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Home » Recipes » Pie Recipes

Grandma's Dutch Apple Pie with Crumble Topping

Published: Oct 18, 2021 Last Updated: Dec 11, 2021 by Marye 1729 words. | About 9 minutes to read this article.

My Dutch apple pie recipe has the perfect, crumbly streusel topping over tender apples in a buttery crust. The secret to that sweet crumble topping that's perfect every time?
Sprinkling a little white sugar over it before it bakes.
There's nothing as good a warm slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top!
Total time 1 hour 5 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Overhead shot of an uncut Dutch apple pie with title text overlay.

This recipe calls for just one bottom crust. If you're looking for a regular apple pie with a double crust give the classic apple pie or Red Hots Candy Apple Pie a try!

Overhead shot of an uncut Dutch apple pie with title text overlay.
Who can resist a Dutch apple pie in a buttery homemade pie crust with a sweet crumble topping? Not me!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🎥 Video
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 🔥 Reheating
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Easier than traditional apple pie because there's only a single pie crust to mess with!
  • The buttery streusel topping always comes out perfectly!
  • I'm giving you the secret to the MOST delicious apple filling ever!

This easy recipe always comes out just right with a lavish layer of sweet crumble over tender autumn spiced sliced apples.

It's the perfect combination of apple pie and apple crisp!

If you've wondered how to make that perfectly crumbly streusel topping you'll find the secret right here. 

🧾Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Dutch Apple Pie Recipe.
Brown sugar is not shown in this image but is included in the apple pie recipe.

You can use my flaky pie crust recipe, or this easy food processor crust... or even an unbaked one from the store. In a pinch 2 cans of apple pie filling can stand in for the fresh apples but you'll want to leave the flour and sugar out.

And of course, homemade apple pie filling is SO much better!

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • single pie crust
  • a variety of sweet and tart apples (see FAQs below)
  • cider vinegar
  • sugar
  • brown sugar
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • cloves
  • cinnamon
  • kosher salt

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

A collage of step by step images show you how to make this Dutch apple pie.

Step one

  1. Peel core, and slice apples.
  2. Add sugar.
  3. Add flour, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
  4. Stir in vinegar and mix well.
  5. Put in unbaked crust.

Step two

  1. Mix butter, brown sugar, and flour together in a large bowl until crumbly.
  2. Spoon over apples.
  3. Sprinkle with sugar and bake.
  4. Enjoy!

🎥 Video

Just click on the image below if you'd like to see the full length video on YouTube. It opens in a new tab so you won't lose your place here.

Clickable cover image for the Dutch Apple Pie video on YouTube.
Click to go to the full length video showing how I make this apple crumble pie.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Using a variety of baking apples, both tart apples and sweet ones, rather than just one type gives your pie more flavor. See FAQs for suggested varieties.

Have you ever made a streusel (crumble) topping for a homemade Dutch apple pie and had it flatten out in the oven?

Yep, me too.

Here are some tips to ensure that that never happens again!

  • Use ice cold butter. Cube it and put it in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to use it.
  • Mix your dry ingredients together and then add the butter, squeezing it and blending it in with your fingers. OR if you have a food processor pulse until coarse crumbs form. Continue to blend the butter cubes into the dry ingredients until it forms a solid mass that crumbles apart when you squeeze it a little.
  • Some people like to use a pastry blender but I find it works better for me if I just use my hands.
  • Experiment with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger to see if you like a little spice in there. I have been known to add a pinch of chipotle.
  • Finely chop pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or old fashioned oats to add in with the dry ingredients.
  • Once you've made the streusel pop it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before adding it to the top of the pie.
  • Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of granulated sugar over the top before baking.
  • Once the crumble topping is on the pie bake it immediately.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

What is the difference between a Dutch apple pie and a regular one?

The main difference between the two is the topping. An apple pie usually has a pastry crust on top but a Dutch apple pie is covered with a crumbly streusel made of butter, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes nuts or oatmeal.

What are the best apples for apple pie?

I like to use a combination of apples to get the most flavor. Choose a mixture from the following varieties:
Honey Crisp
MacIntosh
Granny Smith apples
Braeburn
Winesap
Jonathon
Jazz
Find more information about the different flavors of apple varieties in this article from the University of Illinois

How do you know when it is done?

