite crunchy which can make it difficult to cut through.
• This pie is wonderful ala mode or drizzled with more caramel sauce - one can never have too much caramel!

More apple dessert recipes

Love apples in your desserts? Take a look at the following recipes for more inspiration:

I hope you enjoy this Apple Caramel Crumble Pie as much as my family and friends do!

📋 Recipe