Best Apple Crumb Pie

Updated Sep 21, 2026

4.94 from 16 votes

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This apple crumb pie is made completely from scratch with a flaky, buttery pie crust, a perfectly sweet & spiced apple filling and an irresistible crumb topping. It’s our family’s favorite apple pie recipe and the perfect dessert for fall and Thanksgiving!

apple crumb pie in a white ceramic pie dish with a slice cut out, there are pie crust apples coated in cinnamon sugar on top, and the crumb is perfectly golden while the filling is nice and thick - not at all soupy.

I love apple pie, and I will choose a buttery crumble topping over a double crust every single time (click here for a double-crust apple pie), so naturally, this apple crumb pie recipe is my favorite!

In this apple crumble pie, the apples are partially cooked before baking. This is my secret to creating a thick apple filling that doesn’t shrink or sink as the pie bakes. Plus, it ensures the apples and crust finish baking at the same time.

This recipe was actually the very first Thanksgiving dessert I shared when I started JoyFoodSunshine in 2016, and it’s still one of our family’s favorites!

a slice of apple crumb pie on a white ceramic plate with two pie crust apples coated in cinnamon sugar - one of top of the slice of pie and one on the plate. A fork is taking a bite out of the pie so the thick apple filling is visible. There's a cinnamon stick on the plate.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Crumb Pie!

Crumble Topping. The sweet, buttery cinnamon crumble is irresistible paired with the apples!
Made from scratch. No store-bought pie crusts or canned fillings here.
Loaded with apples. Four pounds of apples, no notes!
It doesn’t sink. The apples are partially cooked before baking so the filling doesn’t shrink and leave a large gap underneath the crumble.
Easy to make. A crumb topping is much easier than making a double crust or lattice-topped pie.
Perfect for Thanksgiving. This apple crumble pie has been one of our family’s favorite Thanksgiving desserts for years.

After all the apple pies I have made thru my life, I don’t have to search anymore..this IS the recipe I will use from now on.
– Birdie

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side view of a slice of apple crumb pie on a ceramic plate topped with a pie crust apple. The moist but thick apple filling is visible. There's a fork on the plate, the rest of the pie and apples in the background.

Apple Crumb Pie: Ingredients & Substitutions

Let’s chat about the ingredients as well as possible substitutions.

the ingredients in this apple crumb pie recipe in bowls and labeled like apples, pie crust, sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg.

Pie crust. I highly recommend making your own homemade flaky butter pie crust (instructions are in the recipe card). It’s easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. However, you can use a store-bought pie crust if you prefer to save time.
All-Purpose Flour. Pastry flour works well in this recipe. Or, use a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour to make a gluten-free apple crumb pie.
Granulated Sugar. Brown sugar can be used in place of granulated sugar in the filling for a deeper flavor.
Apples. Choose your favorite apple variety. I recommend pink lady, honey crisp, gala, jazz, granny smith, McIntosh, etc. A sweet/tart mixture is my favorite.

Best Apples for Apple Crumb Pie

I suggest using a combination of sweet and tart apples in this recipe.

Some of my favorite apples for pie are Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Jazz and Gala.

Apple Crumb Pie in a pie dish with a pie crust apple on top

How to Make Apple Crumble Pie

Let’s walk through this recipe together, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Make the Crust

Since this apple crumble pie is homemade, begin by making the crust. I always make pie crust because it’s easy and delicious (like in this French Silk pie and this Pumpkin Pie).

Whether you use a food processor or a good old-fashioned pastry cutter, making this all-butter pie crust recipe literally takes 5 minutes. It is super easy and tastes so much better than the store-bought crusts. Halve the recipe and follow the instructions here: Butter Pie Crust.

The crust needs to be chilled for at least 1 hour or overnight. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge.

apple crumb pie crust wrapped in plastic wrap to be chilled.

After chilling, roll out the dough. I suggest using your pie plate to measure the dough to make sure I rolled it large enough.

making apple crumb pie - pie crust rolled out with a pie dish on top to measure the size on a gray surface with a wood rolling pin in the top right corner

making apple crumb pie - pie crust in a white pie dish on a gray surface with a wood rolling pin in the top right corner

Then, form it into the pie dish and crimp the sides with your thumb and pointer finger (see the video).

making apple crumble pie - pie crust formed into a pie dish with fluted edges on a gray surface.

Make the Crumble Topping for Apple Pie

While the pie crust is chilling, make the crumble topping. Begin by combining the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.

making crumble topping for apple pie - flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a brown mixing bowl on a gray surface before mixing

making crumble topping for apple pie - dry ingredients in a brown bowl after being mixed with a silver spoon

Then, cut in the softened butter with a fork or pastry cutter, or with your hands.

The topping should look like the photo below, well-mixed with large crumbs. Set it aside until you assemble the pie.

making crumble topping for apple pie - cubes of butter added to the dry ingredients in a brown mixing bowl. The butter is being cut in with a silver fork.

crumble topping for apple pie in a brown mixing bowl with a silver fork

Make the Apple Crumble Pie Filling

I suggest making the apple filling with the dough is chilling as well. Begin by peeling, coring and slicing the apples and placing them in a microwave-safe bowl.

making apple crumb pie - sliced and peeled apples in a glass mixing bowl on a gray surface

Then, cook the apples in the microwave for 5 minutes, until they are soft to the touch.

Once they finish cooking, transfer them to a colander to drain any excess water.

