The Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling only takes minutes to make and makes your apple desserts taste amazing. You will never need to 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.
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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.
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. 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?
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
Ingredients
- 5 cups peeled,chopped apples
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup 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. Makes 4 cups of apple pie filling. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container for 4-5 days.
*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.
Happy Valley Chow says
June 4, 2013 at 1:40 PMThat 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
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:17 PMThanks! It would make a great gift for people! 😉
Joanne says
September 19, 2014 at 6:20 PMWould you be able to can this & have it ready for the holidays??
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 20, 2014 at 10:59 AMI 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!
Vanessa says
June 4, 2013 at 1:46 PMYummy! I’ll have to keep this in mind when Apple picking season comes around. Thanks for sharing~
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:18 PMYou’re very welcome! 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
June 4, 2013 at 2:24 PMI love this recipe Jocelyn! Sometimes I’m just craving that filling, and it would be great to be able to make it myself!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:19 PMThank you! I crave it too, esp during summer months!
[email protected] of Laughter says
June 4, 2013 at 2:27 PMGorgeous Jocelyn! I can’t decide which I like better…. the recipes or the photos!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:21 PMThank you so very much!! 😉
Nancy [email protected] says
June 4, 2013 at 2:30 PMWe 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!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:22 PMThat’s great that you made your own! It really is so much better!! I don’t blame your husband for eating it for breakfast! 😉
Debbi Hook says
June 4, 2013 at 3:22 PMJocelyn – 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!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 4, 2013 at 3:57 PMWhoops! I missed that step. Thank you for letting me know. I updated the recipe 🙂
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
June 4, 2013 at 3:55 PMMaking 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 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:24 PMYou’re welcome!! It is seriously so good on its own, so eating it right out of the jar is perfectly acceptable! 😉
Kristi says
June 4, 2013 at 5:11 PMI 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!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:26 PMDefinitely try this recipe!! And yeah, store bought has nothin on this!! 😉
Jenn says
June 4, 2013 at 6:29 PMI bet this is incredible!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:26 PMIt really is!! 🙂
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
June 4, 2013 at 7:49 PMUgh this looks delicious!! Perfect when you don’t want something that has been sitting on the shelf for god knows how long!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:27 PMThanks!! Yes, home made is just so much better in so many ways!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
June 4, 2013 at 8:21 PMWhat 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!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:29 PMThank 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!
Tieghan says
June 4, 2013 at 9:17 PMLoving this! I think I could eat the filling all by itself! Looks so good!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:29 PMThanks!! You really could! 😉
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
June 4, 2013 at 9:22 PMI 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!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:31 PMHaha, 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!!
[email protected] says
June 4, 2013 at 11:33 PMYum!!! I will have to try this…it looks delicious 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:31 PMYou really should!! 😉
Victoria B. says
June 5, 2013 at 7:51 AMI 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’
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:32 PMThanks so much!! 😉
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection says
June 5, 2013 at 9:06 AMHomemade 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 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:33 PMExactly!! 😉 And thank you!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
June 5, 2013 at 1:55 PMWhat a great idea, and I love how EASY this is! I bet these would be great for gift-giving, too!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:34 PMIt would make a great gift! I would totally love getting something like this from someone! 🙂
Chels R. says
June 5, 2013 at 5:05 PMWhat an awesome idea!!! I’m gonna use this the next time I need this filling!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:35 PMThanks so much!! That’s great! 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
June 5, 2013 at 5:50 PMI’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 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 5, 2013 at 10:36 PMOh yes, I agree, you MUST!! 😉
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
June 6, 2013 at 11:23 AMI LOVE apple pie and I totally agree it always tastes way better when it’s homemade without a doubt!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 18, 2013 at 11:06 PMAbsolutely!! 😉
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
June 10, 2013 at 10:34 PMSeriously cute pics Jocelyn! I would just eat it with a spoon 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 18, 2013 at 11:07 PMThank you!! 🙂
Shaye says
June 12, 2013 at 1:34 PMWill this keep longer if you jars it a process it?
