Name: Apple Pie Filling
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 medium apples; ¼ cup butter unsalted; 2 teaspoon cinnamon; ½ cup brown sugar (packed); ¼ cup water; pinch of salt; 2 T cornstarch

By: Jill Mills Updated: Sep 6, 2024

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Make this easy homemade apple pie filling when you are ready to make a pie, tart, cake or any Fall dessert. This delicious pie filling recipe can be canned or frozen for later and is so much better than store bought!

Featured Comment

I made this today and added a cup of chopped walnuts to it. It is so delicious and so easy to make! I put it in biscuit cups and baked it for 20 minutes until the biscuits were golden brown.

– Tana

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Easy Homemade Apple Pie Filling Recipe

This apple pie filling is incredibly simple to make and perfect for using in many desserts including classic apple pie. Once you try it, you’ll never want to get store-bought apple pie filling again! Sliced (or cut – whatever you prefer) are simmered in a brown sugar cinnamon sauce until thickened. I make batches of this every Fall and also give jars as gifts!

Ingredients Needed

Apples – I think the best apples to use are granny smith or honey crisp apples. You can also use a combination for the two.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar is needed to make the sauce of the apple filling. It adds a richness that white sugar can’t make.
Cinnamon – ground cinnamon adds the best flavor. Feel free to include any other spices you prefer like nutmeg, cloves, etc…
Cornstarch – Cornstarch is used to thicken the apple pie filling.

How to Make Apple Pie Filling

Slice the apples. Add the butter and cinnamon to a skillet and melt the butter. Add the apples, brown sugar, water and salt. Cook for about 5 minutes until tender.

brown sugar added to the pan with butter and cinnamon

Add the cornstarch and water in a bowl. Add to the apples and mix well. Cook for about another minute.

Store the apple pie filling in 12 ounce mason jars or freezer bags.

How to Can Apple Pie Filling

Use clean sterilized canning jars. Add the apple pie filling to the jar and leave about 1 inch of space at the top.
Wipe the juices from rim of the jar. Put on the lid and tighten the ring firmly.
Boil in a water bath for 25 minutes and turn off the heat. Let the jar sit in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
Let the jar cool for 12 hours before removing the rings.
Clean the jars and make sure they lids are sealed.
Label and date jars.
Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place for up to 18 months.

Storing

When you make the apple pie filling, you can store it a few ways. You can make the filling and store it in the refrigerator. It can be used right away for making pies and other apple desserts. If you are making apple pie filling to have on hand you can also preserve it.

You can use a canning process to save the apples. These apple will last for over a year as long as you have canned them correctly. I love to can the apple filling, so I have included the how to can the filling in the recipe card. You can also freeze the filling for later.

Freezing

Once the apple pie filling has cooled, place it in a freezer bag. Press the bag flat and make sure to write the name and date on the bag. The apple pie filling will last for about 6 months in the freezer.

Tips and Tricks

What Type of Apples to Use

When you make homemade apple pie filling, you want to use apples that will hold up well during the cooking process. You don’t want mushy apples in your pie, so it’s important to choose the right type of apple. I recommend using Granny Smith apples because they give a tart flavor and they are firm. They will hold up well during the cooking process and will give your pie the perfect flavor.

If you can’t find Granny Smith apples, you can also use Honeycrisp apples. These apples are also tart and firm, and they will work well in this recipe. Golden delicious apples, Fuji will also work well.

The Best Way to Peel Apples

There are a few different ways that you can peel apples. You can use a handheld peeler, a paring knife, or even a vegetable peeler. I recommend using a handheld peeler because it’s the easiest and quickest way to peel an apple. If you don’t have a handheld peeler, you can use a paring knife or a vegetable peeler.

How to Cut Apples for Pie Filling

Once you have peeled the apples, it’s time to cut them into small pieces. I like to cut the apples into small pieces because it helps them cook evenly. If you cut the apples into large pieces, some of the apples will be overcooked and mushy while others will be undercooked and hard.

To cut the apples, start by cutting off the ends of the apple. Cut the apple in half and then slice each half into thin slices. I like to cut the apple slices into small pieces so they are easy to eat.

The Best Way To Thicken Apple Pie Filling

There are a few different ways that you can thicken the filling. You can use flour, cornstarch, or tapioca starch.

To thicken the filling, you will need to add the starch to the apples before you cook them. I like to add the tapioca starch to the apples and then stir everything together so the starch is evenly distributed.

Once you have added the starch, cook the apples over low heat until they are soft and the filling is thick. This will take about 15 minutes.

If you want to use flour to thicken the filling, you will need to add it after the apples have been cooked. To do this, mix the flour with a little cold water to form a paste. Stir the flour paste into the apples and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the filling is thick.

If you want to use cornstarch to thicken the filling, you will need to add it after the apples have been cooked. To do this, mix the cornstarch with a little cold water to form a paste. Stir the cornstarch paste into the apples and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the filling is thick.

Recipes That Use Apple Filling

There are so many recipes you can make using this easy apple pie filling starting with just adding it to a homemade pie crust and baking for classic apple pie recipe. You can also use as a topping for pancakes, oatmeal, waffles, vanilla ice cream and more! Here are some other ideas:

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