Why Precook Apples?

I partially cook the apples before assembling this apple crumb pie (and this classic apple pie) for 3 important reasons.

Apples shrink as they cook. Pre-cooking them prevents the filling from shrinking in the oven, so you don’t end up with a large gap between the top and the filing.
Even baking. Partially cooking the apples ensures that the filling, crust and crumble topping all finish baking at the same time. No burnt crust and uncooked apples here.
You get a thick pie filling that isn’t watery at all! Draining the excess water off the partially cooked apples creates a thick apple filling and prevents a soggy bottom crust.

making apple crumb pie - sliced and peeled apples in a glass mixing bowl on a gray surface after cooking

making apple crumb pie - partially cooked, sliced and peeled apples in a white colander draining off excess water

While the apples are cooking, combine the dry filling ingredients (sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg) in a small bowl.

making apple crumb pie - cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, flour and salt in a ceramic bowl on a gray surface before mixing

making apple crumb pie - dry filling ingredients in a ceramic mixing bowl with a silver spoon on a gray surface after mixing

After the apples have been drained and cooled slightly, add the dry filling mixture and stir to combine.

making apple crumb pie - drained apples in a white ceramic mixing bowl with the dry filling ingredient mixture added to the top before mixing. There's a metal spoon in the bowl.

final apple crumble pie filling mixture in a white ceramic bowl with a metal spoon on a gray surface

Assemble the Apple Crumb Pie

Once all the components are ready, it’s time to assemble the pie. Pour the apple filling into the prepared pie crust.

assembling apple crumb pie - apple filling inside a fluted pie crust in a white pie dish on a gray surface. There's a striped towel in the top left corner

Then, evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the apple filling.

assembling apple crumb pie - a hand sprinkling the crumble topping for apple pie over the apple filling inside a fluted pie crust in a white pie dish on a gray surface. There's a striped towel in the top left corner

Bake & Cool

Cover the crust with a pie crust shield and bake in the preheated oven for about one hour.

You know this Apple Crumble Pie is done when the filling starts to bubble and the top is a delicious golden-brown.

assembled apple crumble pie with a fluted pie crust and a crumb topping

assembled apple crumble pie with a fluted pie crust and a crumb topping with a foil ring around the outer crust

This pie is best after it has cooled until it’s just barely warm. I recommend letting it cool on a wire rack for at least 3 hours, preferably longer.

How to Know When Apple Crumb Pie Is Done

The apple crumb pie is done when the apple filling is bubbling and the crumble topping and crust are lightly golden brown. The filling must bubble for it to thicken.

If the crumble or crust begins to brown before the filling bubbles, loosely cover the pie with aluminum foil or a pie crust shield and continue baking.

baked apple crumb pie on a wire cooling rack with pie crust apples, red apples and a knife nearby.

How to Serve Apple Crumb Pie

Serve this apple crumble pie with a dollop of fresh homemade whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a perfect fall treat. We also love adding a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce.

More Classic Apple Dessert Recipes

You’ll love all of these!

baked apple crumble pie with 4 pie crust apples on top

The very best classic apple pie with a double crust and perfect filling.
My favorite Dutch apple pie.
Apple pie bars – like apple pie but easier to make and serve.
Apple Cobbler is a total classic.
Best apple crisp recipe so buttery and good.
Apple hand pies better than McDonald’s and easy to serve.
Cinnamon apple bread an easy quick bread loaded with apples.

apple crumble pie in a white pie dish with 6 pie crust apples coated in cinnamon sugar on top. There is a slice cut out of the pie and it's in the pie dish with 2 forks. The pie dish is surrounded by apples, pie crust apples and cinnamon sticks.

How to Store Apple Crumble Pie

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To Freeze

This apple crumb pie freezes very well! Here are two ways to do it:

Freeze the entire pie. Let the pie come to room temperature, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cutting and serving.
Freeze individual slices. Put the slices on a baking sheet and transfer them to the freezer. Then, once they’re frozen, wrap them in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for about 6 hours.

a slice of apple crumb pie on a white ceramic plate with a pie crust apple coated in cinnamon sugar on top. There's a silver fork and cinnamon stick on the plate and a red apple in the background.

Apple Crumb Pie Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between apple pie and apple crumb pie?

Traditional apple pie is usually made with a double pie crust (like this classic apple pie recipe). Apple crumb pie has a traditional bottom pie crust with a crumble topping instead of a top crust.

What is crumble topping made of?

The crumble topping is make with granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, butter softened, ground cinnamon, and sea salt.

What apples are good for apple crumble pie?

I recommend using a mixture of sweet and tart apples. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Jazz and Gala are all great choices.

How do you prevent a soggy bottom pie crust?

Use a colander to drain excess water out of your apples before using in the filling.
Let the apple pie cool completely before serving. This will thicken up the filling and harden the crust.
Do not add any excess water to the pie when you add the filling.
Bake the apple crumb pie on the bottom rack in your oven.

Are apple crumble pie and apple crumb the same as Dutch apple pie?

Yes, All three typically refer to an apple pie with a classic bottom crust, apple filling and crumb topping rather than a pastry top crust.

Why do you precook the apples?

Cooking the apples ensures a thick, non-watery filling, prevents the bottom crust from getting soggy and prevents shrinkage during baking.

Do you have to refrigerate this pie?

Apple crumb pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to store it longer, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yep I always make this pie the day before I plan on serving it so it has ample time to cool and set.

If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!