Name: Apple Pie Filling Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 4 medium apples; ⅓ cup granulated sugar; 3 tablespoons water; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 4 teaspoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons water

Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Apple Pie Filling takes less than 15 minutes to make and has a great homemade flavor.

Tender chunks (or slices) of apples are perfectly sweet-tart simmered in a simple cinnamon sauce. They take just minutes to prep and taste so much better than canned!

They can be used in pies or tarts or replace a can of apple pie filling in any recipe. Scoop it over ice cream, yogurt, or cake for an easy treat.

Homemade is Best (and SO easy!)

I looooove Apple pie filling but not just for filling pie crust! It’s great over anything from yogurt to cake to oatmeal.

Homemade always tastes 1000x better! Delicious apple flavor with a hint of warm spices.
The apples come out tender and not soggy.
Making this apple pie filling is less expensive than canned (and has a homemade flavor).
Needs just a handful of ingredients.
Ready in about 10-15 minutes, it’s so easy to make.

The Best Apples for Pie Filling

Much like when baking apple pie, you’ll want apples that stand up well so you don’t end up with applesauce! We think granny smith apples are the best for pie filling because they have a tart flavor which means the filling isn’t overly sweet.

Try any of the following: braeburn, golden delicious, honeycrisp.

Other ingredients needed in this recipe are sugar, water, spices and cornstarch (this makes the sauce portion).

How to Make Homemade Apple Pie Filling

You’ve heard the saying as easy as Apple Pie, this recipe is exactly that!

Peel and chop apples: apples are peeled and sliced and simply added to a pan with a bit of water, sugar and cinnamon.
Thicken: once tender, I add a bit of cornstarch to thicken up this apple pie filling. Any of the juices released from the apples make the “saucy” part.

Replace the Can

This easy apple pie filling recipe makes the equivalent of 1 can of apple pie filling and takes just about 10 minutes.

It’s perfect to substitute for a can of apple pie filling (and tastes so much better than the store bought)!

Variations

Chop the apples or make apple slices instead.
Swap out white sugar for brown sugar to add a caramel flavor.
Add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
I use ground cinnamon but you can use apple pie spice, a pinch of nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice or your favorite warm spice mixture.

How to Freeze Apple Pie Filling

This apple pie filling is delicious and can be used right away. We mainly make it to replace cans of pie filling in recipes, if I am making an actual apple pie from scratch, I don’t pre cook the filling. If you do make this filling you can of course freeze it.

Simply cook as directed and cool. Freeze in a freezer bag. Once ready to use, defrost overnight in the fridge and use as you would from fresh!

Ideas for Apple Pie Filling

We love this on its own or served over ice cream but this easy apple pie filling works perfectly in the recipes below!

Apple Pie Egg Rolls: If you like the OLD McDonald’s apple pies (the fried ones!) you will LOVE these!!!
Serve over ice cream, yogurt, or oatmeal.
Place in a bowl and top with crumble to make a quick apple crisp.
Wrap in pie pastry (or homemade pie crust) to make apple hand pies.
Use it to top pancakes or waffles.
Apple Pie Tacos: Crispy Cinnamon Sugar Shells filled with Warm Apple Pie Filling!
Apple Pie Roll Ups: Easy baked apple pie roll ups rolled in cinnamon sugar and served warm!
Apple Pie Dumplings: 2 Ingredient Apple Pie Dumplings! This is the easiest dessert to put together!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

A jar of homemade apple pie filling with cinnamon sticks

4.98 from 587 votes

Author Holly Nilsson

Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Author Holly Nilsson

Servings 8 servings

Quick Stovetop Apple Pie Filling! This easy recipe replaces 1 can of apple pie filling and is so much better than the store-bought filling!

Save Rate Print

Servings 8 servings

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 7

Total Time 12

Ingredients

Instructions

Peel, core, and chop or slice apples*.
Melt butter and cinnamon over medium heat. Stir in apples, sugar & water.
Cover and cook stirring occasionally for 4-6 minutes or until very slightly softened.
In a small dish combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water. Add to the pan while stirring and continue to cook until apples are soft (not mushy) and filling is thickened.
Let bubble 1 minute. Cool.

Notes

Cut apples into 1/2-inch cubes or 1/4-inch slices.

Different varieties of apples may need less (or more) cooking time. Cook just until tender crisp checking the apples with a fork.

Some apples are juicier than others. If you would like your filling thicker, combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Add a little at a time while the mixture is boiling until you reach desired consistency.

4.98 from 587 votes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert, Pie

Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.