Pie season has arrived! The first pie I will be baking this year is similar to an American classic apple pie but with a twist, a cinnamon apple pie with a graham cracker crust. This recipe is great for beginner pie bakers. It easily comes together with a simple graham cracker crust and a homemade apple pie filling.
Jump to RecipeI just love Fall season flavors, don’t you? It is a time to use warming spices in the kitchen such as cinnamon and nutmeg, bake up homemade treats, and to enjoy apple season by finding flavorful apples of all varieties at the grocery markets. Autumn is a wonderful time to slow down a bit, declutter the home, and make some space for the busy holiday weeks ahead. Just as the trees shed their leaves, we too must release what no longer serves us. As I go about tending to my home, I love to have a cozy recipe developing in the kitchen. Between making a buttery graham cracker crust and a sweet cinnamon apple pie filling for this recipe, it is indeed the cozy recipe I need that is full of Autumn flavors and aromas.
Equipment Needed:
- Food Processor or Blender: Used to pulse the graham crackers to make graham cracker crumbs. If you do not have a food processor or blender, you can also place the ingredients in a bowl and make the cracker crumbles with a potato masher or your hands.
- Pie Pan or Pie Dish (9 to 10 inch): To bake the pie in.
- Potato Peeler, Apple Slicer, Kitchen Knife: Needed to peel fresh apples, remove the apple core and slice the apples. If you do not have an apple slicer, you can use the kitchen knife to slice the apples and remove the core.
- Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons: Used to properly measure and portion out the ingredients.
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl and Wooden Spoon: Used to mix the graham cracker crust ingredients.
- 1 Large Sauce Pan or Large Skillet with Lid: To cook the apple filling in.
Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients Needed:
Apple Filling Ingredients
The apple pie filling calls for simple ingredients mostly found in the everyday kitchen.
- Apples: Apples are the star ingredient for this recipe. You can use a combination of apples that range in flavors from sweet to tart apples, such as honeycrisp apples, golden delicious apples and granny smith apples. Here is a reference guide I’ve found for the best apples to use in apple pie. Additionally, ensure the apples are fresh and crisp to help produce the best flavor to bake a delicious pie.
- Lemon Juice and Water: The tartness and acidity of the lemon juice will bring a nice balance to the apples, while the water will help cook down the apples. You can use freshly squeezed lemon juice or bottled lemon juice.
- Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Vanilla Extract, Table Salt, White Granular Sugar, Brown Sugar: Here are the spices and sweeteners line up for this recipe. The perfect combination of flavors for a delicious apple pie that feels like a warm hug.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch will be used to thicken the apple pie filling and create a gooey like texture to help the filling set in place for the best apple pie.
Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients
The graham cracker crust only calls for three ingredients, yet is so tasty and easily comes together. Of course, if you are in a time crunch, you can always replace the homemade pie crust with a premade graham cracker crust.
- Graham Crackers: 1 box of graham crackers is all you need.
- White Granular Sugar: Just enough sugar will be used to bring a bit of extra sweetness to the pie crust. You can also use your favorite granular sugar substitute.
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter will help bind the pie crust together. Ensure you use unsalted butter to avoid on odd tasting pie crust.
How To Make An Apple Pie With Graham Cracker Crust:
- Gather all ingredients and equipment needed.
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
Prep The Graham Cracker Crust:
Note: If you are using a store-bought graham cracker crust, skip the steps below and follow any pre-baking instructions provided on the box.
- Lightly butter or spray a pie plate with cooking spray to help avoid the pie crust from sticking.
- Add the graham crackers and sugar to a food processor and pulse until the crackers and sugar turn into a crumb mixture.
- Add the crumb mixture into a large bowl, then add the melted better. Mix with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the crust mixture is evenly moistened and clumps up a bit.
- Scoop the crumb mixture into the pie plate. Press the crumbs with your fingers to spread out the crust into an even layer. Press the crumb mixture to the sides of the pie plate to create the side crust of the pie.
- Place the pie crust into the freezer for 10 minutes. This will help the crust become firm and avoid falling apart.
- Meanwhile, start making the apple pie filling. After the pie crust has been in the freezer for 10 minutes, place it in the center of the oven and pre-bake for 10 minutes. Pull the pie crust from the oven and place it on the countertop to rest.
