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Homemade Apple Pie Filling Recipe – this easy recipe takes just a few minutes and tastes so much better than canned pie filling! Keep it in your freezer for when you want pie filling ASAP!
You never need to buy the can of pie filling again – just whip up this easy recipe to use for your pies or an easy side dish.
Best Apple Pie Filling Recipe
I never buy canned apple pie filling unless it’s for a recipe, because in all honesty, I don’t really like canned pie filling very much. Sure, I use it, because it’s easy and makes things like dump cake or slab pie even easier than normal, and you all love easy recipes. But then I realized something: I can make my own apple pie filling. It will taste better, be fresher, and I can use it in so many recipes (like the best apple strudel recipe or apple crisp).
This easy recipe is a cooked easy apple pie filling, made on the stovetop, and is perfect to use immediately, eat over the week, or freeze for later. Normally we make crockpot applesauce after we go apple picking, but this year we’re also going to make more apple pie filling too – and I’m going to use it to make my classic apple pie recipe.
Apple Pie Filling Ingredients
- Apples: I used Granny Smith apples because the tart/sweet combination is great, plus they’re more sturdy and can hold up to cooking. You can also use honeycrisp if you want.
- Cornstarch: This is what thickens the pie filling
- Sugar: Granulated, for sweetness – but you can swap brown sugar if you prefer in equal amounts.
- Water: Gives the liquid to the filling – you could substitute apple juice or apple cider, but you’d want to reduce the sugar.
- Lemon: Adds a brightness to the flavor
- Spices: Cinnamon and Nutmeg are perfect for apple pie, you can also use pumpkin pie spice!
How to make Apple Pie Filling
- Place apples in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice. I don’t peel my apples and I usually do bite size chunks instead of apple slices, but you can do what you prefer. If you’re going to peel your apples, use an apple peeler or a sharp knife.
- Place sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan or large pot. Stir to combine. This makes a sort of cornstarch slurry.
- Add water and stir, then bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
- I like to cover the pot to help this process along.
- Once the mixture boils, boil it for two minutes.
- Add the apples, turn to a simmer, and cover. Cook, stirring often, until the apples soften, about 5-8 minutes.
- Pour into jars to cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate. The mixture will thicken more as it cools.
Best Crust to use with this recipe:
This recipe is perfect when baked into my All Butter Homemade Pie Crust. Or make a completely no-bake pie using my graham cracker crust!
FAQs
This apple pie filling recipe is designed to cook and cool, then use in a pie or in anything else, or eat alone as a side dish.
This recipe uses corn starch so it is gluten-free.
I do not recommend canning this recipe because it uses cornstarch. You should never can anything thickened with cornstarch. This recipe can be frozen for later thawing and use.
Freeze in airtight containers – I prefer using plastic – for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator.
Homemade Apple Pie Filling Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups apples peeled, cored, and diced
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 3 cups (711ml) water
- 1 ⅓ cups (267g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (42g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Place apples in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice.
- Place water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine then bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Once the mixture boils, boil it for two minutes. Add the apples, turn to a simmer, and cover. Cook, stirring often, until the apples soften, about 5-8 minutes.
- Pour into jars to cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate. The mixture will thicken more as it cools.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
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If you’re looking for other things to make with this recipe, be sure to check out more of my recipes below:
Last Updated on December 11, 2023
How long can I leave this in the refrigerator? I need to make pies for a wedding on September 25th. Can I make this now and use then or do I need to freeze?
Definitely freeze it if it will be more than a week.
Can I use your homemade apple pie filling for apple pie or pancake or anything? When the recipe said “one can apple pie filling”, how many cups should I use homemade apple pie filling?
1 can of pie filling is about 2 1/2-3 cups I believe.
Can this pie filling be canned in a water bath for future use ?
I have not ever tried canning it.
I did a water bath can for 25 minutes with this recipe and it worked great. I got the idea from a homesteading book I have that has an apple pie filling recipe with instructions for water bath canning. It says leave 1 inch headspace in a quart jar.
I have heard something about cornstarch and canning being not good – so be sure and check on that before you try.
I made this around Christmas time and loved it!!💕 Everyone that I have shared it with want the recipe. 😄
Thank you for sharing!!
Made this several times now and everyone loves it!
So easy and yummy! Have tried many fillings. Only use this one now. He loves it!
Thank you! I’ve never been complimented for apple pie filling before yours!
I tried this recipe last night and it turned out absolutely delicuous!! I highly recommend you try it!
I will be using this for thankgiving. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
11.24.2021
Very Tasty…
I just made this filling for my pie tomorrow and it’s just Heavenly. I used a 3 lb bag of Granny Smith apples. Any leftovers will go into the freezer.
Thank you for sharing.
THIS MAY BE MY THIRD HOLIDAY SEASON APPLE PIE MAKING TIME AND I LOVE THIS RECEIPT FOR FREEZING AS WELL. THANKS
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