The Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling only takes minutes to make and makes your apple desserts taste amazing. You will never buy canned apple pie filling again because this is such an easy recipe to make.
Use this homemade pie filling to make this Apple Crisp Pie for dessert.
Last summer I started making my own homemade stovetop apple pie filling, instead of buying the canned pie filling at the store.
I do have to admit that I will still use canned pie fillings because sometimes it’s just more convenient, and I do like them. But if you have the extra time, I recommend giving this homemade filling a try.
The best apple pie filling does not have any of the preservatives or extra ingredients in it. It is very easy and takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
You only need a few ingredients to make a batch of homemade apple pie filling. Most of them are probably in your pantry already.
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Pie Filling:
- Apples – I like to use Gala apples for all my baking because they are a little sweeter and my favorite. You could also use Granny Smith apples if you like a more tart apple dessert. Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Red Delicious are also great for baking. You can also mix apples in your dessert to give it a little bit different flavor.
- Lemon Juice – A little bit of lemon juice keeps the apples from turning brown.
- Sugar – I like using a mixture of brown and granulated sugar for this pie filling recipe.
- Cornstarch – This is what thickens the pie filling into gooey delicious goodness.
- Spices – A mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg gives this pie filling a fall taste.
- Salt – Just a pinch helps to balance out the sweetness and adds depth to the flavor.
How to make the Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling:
- Cut your peeled apples into bite sized chunks. You can use your favorite apples for this filling. I usually choose a Gala apple because that’s what my kids like the most.
- Combine some sugar, water, and cornstarch to make a glaze. Let this boil for about a minute before stirring the apple chunks into the hot mixture.
- Bring it back to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer for about 12 minutes.
- Let it cool in the pan for an hour or two. The apple pie filling will thicken as it cools.
- Spoon the apple pie filling into jars or a large bowl and place in the refrigerator to continue cooling.
Ways to use Homemade Apple Pie Filling:
There is really no wrong way to use this apple pie filling.
- You can use it in this Cheesecake Apple Pie. Three layers of sweet goodness, plus ice cream is amazing. Just saying.
- Put it on top of this Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. The sweet homemade filling is perfect for the creamy cheesecake.
- The layers of pie filling, cheesecake, and crumble make these Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits amazing.
- Or you can just dig in with a spoon like I did. It’s also delicious on top of yogurt, toast, or breakfast pastries.
What would you make first with this apple filling?
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More easy apple desserts to make:
- Toffee Apple Pie Cookies
- Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Apple Snickers Cake
- Apple Praline Cake
- Spiced Apple Cake
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Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling
This Homemade Apple Pie Filling only takes minutes to make and makes your apple desserts taste amazing. You will never buy canned apple pie filling again because this is such an easy recipe to make.
Ingredients
- 5 cups peeled,chopped apples
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Toss the apples with lemon juice and set aside.
- Combine the sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a saucepan. Stir in water. Bring mixture to a boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the apples and bring to a boil again. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool completely. It will set up as it cools. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container for 4-5 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 146Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 2gSugar: 31gProtein: 0g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post and recipe for this Homemade Apple Pie Filling was originally posted on June 4, 2013. The post has been updated and republished on October 8, 2018.
That sounds awesome, great recipe. I bet you could easily turn that into a little gift to people. Bottle it up and give it out for like Christmas or something haha. Great job!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks! It would make a great gift for people! 😉
Would you be able to can this & have it ready for the holidays??
I can’t honestly say since I have not tried canning it before. I do think it would be fine though. If you try it, keep me posted!
Yummy! I’ll have to keep this in mind when Apple picking season comes around. Thanks for sharing~
You’re very welcome! 🙂
I love this recipe Jocelyn! Sometimes I’m just craving that filling, and it would be great to be able to make it myself!
Thank you! I crave it too, esp during summer months!
Gorgeous Jocelyn! I can’t decide which I like better…. the recipes or the photos!
Thank you so very much!! 😉
We started apple picking a couple of years ago. I called my mom to get her apple pie filling recipe so I could make a bunch and freeze it. I only made one pie because my husband would take it out of the refrigerator, defrost it and eat it for breakfast!!! 🙂 Homemade is so much better!
That’s great that you made your own! It really is so much better!! I don’t blame your husband for eating it for breakfast! 😉
Jocelyn – I didn’t see mention of the lemon juice in the instructions. I usually toss my apple pieces in the lemon juice to keep them from turning brown while I’m prepping everything else. Is that what you do? Just wanted to make sure. The recipe sounds wonderful!