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 12, 2013 at 1:48 PMAre 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.
Brenda says
December 23, 2015 at 3:11 PMyes you can, I can it all the time, just make sure you process it for 20 minutes
Stephanie @ Macaroni and Cheesecake says
June 17, 2013 at 8:21 AMWhat a great idea! This filling would be fabulous in so many desserts!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
June 18, 2013 at 11:08 PMThank you!! 🙂
karen shive says
September 3, 2013 at 6:48 PMcan you freeze this?
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 3, 2013 at 9:08 PMI 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.
Kim says
October 6, 2013 at 4:59 PMAdded 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)
Jocelyn Brubaker says
October 6, 2013 at 5:01 PMI’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!!!
Holly Shoemaker says
November 30, 2013 at 10:00 PMHands 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.
Carol Ann Rowland says
December 14, 2013 at 11:24 PMthank 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. 🙂
Eva says
January 23, 2014 at 10:45 AMThis 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!!
Sally says
August 2, 2014 at 4:27 PMHi there,
So excited to make this! I was curious how long this would keep if I froze it? Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 2, 2014 at 7:40 PMHi, 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.
DrLFBruce says
December 23, 2014 at 3:32 PMThanks for providing a flavorful and easy to follow recipe for baking apple pies.
Rachel says
December 24, 2014 at 4:35 PMIt is soooooo delicious! It was very easy to make and i cannot wait to make my pie!! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!!
Liselle says
November 12, 2015 at 1:22 PMCould you use apple juice or cider in place of the water for more apple flavor or a 50/50 mix of water/juice/cider?
Jocelyn says
November 12, 2015 at 2:32 PMI 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.
Merri Westlund says
August 18, 2016 at 11:21 PMJust 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!!
Denise says
November 7, 2016 at 9:36 AMHi: 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.
Jocelyn says
November 7, 2016 at 10:48 AMI 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/
Lauren Brubaker says
September 9, 2017 at 3:29 PMIt’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!
Bree says
October 9, 2017 at 11:29 PMThis looks delicious! Recommendation on what apple works best? I usually buy gala. Also about how many would make 5 cups??
Jocelyn says
October 10, 2017 at 10:12 AMI usually use 1 bag of the peeled sweet Crunch Pak apple slices. I believe the sweet slices are from Gala apples.
Madison Smith says
October 9, 2018 at 7:02 AMIt’s looks mouth watering jocelyn…i love apple also, i will definitely try to making this apple pie filling, Thanks for sharing delicious recipe…….!
Stefanie says
October 15, 2018 at 9:53 AMHow am I out of cornstarch?? Can I sub flour? Or should I just go get some cornstarch? Lol
Jocelyn says
October 15, 2018 at 5:29 PMI 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.
Stefanie says
October 16, 2018 at 8:12 PMI broke down and got the cornstarch, made the Apple pie filling yesterday then made your Apple crisp pie today. Absolutely incredible!!!
Jocelyn says
October 16, 2018 at 8:51 PMThat’s awesome! I am so excited to hear how much you liked the recipes 🙂
Melissa says
October 27, 2018 at 2:25 PMHave you tried freezing the filling? Does it work?
Jocelyn says
October 27, 2018 at 4:03 PMI’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.
Ryan Morrow says
November 7, 2018 at 7:15 AMABSOLUTELY 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.
Jocelyn says
November 7, 2018 at 7:55 AMI’m so glad you liked the filling! The struggle is real to not eat it all with a spoon. LOL!
Anthony Allen says
November 16, 2018 at 10:02 PMThis 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.
MARCEL STINNETT says
June 8, 2019 at 7:21 PMthis 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
Jocelyn says
June 9, 2019 at 9:20 PMYay! I am so happy to hear that! This is my favorite pie filling recipe to make too!!!