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Easy Dutch Apple Pie

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By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Jun 27, 2024
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Fresh from the orchard, here comes our Dutch Apple Pie! Tangy apples come alive with warming spices, and the whole thing is smothered with a sweet, crumbly topping.

In the fall, many different kinds of apples come into season, and you can let any one of them star in this dessert. The classic apple pie is, of course, ideal for apple picking season. Fresh, crisp apples bake perfectly and fill your whole home with the rich aromas of fall. Whether you’re serving this for Thanksgiving dinner or just a normal Thursday night, this Dutch Apple Pie recipe is designed to save you time and free you up to make the recipe your own.

Dutch Apple Pie, sometimes called Apple Crumble Pie, offers the best of both worlds—simple to prepare and impressive to serve. The rich, sugary topping sparkles as you serve it. And every mouthwatering forkful is loaded with all the flavors that make the autumn season so special.

What Is Dutch Apple Pie?

Dutch Apple Pie. Apple Crumble. Apple Crisp. This recipe has a lot of names, but its one-of-a-kind combo of flavors and textures has made it a sensation around the world for almost 500 years.

Dutch Apple Pie and traditional Apple Pie have a lot in common. Both use fresh apples and a mix of sugar and spices for the fillings. However, unlike traditional apple pie, a Dutch Apple Pie recipe tops the apples with a crunchy, sugary crumble, instead of another layer of pie crust. Some variations of Dutch Apple Pie layer over the crumbled topping with thin strips of pie crust, a bit like a strudel. That’s an extra step that will add a touch of elegance, but for many, the crumbles are the star! Why mess with something that’s so simple yet so good?

Dutch Apple Pie was originally topped with leftover sugar cookies. If you want an easy way to get that old-world style, try Pillsbury™ Sugar Refrigerated Cookie Dough, bake as directed, and get crumbling!

What Kind of Apples Are Best for Dutch Apple Pie?

There’s more than one way to make Dutch Apple Pie filling. The most important ingredient is, of course, the apples. Do you choose a sweet apple, or one with a tart flavor? Perhaps a mix of both.

Both Honeycrisp and Jonathan apples are great for Dutch Apple Pie, and both are in-season in October & November. Go with Honeycrisp for a little extra sweetness and choose Jonathan for a tart taste.

Many apple varieties are available year round making it easy to have Dutch Apple Pie anytime. Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Pink Lady are all great for baking. If you can, we recommend Honeycrisp and Jonathan for this recipe.

Experiment and find your favorites. The important thing is to choose apples that are firm to the bite and have a flavor you like. Avoid apples that are too soft like McIntosh, which could break down in the oven and become mushy.

How to Make An Easy Dutch Apple Pie

The full instructions for this easy Dutch Apple Pie are below, but here are some tips to make your baking as easy as can be. Using a pre-made pie crust is a time-tested time-saver. This recipe lets you leave the rolling pin in the drawer, and just start baking!

We recommend peeling the apples, but you can also save time by leaving them unpeeled. Honeycrisp apples have a softer skin and will bake just as well with skins on. Using an apple slicer that cores and slices the apples all in one step cuts down on prep time and gets you to the good part that much faster.

As you mix the topping, combine the mixture well until you have distinct crumbles. The texture should look a little bit like granola. It’s perfectly okay if the crumbles range in size —it’s actually better that way! When it’s time to top, press the crumble mixture into the pie to allow it to bond with the apple filling. That will help your Dutch Apple Pie maintain its shape.

More About This Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Keep the Topping Crisp

The secret ingredient in making the topping oh-so-perfectly crumbly is the cold butter, right out of the fridge. Soft butter is great for making smooth batter and dough, but here, it’s all about the crunch. So start with cold butter, cut into cubes, and combine well using a fork until you see nice, solid crumbles start to form.

When it’s time to top your Dutch Apple Pie, keep the topping from incorporating with the apples. An apple crisp pie recipe—a close cousin to Dutch Apple Pie—will have you combining the apples and the crumbles together into a single mix. But if you want the topping to be as crispy & crunchy as can be, cover the apple filling mixture with a generous mound of crumbles, and sprinkle it on thick. The more distance you get between the apples and the tippy-top of the topping, the crisper the shell on top will be.

And don’t forget to let the pie cool down fully before you serve it. This will allow the filling to set—and keep over-eager eaters from burning their tongue. Ouch!

What Are Some Dutch Apple Pie Variations?

Now that you know how to bake the perfect Dutch Apple Pie recipe—try one with a slight twist. By substituting brown sugar for the granulated sugar, you’ll get a more robust flavor. Try using more or different spices. Something as simple as just increasing the amount of cinnamon, or adding in cardamom, can intensify the flavor.

Original Dutch Apple Pie recipes simply used crumbled leftover sugar cookies. Try topping your pie with rolled out cookie dough and watch the excitement of your guests as it’s served. Many of the variations of Dutch Apple Pie use nuts in the topping for an extra dimension of flavor and a whole lot more crunch. Coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts are a great place to start.

Feel free to customize the toppings of this easy dutch pie for sweet & spiciness levels. So step up the savory, or bring on the sugar, as you like!

How to Reheat Your Apple Crumble Pie

Dutch Apple Pie can be stored, covered, in a fridge for about 2-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. A rich, sugary dessert like apple crisp pie really demands being kept in an airtight container, to ensure it doesn’t lose its gooey goodness. You can maintain the crispy topping by simply scooping off the crumbles and storing them separately.

If using the separate-storage method, reheat the apple pie on its own at 350°F until heated through, then replace the topping and switch on the broiler for a few minutes to perfectly re-crisp the topping, giving your dessert an oven-fresh feel even days after.

If you freeze your leftovers, allow them to come to room temperature before placing in the oven.

Easy Dutch Apple Pie

  • Prep Time 25 min
  • Total 4 hr 20 min
  • Ingredients 12
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

Crust

Filling

  • 6 cups sliced peeled apples
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Topping

  • 1/3 cup cold butter
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Place piece of foil on oven rack below middle rack to catch drips. Heat oven to 400°F. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, toss Filling ingredients until evenly coated. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate, mounding apples toward center.
  • Step 
    3
    In medium bowl, mix Topping ingredients, using pastry blender or fork until crumbs form. Sprinkle over apples.
  • Step 
    4
    Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until pie crust and crumb topping are deep golden brown and filling begins to bubble. After 15 minutes of baking, cover top of pie and crust loosely with foil to prevent excessive browning. Transfer to cooling rack. Cool at least 3 hours before serving.

Nutrition

390 Calories
14g Total Fat
2g Protein
63g Total Carbohydrate
37g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Slice
Calories
390
Calories from Fat
130
Total Fat
14g
21%
Saturated Fat
7g
37%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
25mg
8%
Sodium
270mg
11%
Potassium
125mg
4%
Total Carbohydrate
63g
21%
Dietary Fiber
2g
7%
Sugars
37g
Protein
2g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
6%
6%
Vitamin C
4%
4%
Calcium
4%
4%
Iron
6%
6%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 1/2 Fruit; 2 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
4
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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