Whoops! I missed that step. Thank you for letting me know. I updated the recipe 🙂
Making your own filling is such a great idea! Thank you for sharing your recipe too … I think that I could eat it with a spoon right out of the jar 😉
You’re welcome!! It is seriously so good on its own, so eating it right out of the jar is perfectly acceptable! 😉
I always go apple picking in the fall and pick way too many apples than I need, and am always looking for new apple recipes to try. I can’t wait to try your homemade apple pie filling. I’m sure once you go home made you never go back!
Definitely try this recipe!! And yeah, store bought has nothin on this!! 😉
I bet this is incredible!
It really is!! 🙂
Ugh this looks delicious!! Perfect when you don’t want something that has been sitting on the shelf for god knows how long!
Thanks!! Yes, home made is just so much better in so many ways!
What a great idea to use the CrunchPak apples in this recipe – I LOVE making my own apple pie filling but I don’t enjoy peeling/cutting all those apples. Lovely presentation, too!
Thank you!! CrunchPak apples are really the way to go if you want home made pie filling without all the work of getting the apples ready!
Loving this! I think I could eat the filling all by itself! Looks so good!
Thanks!! You really could! 😉
I sorta love canned pie filling,,,I could eat it out of the can with a spoon! Not that I’ve done that or anything… 😉
But this looks so easy, I’ll have to give it a try!
Haha, it’s totally ok in my book to eat things right out of the can! 😉 But yes, do try this! Canned pie filling just isn’t the same after you taste the home made!!
Yum!!! I will have to try this…it looks delicious 😉
You really should!! 😉
I will have to try this. I love using Apple Filling in recipes and wanted to start making my own. This looks awesome! Thanks for sharing and now following your blog on bloglovin’
Thanks so much!! 😉
Homemade anything is always better than anything you can buy from the store! Plus, this really isn’t that hard to make, so why not? Love it 🙂
Exactly!! 😉 And thank you!
What a great idea, and I love how EASY this is! I bet these would be great for gift-giving, too!
It would make a great gift! I would totally love getting something like this from someone! 🙂
[…] you see yesterday’s post about homemade apple pie filling? I knew that I needed to make something quickly before I ate all the pie filling with a spoon. […]
What an awesome idea!!! I’m gonna use this the next time I need this filling!
Thanks so much!! That’s great! 🙂
I’ve been dying to make pies this summer, and I am taking this delectable pie filling as a sign from the baking gods!! I MUST make a pie with this 😀
Oh yes, I agree, you MUST!! 😉
I LOVE apple pie and I totally agree it always tastes way better when it’s homemade without a doubt!
Absolutely!! 😉
Seriously cute pics Jocelyn! I would just eat it with a spoon 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂
Will this keep longer if you jars it a process it?
Are you wondering about canning it? I can’t actually say because I have never done any canning. I’m sorry I can’t help you with that.
yes you can, I can it all the time, just make sure you process it for 20 minutes
What a great idea! This filling would be fabulous in so many desserts!
Thank you!! 🙂
can you freeze this?
I have never actually frozen it, but I looked it up and it looks like apple pie filling can be frozen. I would recommend freezer ziplock bags. 4 cups is a normal amount for a 9 inch pie.
[…] Homemade Apple Pie Filling […]
Added real maple syrup, ginger, and cinnamon sugar as well. Also, I don’t peel apples. 🙂
Came out over the top and amazing. Thank you for the recipe!
(I’m sorry I don’t measure either but I used 3-4 apples so the amounts were much smaller)
I’m loving the sound of your additions. Sometimes I peel apples, sometimes I don’t 🙂 I am so glad to hear that you liked the pie filling!!!
Hands down this is 100% the best apple pie filling. Thank you soooo so much for sharing this. I used this to make your Cheesecake Apple Pie and then made an Apple Crisp Pie with what I had left over. Both were a huge hit at Thanksgiving and I have you to thank for that. You inspired me to make my very first two pies.
thank you for posting this recipe! I found it on Pinterest and made it today. I can’t have refined sugar so subbed coconut sugar for the brown sugar, and equivalent amounts of maple syrup for the white sugar.
