Apple Pie with Streusel Topping

Make your own homemade Apple Pie with Streusel Topping using a store bought pie crust, fresh apples, and other pantry staples. The buttery crumb topping compliments the sweet apple filling. This is a pie recipe your family will be requesting on repeat.

Pie with golden-brown crust and crumble topping dusted in powdered-sugar in front of a green apple.

I’ve been making this same apple pie for over 15 years now. My mother in-law taught me how to make this pie recipe. Prior to her teaching me this recipe I had never made a homemade pie. You’ll notice in the recipe I use a store bought pie crust as the base. This has been my saving grace and what has helped me throughout the years over come my fear for baking pies.

Since publishing this recipe 12 years ago this Apple Pie with Streusel Topping has been a staple at our Thanksgiving day table. I typically have to make two pies. One for my house and one for my parents to bring to their home.

Let’s talk a little bit about where this recipe really comes from. My mother in-law got this recipe from an issue of Family Circle that dates back to January 13, 1981!!! The best part is that it breaks down the cost, and back in 1981 it would have cost .42 cents per slice (not so much now a days)! If I had to guess it is probably double if not triple that price now, but still so worth it! Over the years of making this recipe I’ve altered ingredients that has pretty much made it my own. I use my own homemade apple pie spice vs measuring out cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices. I also use more apples then the original recipe required.

Why this Recipe Works

This is a semi-homemade pie recipe that any cooking level can execute.

No one will know you used store bought pie crust, which will ultimately save you time in the kitchen.

Fresh apples are the star of this pie.

Ingredients

Ingredients on counter: sugar, apple pie spice, flour, apples, butter, and pie crust.

Pie Crust – I have never made my own pie crust. I always lean in and use the store bought to save time and money.
Spices – I love to use apple pie spice for the filling. I stick with just cinnamon for the streusel topping.
Apples – I prefer to use Granny Smith apples as they are tart and not overly sweet. The sugar mixture they are tossed in will sweeten them up plenty.
Dry Goods – A mix of granulated sugar, brown sugar, and all purpose flour is needed for both the filling and topping.
Dairy – A stick of butter is needed to make the delicious streusel topping.

How to Pre-Bake a Pie Crust

Raw pie crust in a glass pie plate on top of a white and blue striped cloth.

First, Preheat oven to 400°. Place the baking rack at the lowest level of the oven.

Press pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, crimp or pleat crust edges). Using the tines of a fork, prick the bottom of the pie crust 4-6 times. 1 prepared Refrigerated pie crust

Place on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Remove and set to the side once done cooking.

How to Make a Streusel Topping

Glass bowl filled with sugar and flour, second top right photo of mixture, apples, and butter, bottom right photo of hand mixing butter with flour.

In a large bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. place cubed cold butter into flour mixture. Using the tines of a fork (or a pastry cutter). Mix until pea-shape pieces of flour appear. Place in the refrigerator until ready to top pie.

How to Make Apple Pie Filling

three process shots of making apple filling.

Combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, and apple pie spice in a separate large bowl. Press out lumps and mix well.

Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss to coat all apples with mixture.

How to Assemble an Apple Pie

Cooked pie crust, apples filled in pie crust and topped with crumb topping.

Fill the apple mixture into the pie crust. Top evenly with the crumb mixture.

Bake for 50 minutes. Cool the pie on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Dust with powder sugar before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Plated slice of apple pie with fork and whipped cream next to fresh green apple.
Should I peel apples for apple pie?

I think this is mainly a personal preference. However, most pies you’ll taste from the store or a bakery take the time to peel the apples. If you do not peel the apples it will give the pie a different texture. It’s best to take the time to peel your apples for a fruit pie!

What Apple is best for pie?

Traditionally Granny Smith apples are best for making pie. They are firm and slightly sour which gives a good balance when mixing with sugar. They also hold their shape well since they are a firmer apple.

How do you make apple pie not runny?

This is one of the most common problems when making a pie. To prevent the pie from being runny or even mushy here are a few tips I have for you.

Experiment with different thickeners. I use flour in my pie and it seems to do the job well.
You can precook the filling if you choose, but to be honest I’ve never done this before. It will definitely help with the runny liquid.
Make sure you cook your pie until it’s done.
Let your pie cool completely. This step is important so it will congeal and thicken as it cools.
Refrigerate your pie! This helps everything thicken and will make for perfect cuts once your ready to serve.

