Easy Apple Pie Filling Recipe
This Easy Apple Pie Filling recipe offers a quick and delicious way to prepare homemade apple pie filling using fresh baking apples, warm spices, and a touch of sweetness. Perfect for pies, topping ice cream, or canning, this filling combines tender apple slices cooked with cinnamon, vanilla, and a buttery brown sugar glaze to bring classic apple pie flavors to your table with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 6 cups of apple pie filling, enough for one 9-inch pie 1x
- Category: Filling
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Mixture
- 2 ½ pounds (6–7 medium) baking apples (such as Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, and/or Pink Lady)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cooking Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter (½ stick)
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch of salt
Thickening Agent
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch, or Clear Jel (If canning, use cook-type Clear Jel)
- 2 tablespoons water (for mixing with cornstarch)
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples into roughly bite-sized pieces. Place them in a large bowl and toss with granulated sugar and lemon juice to draw out moisture. Set aside.
- Melt Butter Mixture: In a large pan over medium heat, melt together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and ¼ cup water until combined and aromatic.
- Cook Apples: Add the prepared apple slices, including any liquid from the bowl, into the pan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes until the apples are slightly softened and fragrant.
- Thicken Filling: In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons water and cornstarch to make a slurry. Add this mixture to the pan, stirring continuously. Bring the filling to a light boil and cook for about 1 minute more until the sauce thickens.
- Cool and Use: Remove the pan from heat and let the filling cool slightly. Use immediately in pies, as a topping for ice cream, or prepare for canning as desired.
Notes
- If canning your apple pie filling, use cook-type Clear Jel instead of regular cornstarch to ensure proper thickening and safe preservation.
- Choosing baking apples like Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady provides the best texture and natural sweetness.
- This filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for longer storage.
- The lemon juice helps prevent the apples from browning before cooking and adds a subtle tartness to balance the sweetness.
Keywords: apple pie filling, homemade apple pie, easy apple filling, baking apples, stovetop apple filling, pie topping
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/easy-apple-pie-filling-recipe/
