Dutch Apple Crumb Pie

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Learn how to make an easy Dutch apple crumb pie from scratch. Make it homemade with crumb-topped cinnamon spiced apples, baked in the best pie crust ever!

Apple crumb pie is one dessert I make every fall and Thanksgiving, and I love to enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or cinnamon ice cream).

While apple pie and apple crisp without oats taste good any time of year, there's something about going to the orchard when the air is just getting crisp outside, picking up a bushel of apples, and making all the apple recipes, including this apple pie with crumb topping.

When it comes to apple pie, I love using the freshest apple I can possibly find. It adds so much more flavor into the pie than the average store-bought apple.

One of my favorite things about making apple crumble pie is the fact that you don't have to add a top crust. While a top crust isn't necessarily hard, Dutch apple pie topping is easier and quicker.

This pie actually inspired one of my favorite personal-sized desserts with a crumb topping, stuffed pears.

What is Dutch Apple Pie?

Dutch apple pie is easier than a traditional apple pie because it only involves a single pie crust. Instead of the second crust, the delicious apple pie filling is covered with a streusel topping that crumbles right over the apples.

That streusel topping is made with butter, flour, and sugar.

sliced apple crumb pie in glass Pyrex pie plate

Why This Recipe Works

  • This is definitely my favorite apple pie recipe, not only because it's easy to make, but also because it's so delicious. If you're a beginner pie baker, apple pie with streusel topping is definitely the best apple pie recipe to start with on your pie making journey. You can even make delicious baked cinnamon apples without the crust.
  • The combination of the cinnamon apple pie filling with the buttery streusel topping makes a pie that everyone will love.
  • The butter, combined with the sugar and brown sugar, give the topping a slightly crispy texture with every single bite.
apple crumb pie ingredients on white marble countertop

Ingredient Notes

  • Pie Crust – This is the perfect pie crust and my favorite crust to use. I usually make it gluten-free, but you can make it with regular all-purpose flour, as well. It's a buttery crust that adds loads of flavor to your pie.
  • Apples – For any kind of apple crisp, cobbler, crumble, or pie, I love using seconds; seconds are imperfect apples you can often buy cheaper and in bulk at an orchard or farmer's market. I prefer to use Jonathan apples or Jonagold apples. Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathans and Golden Delicious, and they are so sweet, tart, and crisp. Some more of the best apples to use for pie include Granny Smith apples, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cortland, and Northern Spy. According to Bob's Red Mill, Northern Spy is a rare apple and hard to find; but if you love apple pie, it's definitely one you may want to hunt down.
  • All-Purpose Flour – While I use a gluten-free flour, you can also use a regular all-purpose flour.
  • Lemon Juice – I prefer to use my favorite Minute Maid lemon juice, which you can find in the freezer juice section of the grocery store.

How to Make Apple Crumb Pie

There are 3 parts to this wonderful autumn dessert, including the crust, the apple pie filling, and the crumble topping. Let's start with the crust.

Make the Pie Crust…

If you prefer a traditional roll-out crust, this pie crust is the way to go. If you want to keep it easy, try  making this no-roll pie crust or use a store bought pie crust.

Make the Apple Pie Filling…

  1. Wash, core, peel, and thinly slice the apples, adding them to a large bowl. An apple peeler makes this process so much easier and quicker too.
  2. Melt the butter, and mix it into the prepared apples. Then add the sour cream, sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Mix together well.
  3. Take your pie crust out of the fridge, and pour the apple mixture into the pie shell.
steps for how to make apple crumb pie, including mixing sliced apples with sugar, spices, and sour cream in mint green mixing bowl, then pouring apple pie filling into pie crust

Make the Dutch Apple Pie Topping…

  1. Add flour, brown sugar, and sugar to a small mixing bowl, and mix together well.
  2. Slice cold butter into the dry ingredients.
  3. Then mix together with a pastry blender. It will form into a nice crumbly mixture.
  4. Top off your pie with the crumble topping, making sure you crumble it all up around the edge, as well.
how to make Dutch apple pie topping, including mixing sugar and flour with cold butter, then crumbling over apple pie

How to Bake Apple Pie…

Place your pie plate on a baking sheet (a cookie sheet works just fine), and bake at 375° F for about an hour. And as I've recommended before, you can use a pie shield to keep your crust from getting too brown around the edges.