If you’ve been nervous to make your own pie I hope you’ll give this recipe a try for apple pie. It has a delicious easy to make streusel topping that will have everyone asking for seconds and thirds!

Recipes Tips & Tricks

If you want to make this apple crumble pie, here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks.

Topping – You will have about ⅓ cup of topping left from this recipe.
Apples – After you place all the apples in the pie crust you will notice a lot of juice in the bowl. This is water that was removed from the apples while sitting in the brown sugar mixture. Do not pour the extra sugar syrup on top of the pie. This will result in a soggy pie.
Raisins – If you like raisins you can add a quarter cup to the apple mixture before filling the pie.
Pie Crust – This recipe also works with a homemade pie crust. To save time, I always use a store bought.

Apple Recipes

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Glass plate filled with an apple pie with powdered sugar.

Make your own homemade Apple Pie with Streusel Topping using a store bought pie crust, fresh apples, and other pantry staples. The buttery crumb topping compliments the sweet apple filling. This is a pie recipe your family will be requesting on repeat.

from 1 vote

Prep Time:

minutes

Cook Time:

hour

Cooling time:

minutes

Total Time:

hours

Servings:

Calories:

300

kcal

Author:

Katie

Equipment

▢

Oven
▢

1 9-inch Pie Plate

Ingredients

▢

1

prepared

Refrigerated pie crust

from a 15 oz package

For the Streusel Topping

▢

1

cup

All Purpose Flour
▢

½

cup

Brown Sugar
▢

1

teaspoon

Ground Cinnamon
▢

1

stick

Salted butter

cubed and cold

For the Apple Pie Filling

▢

⅓

cup

Brown Sugar

firmly packed
▢

⅓

cup

Granulated Sugar
▢

3

tablespoons

All Purpose Flour
▢

1

teaspoon

apple pie spice
▢

6

Granny Smith Apples

peeled, cored, and sliced
▢

¼

cup

Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°. Place the baking rack at the lowest level of the oven.
Press pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, crimp or pleat crust edges). Using the tines of a fork, prick the bottom of the pie crust 4-6 times.

1 prepared Refrigerated pie crust
Place on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Remove and set to the side once done cooking.

For the Streusel Topping:

In a large bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. place cubed cold butter into flour mixture. Using the tines of a fork (or a pastry cutter). Mix until pea-shape pieces of flour appear. Place in the refrigerator until ready to top pie.

1 cup All Purpose Flour,

½ cup Brown Sugar,

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon,

1 stick Salted butter

For the Apple Pie Filling

Combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, and apple pie spice in a separate large bowl. Press out lumps and mix well.

⅓ cup Brown Sugar,

⅓ cup Granulated Sugar,

3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour,

1 teaspoon apple pie spice
Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss to coat all apples with mixture.

6 Granny Smith Apples
Fill the apple mixture into the pie crust. Top evenly with the crumb mixture.
Bake for 50 minutes. Cool the pie on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Dust with powder sugar before serving.

¼ cup Powdered Sugar

Notes

Topping – You will have about
⅓

cup of topping left from this recipe.
Apples – After you place all the apples in the pie crust you will notice a lot of juice in the bowl. This is water that was removed from the apples while sitting in the brown sugar mixture. Do not pour the extra sugar syrup on top of the pie. This will result in a soggy pie.
Raisins – If you like raisins you can add a quarter cup to the apple mixture before filling the pie.
Pie Crust – This recipe also works with a homemade pie crust. To save time, I always use a store bought.

Nutrition

Serving:

Calories:

300

kcal

Carbohydrates:

Protein:

Fat:

Saturated Fat:

Polyunsaturated Fat:

0.5

Monounsaturated Fat:

Trans Fat:

0.4

Cholesterol:

Sodium:

Potassium:

162

Fiber:

Sugar:

Vitamin A:

342

Vitamin C:

Calcium:

Iron:

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Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina

Original Publish Date 11/25/2010 // Republished with new photographs and information on 11/24/2019 // Further updates with additional info and step-by-step photos added 11/5/2022.