The fruit will be tender if you stick a knife into them and you'll see the filling bubbling up through the streusel.

🥫 Storage

Cover your perfect apple pie with plastic wrap then store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze for longer storage.

🔥 Reheating

Put the Dutch apple pie in the oven at 350F for about 10 to 15 minutes. If it's been frozen let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. It's just that easy!

A slice of homemade apple pie with a fork in it.
This is one of my favorite apple recipes! The tangy apple filling and streusel topping take it over the top!

📚 Related recipes

  • Apple Bread Recipe Tastes Just Like Fritters
  • Red Hots Candy Apple Pie Recipe Has Best Cinnamon Flavor
  • Irish Apple Cake with Whiskey Brown Butter Sauce
  • Easy Fried Pie Recipe
  • No Bake Hershey Pie
  • No Bake Banana Pudding Pie
  • Blackberry Cobbler
  • Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie

📞 The last word

I've heard people call this an "apple crumb pie" but we've always called it Dutch apple pie. I'm not sure which parts of the country call it what - I just know that each bite is a piece of heaven.

Sweet apple filling in a flaky buttery, crust topped with a golden brown crumb topping?

Yes, please!

We lived in Pennsylvania a few years when I was small and I have a special place in my heart for the foods available there from the chicken pot pies to the Pennsylvania Dutch apple pie and Shoo-fly Pie.

This is definitely a recipe any Pennsylvania Dutch grandma would approve of.

It's the best kind of pie to slip onto the table this time of year - when the apples are ripe and crisp and the air outside smells like fall. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top and wait for those rave reviews.

Just a quick note. Sometimes, if you've used a variety of especially juicy apples the sugar can pull the juices out during baking and you end up with a watery filling.

It's so darn frustrating!

What you can do is to add the sugar mixture to the apples and then put them aside for about 30 minutes. During this time if there is any extra juice it will come out of the apples and collect in the bottom of the bowl.

Just pour it off and continue with the pie as directed in the recipe.

This is the best apple pie, ever - I promise. SO tangy and sweet and buttery! It's perfect for the fall season but I love it all year long!

Be sure and try this old fashioned sweet potato pie, too!

📖 Recipe

Close up shot of a slice of apple pie for featured image.
4.56 from 47 votes

Dutch Apple Pie Recipe

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My Dutch apple pie recipe has the perfect, crumbly streusel topping over tender apples in a buttery crust. The secret to that sweet crumble topping that's perfect every time?
Sprinkling a little white sugar over it before it bakes.
There's nothing as good a warm slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Amercian Heritage
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings:8 servings
Calories:482
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Pie Pan

Ingredients

Pie

  • 1 pie crust, unbaked 9-inch
  • 8 cups apples, about 3 pounds
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup flour
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, more if desired
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, more if desired
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar , adds more flavor

Topping

  • ½ cup butter, diced and chilled
  • 1 cup flour
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed, or use white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • Pinch salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Pie

  • Heat oven to 400°F.
  • On a floured surface roll dough into a circle roughly 2 inches bigger than a 9-inch pie plate.
  • Place the pastry in the pie plate, pressing down slightly.
  • Put the pastry lined pie plate in the freezer while preparing apples.
  • Peel and core apples. Cut into ½-inch thick slices.
  • In a large bowl toss the apples and everything else that remains except the topping ingredients.
  • Remove the pie plate from the freezer. Spoon apple mixture into the pastry lined pie plate, mounding the apples up in the center.

Crumb Topping

  • Use your fingers to mix the butter, flour, brown sugar, and salt until it is a mass that holds together then crumbles when you squeeze it.
  • Sprinkle it on top of the filled pie.
  • Sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of sugar.
  • Bake 40 to 55 minutes or until pie crust and crumb topping are deep golden brown and filling begins to bubble.
  • Transfer to cooling rack to cool before serving.

Notes

Can store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate for longer storage.

What are the best apples for pie?