Once your Dutch apple crumb pie is done, take it out of the oven, and allow it to cool on a wire rack. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

half eaten slice of apple pie with crumb topping, with scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, on white plate

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's

How do you know when a Dutch apple pie is done?

The crust and crumb topping will turn a nice golden brown. The apple pie filling will also be very bubbly, and the apples will soften; you can test them with a fork.

How do I store it?

You can make this pie in advance, but I wouldn't recommend more than a day ahead of time, unless you're going to freeze the pie. To store the pie, I recommend covering it well and placing it in the refrigerator. You can warm it up the next day at a low temperature in the oven, or in the microwave.

Can you freeze apple pie?

Yes, you can freeze this deep dish apple crumb pie. Just make sure it’s covered well so it doesn’t get freezer burn. You may also want to make it in a pie dish you don’t plan to use again before you take the pie out of the freezer; or use a disposable aluminum pie plate. When you're ready to eat it, be sure to allow plenty of time to thaw before serving.

Can I make this pie gluten-free?

You can absolutely make it gluten-free by substituting a good gluten-free flour (<— this one's my favorite) for the all-purpose flour. And then also make the pie crust with gluten-free flour. Also, be sure to check labels on all of the ingredients, just to be safe, especially the spices you use, because they can be a risk for cross-contamination.

slice of apple pie with streusel topping on white plate with fork

MORE FAMILY FAVORITE PIE RECIPES:

Find more holiday dessert recipes on my list of Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

Dutch Apple Crumb Pie

How to make an easy Dutch apple crumb pie from scratch. Homemade with crumb-topped cinnamon spiced apples, baked in the best pie crust ever!
4.49 from 27 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts, Pies & Pastries
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 265kcal
Author: Mel Lockcuff

Ingredients

Apple Pie Filling:

Crumb Topping:

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1/4 cup salted butter sliced cold

Instructions

  • Make a single pie crust and have it ready to go beforehand.
  • Pre-heat your oven to 375° F.

Apple Pie Filling:

  • Wash, core, peel, and thinly slice the apples, adding them to a large bowl.
  • Melt the butter, and mix it into the prepared apples.
  • Then add the sour cream, sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Mix together well.
  • Pour the apple pie filling into the pie shell.

Crumb Topping:

  • Mix together the flour, brown sugar, and sugar.
  • Then slice cold butter into the dry ingredients, and mix together with a pastry blender. It will form into a nice crumbly mixture.
  • Top off your pie with the crumble topping, making sure you crumble it all up around the edge, as well.
  • Place your pie plate on a baking sheet, and bake at 375° F for about 1 hour, possibly a little longer depending on whether or not your crust is done.
  • Once the pie is done, take it out of the oven, and allow it to cool on a wire rack, 'til you're ready to slice it up and serve it.

Notes

*You can make this pie gluten-free by substituting a good gluten-free flour (<— this one's my favorite) for the all-purpose flour. And then also make the pie crust with gluten-free flour. Also, be sure to check labels on any of the above ingredients, just to be safe, especially the spices you use.
*An easy way to prep the apples is to use an apple peeler. It just makes the process so much quicker and easier.
How do you know when a Dutch apple pie is done?
The crust and crumb topping will turn a nice golden brown. The apple pie filling will also be very bubbly, and the apples will soften; you can test them with a fork.
How do I store apple crumb pie?
You can make this pie in advance, but I wouldn't recommend more than a day ahead of time, unless you're going to freeze the pie. To store the pie, I recommend covering it well and placing it in the refrigerator. You can warm it up the next day at a low temperature in the oven, or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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23 thoughts on “Dutch Apple Crumb Pie”

  1. Hello you have very good pie recipes, but I like you to give me Apple pie pastry recipe if you don’t mind thank you.

    Reply
  2. So this is pretty much the only apple pie I make now! I use an all butter crust recipe and add apple pie spice and fresh ginger to the apple pie mix but otherwise stay true to form. Thank you for such a delicious recipe that has my husband saying “man I love apple pie!”

    Reply

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