This Dutch Apple Pie is our favorite Fall pie. It is filled with tart apples and baked with a sweet and buttery crumb topping.
Dutch Apple Pie
Dutch Apple Pie is by far my husband’s favorite pie, we actually call it Beau’s Dutch Apple Pie. He feels that he owns it, and I don’t argue because it comes from his side of the family. I originally got this recipe from Beau’s mom and she was the one who first taught me how to make it. I immediately fell in love with this pie and could understand what my husband had been raving about. Now we make it all the time, especially in the fall when we can get fresh off the tree apples from our local orchards. And of course, it is ALWAYS made for Thanksgiving.
Easy As Pie
I love how easy Dutch Apple Pie is to make. The crust is just a mix and press crust that is so much easier than traditional pie crusts that you have to roll out. Then you mix the apples with some cinnamon and nutmeg and sugar, but the best secret ingredient to the filling is the almond extract. It gives the apples the most amazing flavor, it is so yummy.
The key is using tart and crisp apples, like Granny Smiths or Pink Ladies. Never make this pie with a really sweet and soft apple like a red delicious. It will not taste as good and it will get too mushy. Braeburn and Galas work great for this recipe too.
Then the best part, the crumb topping! I prefer a crumb topping so much more over a traditional pie crust top. It gives the top of the pie a rich, buttery, sweet, slightly crunchy taste. This pie is absolutely wonderful on its own, but is also really good served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (and maybe even a little drizzle of some caramel topping).
The Brown Paper Bag
A lot of people get freaked out because you cook this Dutch Apple Pie in the oven in a brown paper bag. Don’t worry, the bag will not catch on fire, you will not open the oven to find flames. You just get a perfectly cooked, delicious apple pie. The brown bag is seriously magic, it makes the pie cook so perfectly and evenly without burning the crumb topping. Just be sure to have it centered on the bottom rack and that the bag is at least a good six inches from the burners along the top of the oven.
Oh yes! A la Mode
Even though this delicious pie can totally stand on its own, who can resist the option of serving it up a la mode? Especially when you pair it with our fabulous homemade vanilla ice cream. This sweet, creamy, homemade treat is perfect on a hot summer day. And is perfect next to hot Dutch Apple Pie.
How to make Dutch Apple Pie
This Dutch Apple Pie is our favorite Fall pie. It is filled with tart apples and baked with a sweet and buttery crumb topping.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 50 minutes
Serves: 8
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling:
Instructions
For the Crust:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and pat into the bottom and sides of a pie pan. Don't roll the dough out.
For the Apple Filling:
- Combine all ingredients except the apples in a bowl.
- Mix well then toss the apples in the mixture. Put the apple filling into the unbaked pie crust.
For the Crumb Topping:
- Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the four and sugar, mix until crumbly. Cover the apple filling with the crumb topping.
- Yes, you really do put the pie inside a brown paper bag. Once the pie is inside, roll up the the top of the bag and close it together with either staples or large paper clips.
- Place the bag on the lowest shelf in the oven. Bake at 350 for 90 minutes.
- Don't open the bag until the time is up and you have let it cool outside the oven for about 5 minutes.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Equipment
- Conventional Oven
Recipe Video
Nutrition
Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 5.2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.9mg
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Jessica says
Long time reader! We've loved your chicken satay, bbq ribs, avocado grilled quesadillas and more.
I'm commenting because: WHAT IN THE HECK DOES THE BROWN BAG DO? What culinary purpose does it perform? So crazy.
Aneasa Keen says
Not sure on this one, but it does make a huge difference!
The Hunt Family says
I found this recipe a few weeks ago on big oven and was totally paranoid about putting the bag in the oven. I'm not a huge apple pie fan, but this really is amazing! Everyone loved it!
Julie says
I've never heard of putting a pie in a bag for baking, but I'd say the proof is in the picture…looks amazing!
EBWalker says
I'm not sure how the paper bag does it, but it makes a difference in the way it cooks. It creates a perfectly evenly cooked pie.
Mandy says
This looks DELICIOUS! Question, I have a gas oven, will this cause my house to burn down if I use the brown paper bag? 🙂
Kathleen says
What size pie plate is used?
Favorite Family Recipes says
A regular 9-inch pie plate is fine!
Emily says
No, we have a gas oven too and it hasn't burned down the house yet! Just make sure you put the racks low and the paper bag isn't sticking up too high.
Maureen says
What if I just put parchment paper over it ??
Erica Walker says
We haven’t tried it that way before so I can’t say for sure if it will taste the same. If you try it, let us know how it turns out!