Expert Tip: Using a variety of baking apples rather than just one type gives your pie more flavor. Choose a mixture from the following varieties:
  • HoneyCrisp
  • MacIntosh
  • Granny Smith
  • Braeburn
  • Winesap
  • Jonathon
  • Jazz
Have you ever made a streusel (crumble) topping and had it flatten out in the oven? Yep, me too. Here are some tips to ensure that that never happens again!
  • Use ice cold butter. Cube it and put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
  • Mix your dry ingredients together and then add the butter, squeezing it and blending it in with your fingers.
  • Continue to blend the butter cubes into the dry ingredients until it forms a solid mass that crumbles apart when you squeeze it a little.
  • Experiment with spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger to see if you like a little spice in there. I have been known to add a pinch of chipotle.
  • Finely chop pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or old fashioned oats to add in with the dry ingredients.
  • Once you've made the streusel pop it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before adding it to the top of the pie.
  • Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of sugar over the top before baking.
  • Once the crumble topping is on the pie bake it immediately.
  • If you tend to have spillovers in your oven go ahead and place the pie on a baking sheet.
  • Either a homemade crust or a store bought one is fine.
  • I like to sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the trimmings and excess dough and bake until crispy.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.8mg

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    First published December 2016. Last updated October 18, 2021 for extra tips.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan Axtell

      February 09, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      I live in a small Dutch (not Amish) farming community in Northwest Indiana. A group of 100’s of ladies from the Reformed churches get together every year to assemble 1200-1500 of these pies to sell for the Bible League. These UNBAKED pies are double bagged and placed in a pie box, complete with instructions on how to bake after removing from freezer. Your recipe is the closest to their recipe. I think I’ll be just donating money this year, because your recipe is THE best!!!

      Reply
    2. Bri

      October 19, 2020 at 6:45 pm

      I sprinkled the sugar on top....but when the pie was finished baking there was just a layer of sugar still sitting on top. Looks completely inedible and I’m not sure where I went wrong!

      Reply
      • Marye

        October 20, 2020 at 10:37 am

        How much did you use? It's just a dusting so you really almost can't see it.

    3. Kelly

      June 20, 2020 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely wonderful! Made it today and absolutely loved it. It was a big hit.

      Reply
      • Marye

        June 23, 2020 at 10:39 am

        YAY! Glad you liked it.

    4. Jenny McGreevy

      November 29, 2019 at 2:02 pm

      We had a Thanksgiving pie contest and this one won! I even omitted the ground cloves, because I had none!

      Reply
      • Marye

        November 29, 2019 at 9:48 pm

        That's awesome! Thanks for letting me know!

    5. LaurieLynn

      November 21, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      I made this today. I am always on the lookout for different pie recipes. So I am excited to have found this from Pinterest 🙂

      I ran out of ACV and I thought I had lemons so I didn’t pick any up at the store (it’s a 30 minute drive and I wasn’t about to go back). So I improvised. I had some lemon lime soda and I put the apples in that while I was peeling and slicing. Kept them from turning brown and that’s what I wanted!

      My house smells so amazing and I have to keep watch so the teenagers and husband don’t sneak a bite! I cannot wait to have this for breakfast tomorrow morning. Yes, we eat apple pie for breakfast the morning of Thanksgiving. I would love to say it’s some family tradition from growing up but it isn’t. We are just greedy and cannot wait until after we wake up from the turkey coma.

      Reply
    6. Sarah

      November 21, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      4 stars
      I appreciate having a "jump to recipe" button. Makes it easier to find what I'm looking for. Thanks!

      Reply
    7. Megan

      November 21, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Can you make ahead, day before and keep in refrigerator to bake next day?

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        November 21, 2018 at 2:29 pm

        yes. 🙂

    8. Shannon

      October 22, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, Marye - this is now my very favorite Apple Pie recipe! It is absolutely perfect. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        October 23, 2017 at 12:23 pm

        I'm so glad you like it! 🙂 It's one of my favorites, too.

      • Lisa Garcia

        March 29, 2022 at 3:12 pm

        Can you tell me can you use this recipe to make apple crisp?

      • Marye

        March 30, 2022 at 9:20 am

        Yes you can!

    9. Catherine

      December 23, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Dear Marye, This pie looks absolutely splendid. I love the crunchy topping...such a beautiful holiday dessert. Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday and New Year!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        December 27, 2016 at 10:20 pm

        thank you!

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