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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.
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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
What is the best container to put filling in the freezer? Can you put a glass jar in the freezer? How long does it keep in the freezer?
I prefer plastic when I freeze, but I’ve done it in a jar also. I’ll often freeze this in one of those semi-disposable ziploc containers, but you can use Tupperware or any similar thing. I err on the side of frozen for no longer than a month.
Hi. I make jam and marmalade when fruit is in season and it goes into sterilised screw top jars when it is still hot and then can be kept through the year until needed. The apple pie filling sounds great but I don’t want to keep it frozen . Would it keep ok in the same way ? I’m thinking it would not have as much sugar and I don’t want to heat it to a mush. Any advice appreciated.
I am sure you can – but I haven’t ever done it. Check out https://www.foodiewithfamily.com!
Can I can preserve without freezing
I have never done any canning. Check out https://www.foodiewithfamily.com
Please can I use canned apple pie filling?
LOVE this recipe. this is my daughter’s favorite! I always have make her own mason jar, because she loves them cold straight out of the fridge. So good!
Sounds delicious! Wondering how long the mixture will keep in the fridge?
To be safe, about 4 days.
Thank You
I made the Apple Pie Filling. I added also nutmeg and allspice.
“good recipe” and I like your site and name–I am a HUGE crust fan!
If you want to freeze this would you put it in large mason jars then freeze it and if so how long will it keep in the freezer. Can’t wait for the fall to make it.
Tried the apple filling recipe. Yummy!!! I then adapted it for a ginger/pear/ peach filling. Totally yummy!!! Thank you Dorothy, your recipes are the best.
Very nice and yummy apple 🍎 🍏 filling recipe, works!
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