Julie Clark
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Apple Butter Pie
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Apple Butter Pie has a 5 minute filling bursting with traditional fall flavor. A great alternative to pumpkin pie, this is one of the best apple recipes to make for the holidays!
Move over, pumpkin pie. There’s a new kid in town. This recipe is a game changer, friends.
I came across this old recipe in my favorite cookbook and it immediately caught my eye. Apple butter is fantastically delicious to bake with (hello there, apple butter rolls!) It’s genius, but it only makes sense. Pumpkin puree is slightly similar in texture to apple butter, so why not switch out the two and create a new flavor of pie?
And this filling mixes up in just 4 minutes, like our oatmeal pie. Can’t beat that.
You’ll love this Apple Butter Pie:
- A simple, custard like filling, very similar to pumpkin pie in texture. Switch out the pumpkin puree for apple butter instead and you have a pie that is full of cinnamony sweet apple flavor.
- Filling takes 5 minutes. Use a pre-made crust to keep it quick! Bakes in about 60 minutes.
- The perfect Thanksgiving pie.
What is the best kind of apple butter to use?
I’ve made this pie recipe a few times now and each time I’ve used a different brand of apple butter. Please realize that not all apple butter is created equally. Store-bought apple butter is a different texture than homemade, and most likely everyone’s homemade apple butter recipe has different sugar and cinnamon contents, creating even more diverse textures.
Because of this, each time I’ve baked this pie, it has come out just a little bit differently (because yes, I have three different apple butters in my fridge), but each time it has been delicious. A thicker apple butter works best, giving it a firmer, more “pumpkin pie-like” texture.
Ingredients for Apple Butter Pie
- Pie crust. Use my flaky homemade pie crust recipe (you can make half, or make a whole recipe and make a cinnamon thing with the other half). Store-bought unbaked crust works, too.
- Eggs.
- Sugar and ground cinnamon. To sweet and flavor the pie.
- Cornstarch. This thickens the pie filling.
- Whole milk. This one’s important! Use a high fat milk. It’s a must for this recipe. Don’t have whole milk on hand? Many times we only have 2% milk. But we often have half and half or heavy whipping cream in the fridge, also. You can use part milk and part cream in order to make a thicker, high fat milk for this recipe.
I’ll admit. I’m head over heels for that layered look. This may not happen every time you make it, again, because of the difference in apple butters and the fat content of the milk you use. It’s always a surprise slicing into this pie and seeing the beauty it bakes up to be.
How to Make Apple Butter Pie
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a 9″ pie plate with an unbaked pie dough, crimping the edges.
- Mix the filling. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and apple butter. Mix well. Then add the milk and whisk again until smooth and even.
- Assemble the pie. Pour the filling into the prepared pie pan. Use a spoon to mix the filling once it is in the crust to be sure all of the ingredients are equally distributed.
- Bake the pie. Bake on the bottom oven rack for 60-65 minutes, or until the center is set. It will still seem slightly “jiggly” in the very center, but a knife put in the center should come out nearly clean, similar to a pumpkin pie.
Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Serving Suggestion
Just like with pumpkin pie, serve the pie with whipped cream. Then sprinkle with a little extra cinnamon or apple pie spice. If the pie is still a little warm, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Storage Instructions
Once the pie has cooled to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Enjoy putting aside the pumpkin pies for a change and serving this unique apple pie. I’ve not tried to freeze this pie, but it should freeze ok in individual slices.
Apple Butter Pie
The texture of pumpkin pie with the taste of apple! Apple Butter Pie has a 5 minute filling bursting with traditional fall flavor.
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 2 cups whole milk*
- unbaked pastry for 1 9-inch pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Beat eggs in a medium size bowl. Add the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and apple butter. Mix well. ½ cup apple butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ cup apple butter
- Add milk and whisk together. 2 cups whole milk*
- Press the pastry into a 9" pie pish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Flute the edges
- Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust. Use a spoon to mix the filling once it is in the crust to be sure all of the ingredients are equally distributed. unbaked pastry for 1 9-inch pie crust
- Bake on the bottom oven rack for 60-65 minutes, or until the center is set. It will still seem slightly "jiggly" in the very center, but a knife put in the center should come out nearly clean, similar to a pumpkin pie.
- Cool on a wire rack. Do not slice into the pie right away, as it will continue to set as it sits.
- Store the pie in the refrigerator once it is cooled.
Video
Notes
- It’s best to use a high fat milk for this recipe. You can even use evaporated milk or half and half. I do not recommend skim milk, 2% milk or 1 % milk.
- I would start checking to see if the pie is done after 55 minutes of baking.
- If the edge of the crust is getting too brown, cover it carefully with aluminum foil.
- For flavor variation, add a pinch of salt, a dash of vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon apple pie spice.
Nutrition
Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 113mg | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Just made this and it’s wonderful!
YIkes! Make sure to use either a deep dish or split recipe. MIne spilled over and smoked up the whole house
If I replaced the apple butter with pumpkin butter, do you thing any other alterations would need to be done?
Ahh this looks so good. I’m making this for a class, and I followed the recipe completely. The filling came out reallllyyy watery, is there anything you can suggest to fix that, or is that how it’s supposed to be?
WOW. Uhmmm this looks totally amazing. I CAN’T WAIT to try it. Definitely pinned so I can find it on a week that’s not so crazy. Thank you! I’ll let you know how much I love it 🙂
I think you came up with a new favorite dish 🙂
Apple Butter Pie?! Yes. Please. I have fond memories of my grandma’s homemade apple butter; I love this new take on using it in a dessert!
Why not make an apple butter pumpkin pie and layer it…pumpkin pie bottom layer, apple butter pie top layer. I’m going to try it!
Looks awesome! Are the layers more likely with higher milk fat content? Would love to know how to make the effect more likely.
WHAT! This sounds amazing! My grandma has an amazing recipe for apple butter, so I will definitely have to try this for our next family get-together.
That looks insanely good! I must try when I go to the orchard.
This looks utterly amazing!! Thanks so much for a new recipe to try for the holidays this year!
This pie is genius! I never thought to use apple butter, but it’s brilliant, especially for the pumpkin haters (I am not one of them)! Can’t wait to make this when our weather cools off!
Oh, Yum. The Apple Butter Pie looks Fantastic.
Wanted to ask you; in your Apple Butter recipe; what kind of apples did you use? I use a lot of Granny Smith apples so would they work or did you use a variety of different kind apples for your Apple Butter?
I love Apple Butter and would like to make some up.
Also, can a person can this in a water bath canner?
I saw this on Instagram and had to check it out – it looks amazing! We just made some peach butter and I’m thinking that could be yet another variation! I’ve also got to check out that cookbook too – I love old community cookbooks!