Dutch Apple Pie

I can’t tell you the best thing about a Dutch apple pie.

Maybe it’s the smell of Cinnamon, nutmeg and clove it wafts through the air and makes my home smell like a warm blanket feels on a cold day – welcoming and cosy.

I think maybe it’s all of the above. Apple pies are the comfort food of the dessert world and there’s no denying it.

What is Dutch apple pie?

A Dutch apple pie also goes by the name of crumble pie or streusel pie, which gives you a little more insight into what you’ll be baking than the Dutch title.

The cake has a dough base with cinnamon-scented apples stacked on top and is then topped with a crumble or crumble topping. The buttery, flaky crust followed by the tender, warm and flavorful apples and the crumbly-sweet topping add layers of flavor and texture to the pie that I just love.

It’s one of my absolute favorite cakes.

What is the topping on Dutch apple pie?

The topping or crumble is a combination of flour, sugar, pecans, and spices. I’m into cinnamon. It is then tossed along with melted butter and crumbled over the cake. It doesn’t get much easier.

Can I omit the nuts in the crumble topping?

I added chopped pecans to my crumble topping, but feel free to skip or swap them out. Almonds would be delicious too.

What are the best apples for pies?

If you make me choose My top choice for an apple pie is Braeburn, followed by Gala.

When I was developing this recipe, I actually made four cakes. I’ve tried each of Braeburn, Gala, Pink Lady, and in one version, a combination of the three. Each apple held its shape but became tender during baking.

I would only warn against baking pies with red or yellow yummy apples or Jonagold. They tend to break down quickly and end up getting a bit mushy.

Apart from that, I’ve never had an apple pie that I didn’t like. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve made pies out of granny smith, jazz apples, and honeycrisp (although they’re pretty expensive to put in a pie and taste so good out-of-hand, I’d probably save them for snacking ) and pretty much every apple that was for sale in the store.

So, I guess what I’m saying is, if you have apples, bake a cake. You will be fine, and so will your cake.

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our guide to apples.

What is the best way to cut an apple for pies?

I remember eating apple pie with thickly sliced, chunky apples as a kid. I don’t make cakes like that. I prefer thin apple slices. This will add more apples to the cake and layer them nicely, giving you a piece that will hold together when cut.

I like to cut my apples into slices about 1/8 inch thick .

What to serve with apple pie?

A slice of just warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is close to heaven in my eyes. Drizzle some caramel sauce over that thing and heaven just got better.

If that’s too rich for your blood, I get it. Some lightly whipped cream is always a delicious addition. If you don’t use dairy, you can certainly use a butter alternative for the crumble topping and use this coconut whipped cream on top.

How to store Dutch apple pie

Apple pie doesn’t last long on me. When I think we’ll finish it within 3 days, I usually store it wrapped in foil on the counter. If I think it might last a week or more I keep it in the fridge. Apple pie tastes great any way, but it’s best served slightly warm or at room temperature.

Can you freeze apple pie?

It is best to freeze an unbaked cake. Freezing a baked pie usually results in overcooked crust edges and a soggy bottom crust when you reheat or thaw it.

Pie keeps frozen, unbaked, wrapped in plastic wrap and foil for up to four months. Remove the foil and plastic and bake at 375°F for about an hour.

NEED MORE PIE?

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