Emily white says
My paper bag isn’t burning but the whole house sure smells like I’ve been sawing wood. But, I can’t wait to see and eat the results :).
mary bilek says
I made this apple pie for all of my friends this past weekend! It was excellent..very flavorful! I did put the paperbag on a cookie sheet…and it baked perfectly! Thank you for a recipe I will definately make again!
Aneasa Keen says
I have made this pie twice. The first time I put the pie in the bag as directed. It came ou perfect. I served it at a bridal shower and it was a favorite by far! The second time, which was late last night, I had the wrong type of paper bag. I tried it out, and I could smell the bag burning. In fear that my house would burn down, I took the bag out and put the pie in my turkey pan with the lid, thinking it would at least not be in direct heat. Well….I will never again do that. The pie is still tasty, but the topping did not get crispy like it does putting it in a bag. I love this pie, and will search the world to find more of the bags I used the first time. I used a thick paper bag, like what you put freezer stuff in at the store. I couldn’t find any big enough this time and just bought the ones you put grass clippings in. THIS RECIPE IS DEFINITELY A KEEPER THOUGH!!
Sam says
Does it matter what pan you use for the pie? I see the glassware was used for the picture?
Emily says
I have always used a glass pie pan
Mema says
My daughter makes this and puts a little grated parmesan cheese in the topping. Best pie we’ve ever had 🙂
Erica says
Oh yum! Great idea!!!
Carol Pancheri says
My oven is electric, if I put the bag on lowest rack the bag would be about two inches from red hot heating element. Would it work putting it on a cookie sheet?
Carol Pancheri says
P.S. my Mom always cooked her turkey in a brown bag. Delicious.
Emily says
I think the cookie sheet would work fine.
Shelby says
What kind of paper bag? Just a regular brown one? Also, I had to use regular tub butter..will that make too much of a difference?
Emily says
Yes, just a regular brown paper bag from the grocery store. The tub butter won’t be quite as good but should work.
Melanie says
I was surprised to see olive oil in a crust. Have you tried other oils or melted butter before?
Emily says
Yes, you can definitely use other oils but I would avoid butter for this particular crust.
Chris says
I used butter for the bottom crust….it I should still I need the oven…will report how it went…I’m a butter lover!
Silvia says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. It definitely is a keeper. The hubby loved it.
The brown bag trick really worked!!!
Erica says
So glad you guys liked it! 😀
Cele Rego says
We love this pie. I always place the bag on a cookie sheet before baking because sometimes the juices seep through the bag.
Cristina says
I’ve made this pie for about 15 years and it always turns out. I don’t even remember where the recipe came from!
Lindsey says
Is there a way to bake this without the brown paper bag?
Emily says
You definitely can, but I don’t think it will cook as evenly. I haven’t done it, let me know if it works out. 🙂
Ildiko says
We don’t really have brown paper bags in Hungary. Do you think an oven bag would work instead of the brown paper bag?
Favorite Family Recipes says
Yes, an oven bag should work just fine 🙂 Hope this helps!
Janice Jeffcoat says
It’s not the holidays in my home until there’s the slight smell of singed paper bag! My grandmother passed this recipe down to us. Ours bakes at 425, so you have to be sure your oven temp is right because paper burns at 451*!
Lori says
This is my favorite way to make apple pie! Great recipe!
April says
Dutch apple pie is my favorite of all the apple pies. That buttery topping was to die for!
Stephanie says
Easily my favorite dessert of all-time! So delicious, thank you!
Beth Pierce says
What a delicious recipe! I can’t wait to make this and smell the aroma of apples throughout my home! Yum!
Tara says
Fabulous, and I love the crumb topping! I always struggle with a double pie crust.
Denise Pauly says
Is plain flour or self raising flour used in the crust and topping?
Echo Blickenstaff says
We just use regular unbleached white flour, not self-rising. Thanks for asking!
Tiffany says
I stumbled upon your recipe recently and it is definitely a winner!! We love it so much, I’ve made it several times. That brown paper bag does amazing things! Thank you for sharing! I did want to ask if you think this recipe can still be used with a normal lattice top as opposed to the crumb topping? I absolutely love the crumb topping but am teaching a youth group how to make pies and thought teaching a lattice top would be fun for them. Thank you!!
Favorite Family Recipes says
We haven’t tried this with a lattice top – we just love the crumb topping too much! But let us know how it goes if you do try it!
Billie S. Alost says
This looks great! I am wondering, would it work to substitute berries for the apples? If so, how many cups of berries would you recommend?
Favorite Family Recipes says
We haven’t tried it with berries. Berries have a lot more liquid in them, so I wouldn’t recommend using them in this recipe.