The Ultimate Fall Comfort: Warm & Spiced Apple Crumble Pie

 

 As the leaves begin to turn and crispness fills the air, there's nothing quite like the comforting aroma of a freshly baked pie. This Apple Crumble Pie is the epitome of fall dessert – a tender, flaky crust cradling a warmly spiced apple filling, all topped with a buttery, sweet, and irresistible crumble.

It's the perfect treat for a cozy evening, a holiday gathering, or just when you need a little taste of autumn bliss. Forget the fuss of a double crust; this crumbling topping is easier and adds a delightful texture!

Let's bake some fall magic!

Cozy Apple Crumble Pie

Yields: 8 servings Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 50-60 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Pie Crust (or use 1 store-bought 9-inch pie crust):

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
• 4-5 tablespoons ice water

For the Apple Filling:

• 6-7 medium-sized apples (about 2 ½ - 3 lbs), such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, peeled, cored, and sliced about ¼-inch thick
• ½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to apple sweetness)
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

For the Crumble Topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup (½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Equipment:

• 9-inch pie plate
• Large mixing bowls
• Pastry blender or food processor (for crust and crumbling)
• Rolling pin

Instructions:

1.  Prepare the Pie Crust (if it is made from scratch): In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2.  Roll and Place Crust: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pie dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges as desired. Place the pie plate in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

3.  Make the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (if using), and lemon juice. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated.

4.  Prepare the Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Add the cold butter pieces and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until coarse crumbs form.

5.  Assemble the Pie: Pour the apple filling into the chilled pie crust. Dot the top of the apple filling with small pieces of butter.