Make the Apple Pie Filling
- Place a large skillet or sauce pan on the stove top. Add the water and lemon juice.
- On a cutting board, peel, remove the core and chop the apples into small cubes. Place the apple cubes into the sauce pan.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to the pan. Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing the corn starch with 2 teaspoons of cold water. Pour the cornstarch slurry in the pan. Stir all ingredients together with a wood spoon until well combined.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce to a medium heat, add the granulated white sugar and brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the vanilla extract and simmer for 8–10 minutes.
- Pierce an apple slice with a fork to check for tenderness. Once tender, remove the pot from the burner and allow cooling for 5 minutes. The filling will thicken as it cools.
Assemble and Bake the Apple Pie
- Scoop the apple mixture onto the pie crust. Spread out the apple mixture with a spatula to create an even layer.
- Place the pie in the center wire rack in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The crust should be lightly golden brown and the pie mixture bubbling a bit.
- Remove the pie from the oven and allow to completely cool before serving so the pie filling can set. Otherwise, the filling will be runny. Enjoy!
Apple Pie Toppings:
- Streusel Topping: When a pie doesn’t include a crust on the top, it is common to add a crunchy streusel topping instead. This will add a bit more texture and sweetness, as well as pair nicely with the apple pie spices included in the filling.
- Caramel Sauce Drizzle: Caramel and apples compliment one another quite nicely. Create a caramel drizzle to add a nice decorative touch to the top of the pie.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Okay, I can’t have an apple pie recipe here without mentioning adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the classic dessert. It is just so good! The perfect treat on an autumn day.
How to Store an Apple Pie:
To store any apple pie leftovers, simply cover the pie with plastic wrap and leave on the countertop or place in the refrigerator. Apple pie slices can also be placed in an airtight container. It is best to eat the pie within 2 days after baking and can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled.
Additional Fall Forward Favorites:
Looking for a few more treats to enjoy this Autumn with warm cinnamon flavors? Try one of these recipes next!
Cinnamon Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor or Blender
- Pie Pan or Pie Dish (9 to 10 inch)
- Potato Peeler, Apple Slicer, Kitchen Knife
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Large Mixing Bowl and Wooden Spoon
- Large Sauce Pan or Large Skillet with Lid
Ingredients
Apple Filling Ingredients
- 5 apples peeled, core-removed, chopped into cubes
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup white granular sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham crackers (12 sheets)
- 1/4 cup white granular sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and equipment needed.
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
Prep The Graham Cracker Crust
- Lightly butter or spray a pie plate with cooking spray to help avoid the pie crust from sticking.
- Add the graham crackers and sugar to a food processor and pulse until the crackers and sugar turn into a crumb mixture.
- Add the crumb mixture into a large bowl, then add the melted better. Mix with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until the crust mixture is evenly moistened and clumps up a bit.
- Scoop the crumb mixture into the pie plate. Press the crumbs with your fingers to spread out the crust into an even layer. Press the crumb mixture to the sides of the pie plate to create the side crust of the pie.
- Place the pie crust into the freezer for 10 minutes. This will help the crust become firm and avoid falling apart.
- Meanwhile, start making the apple pie filling. After the pie crust has been in the freezer for 10 minutes, place it in the center of the oven and pre-bake for 10 minutes. Pull the pie crust from the oven and place it on the countertop to rest.
Make the Apple Pie Filling
- Place a large skillet or sauce pan on the stove top. Add the water and lemon juice.
- On a cutting board, peel, remove the core and chop the apples into cubes. Place the apple cubes into the sauce pan.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to the pan. Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing the corn starch with 2 teaspoons of cold water. Pour the cornstarch slurry in the pan. Stir all ingredients together with a wood spoon until well combined.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat, add the granulated white sugar and brown sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the vanilla extract and simmer for 8–10 minutes.
- Pierce an apple slice with a fork to check for tenderness. Once tender, remove the pot from the burner and allow cooling for 5 minutes. The filling will thicken as it cools.
Assemble and Bake The Apple Pie
- Scoop the apple mixture onto the pie crust. Spread out the apple mixture with a spatula to create an even layer.
- Place the pie in the center wire rack in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The crust should be lightly golden brown and the pie mixture bubbling a bit.
- Remove the pie from the oven and allow to completely cool before serving, so the pie filling can set. Otherwise, the filling will be runny. Enjoy!
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