It was very easy and I have some super yummy apple tarts in the freezer now for Christmas eve. 🙂
This is the best apple pie filling I have ever tasted!! I substituted Splenda for the white sugar and left out the nutmeg (don’t like nutmeg), and it was delicious! Thanks for posting the recipe!!
[…] Homemade Apple Pie Filling […]
Hi there,
So excited to make this! I was curious how long this would keep if I froze it? Thanks!
Hi, Sally. I have actually never frozen the pie filling, so I’m not sure how it would work or keep. Definitely let me know if you try it.
Thanks for providing a flavorful and easy to follow recipe for baking apple pies.
It is soooooo delicious! It was very easy to make and i cannot wait to make my pie!! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!!
[…] Homemade Apple Pie Filling […]
Could you use apple juice or cider in place of the water for more apple flavor or a 50/50 mix of water/juice/cider?
I don’t see why not. I haven’t made it that way, but I think it would be fine. Let me know how it works for you if you do it this way.
Just bought several bags of Gala apples and I’m so excited to make this recipe!! I plan to freeze the filling in 1-qt mason jars!! Thanks for this easy recipe!!
Hi: after making the filling, how did I use the filling to make an apple pie? Should I wait a day? Use baked/unbaked crust? What are the steps? Thank you.
I always let the pie filling chill in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours, so it has time to thicken before using it in a pie, and I usually use an unbaked pie crust. Here is an apple pie that I used the filling in recently. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2016/11/apple-crisp-pie/
It’s so funny I stumbled upon your page because I was looking for an apple pie filling recipe, and I was like “Bru Crew!” My husband is a Brubaker. His name’s Jason, and I think he’s your husband’s cousin. It’s nice to be reminded that even on the internet, it’s a small, small world! Anyway, your apple pie filling recipe looks awesome – I’m about to hop in the kitchen and start baking. Thanks!
This looks delicious! Recommendation on what apple works best? I usually buy gala. Also about how many would make 5 cups??
I usually use 1 bag of the peeled sweet Crunch Pak apple slices. I believe the sweet slices are from Gala apples.
It’s looks mouth watering jocelyn…i love apple also, i will definitely try to making this apple pie filling, Thanks for sharing delicious recipe…….!
How am I out of cornstarch?? Can I sub flour? Or should I just go get some cornstarch? Lol
I know you can substitute flour in place of cornstarch, but in this recipe it would end up being about 3/4 of a cup. I have never actually made this filling with flour, so I can’t say how it would be. Keep me posted on what you do and how it turns out.
I broke down and got the cornstarch, made the Apple pie filling yesterday then made your Apple crisp pie today. Absolutely incredible!!!
That’s awesome! I am so excited to hear how much you liked the recipes 🙂
Have you tried freezing the filling? Does it work?
I’ve never tried freezing it because it never lasts very long in our house. Everything I read online about freezing it says you can seal it in a freezer safe bags or containers and freeze it for up to 1 year. Just place it in the refrigerator over night to thaw. I hope that helps. Keep me posted if you try it.
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Thank You! I have to force myself to NOT Grab a spoon and Eat it as is… I used Granny Smith apples, and I think I only did 1 thing different, and that was tossed a little scoop of sugar to the apples along with fresh squeezed lemon juice, and let sit covered overnight in the fridge.
I’m so glad you liked the filling! The struggle is real to not eat it all with a spoon. LOL!
This was my first time ever making apple pie filling and out of the multitude of recipes available online I chose this one.
I am very happy with my choice and the results. This recipe was both easy and delicious. Thank you so much.
this is my GO TO RECIPE even this ladies at church are jealous of me lol . it has been a big hit for me at church and family gatherings . i also use a lard vinegar pie crust .
thank you so much
Yay! I am so happy to hear that! This is my favorite pie filling recipe to make too!!!
WOW…YUM is all I can say! Thank you!
Tried it! It’s WONDERFUL!! I will make hand pies with it.
I have always made apple pie the exact same way my mom did. And that’s the way we liked it. Until now. This recipe is phenomenal and I will be using it from now on!! (Just don’t tell my mom 😉 Thanks for sharing!
My first thought is to make this and top my waffles with it for breakfast! Thanks so much. I love apples!
This recipe is Awe-Some!
I reduced the cinnamon by half tho but it turns out purfectt! Really recommend this recipe
Apple Pie Filling recipe is great! I made it according to your recipe and the taste is great! Everyone in the family likes it, it makes me happy. thank you
Thank you for sharing. It looks so yummy.