Red Hots candy apple pie tastes just like an old-fashioned candy apple! Spicy, sweet, cinnamon syrup bathes tangy Granny Smith apples to create an unforgettable dessert everyone loves. Buttery lattice crust lets the vibrant color shine through.
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Ingredients for this recipe: pie dough (double it), apples, cinnamon candies (like Red Hots), apple juice, Fire Ball Whiskey (optional), cinnamon, flour, sugar, lemon juice, butter
💭 Tips for success
- The best apples for apple pie are a mixture of tangy and sweet. Try a mixture of McIntosh, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, and Autumn Glory.
- Use a spoon rather than a whisk to stir the candies when they're melting. The Red Hots candies get really sticky and they're hard to get off the whisk without breaking it.
- Use my homemade pie dough or buy an unbaked pie crust from the store to save time.
- Don't leave the apple slices in the simmering syrup too long. You don't want them to soften -just soak up some of the flavor.
Pie That Tastes Like a Candy Apple!
I used to love getting candy apples on Halloween. Back when I was a kid there wasn't so much worry about someone tampering with the treats and we used to head out with pillowcases to get as many sweets as possible.
One neighbor always invited us in for cider and fresh-out-of-the-fryer donuts. I loved stopping there, smelling the good smells in her house, and feeling very grown up sipping the cider and eating the donuts. You'd think she'd be my favorite stop -- but you'd be wrong.
Oh so wrong.
My favorite stop was another house. We'd ring the door bell and she would come swishing out in a dress, high heels, and an apron. In her hands was a big silver tray covered with bright, shiny red candy apples.
The glaze on the apples was reflected in the silver and the silver tray reflected back on the coating on the apples. We'd thank her hurriedly and move away from her door just enough to let the other kids get their treats.
In that moment, with the stars twinkling in the crisp autumn sky, we'd bite through the red candy layer with a delicate crunch and right into a mouth puckering Macintosh. Each bite was a combination of sweet, spicy, tangy, sour, crispy, crunchy goodness.
And then they were gone for another year.
Candy Apple Pie Brings Back Memories
I've tried and tried to replicate her recipe as I remember it but I can't. I think it was a magical combination of ingredients plus velvety darkness with bright stars plus childhood that made them so good.
I've found that things taste significantly better in memory then perhaps they did in actuality.
This Red Hot candy apple pie has those flavors but it goes one more step and surrounds that spicy tangy sweetness with a flaky, buttery crust.
I use a combination of apples because I think it gives the pie a better flavor. MacIntosh, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jazz.... whatever I can find. The main thing is to always use at least a couple of Granny Smiths.
This is the best apple pie ever and the secret is a little bit of Fireball Whiskey that I snuck in to amp up the cinnamony flavor. Shhh.
I have been informed that this pie is to be part of our Thanksgiving dessert table this year. AND every year.
It is truly addictively good and the color is just beautiful.
👩🏻🍳 Frequently asked questions
Apple pie is one of the most basic types of pastry and most people have tons of different ideas about what makes a good one. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions -
You sure can. Apple pie filling can be made, cooled to room temperature, and frozen for up to 9 months. You an also freeze the unbaked or baked pie. I like to freeze the filling because it takes up less room.
You can make an apple pie the day before serving as long as you bake it, refrigerate it, and then warm it up in the oven before serving. Don't make a pastry ahead of time without baking it - it will get soggy.
You can keep baked apple pie, covered, at room temperature for about 2 days.
📚 Related recipes
Who doesn't get all warm and comfy when they think about a slice of pie? Here are some of my favorites!
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is an old fashioned favorite! Tangy and sweet just like you remember.
- German Chocolate Pie is for those of you who love the cake. This has the same flavors but in a creamy pie form. Added benefit? It's no bake!
- Dutch Apple Pie is another classic - perfectly sweet, crunchy streusel on top of rich apple filling.
You'll find more pies and pastries in the Pie Category of the blog. Take a look and, if you can't find what you're looking for, shoot me an email! Also - if you are interested here's information about homemade canned pie filling.
Red Hots Candy Apple Pie Recipe
A warm slice of this better-than classic apple pie with a scoop of my cinnamon gelato oozing down the sides? Heaven, I tell ya... heaven.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Candy Apple Pie
Print SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- Dough for 1 double crust pie
- 8 apples, (a mixture of different types gives the best flavor - use at least part Granny Smith)
- ⅓ cup Red Hots Candy, or Cinnamon Imperials
- ½ cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon FireBall Whiskey, optional
- ¾ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Peel, core, and slice apples - set aside.
- In a large saucepan, combine cinnamon candies, apple juice, Fireball, and sugar.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the cinnamon candies dissolve completely.
- Add the sliced apples to the pan and simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, or until the apples just start to soften.
- Strain the apples, reserving the liquid.
- Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Whisk the flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice into ½ cup of the liquid.
- Heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.
- Place a rolled out pie crust in the bottom of the pie pan.
- Fill with the apples.
- Pour the thickened liquid over the top.
- Dot with butter.
- Add the top crust and seal the edges.
- If not using a lattice crust cut vents in the top.
- Bake at 350F for 50 minutes, or until apples are tender and juices are thick and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and cool.
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published August 9, 2015 Last updated July 10, 2021 for better readability.
Christine Sturtz
I have already canned Hot Cinnamon candy apple butter. The only thing I didn't use in the canning of it was the four & lemon. So if I want to use my pre-made cinnamon apple butter. How much do I use of that? And would I use the lemon & flour to my already made mixture?
Marye
I honestly have no idea, sorry.
Sandra
The recipe calls for 1 teaspoon cinnamon but there are no directions for it. When do I add the cinnamon?
Sandra
Found it. Smells delicious in the oven right now!
Marye Audet
I'll double check the instructions!
Carol Judy
In the recipe it doesn't say when to add cinnamon! I totally forgot to add it! Hope it comes out ok!
Marye Audet
Ooops! It goes in with the flour - I'm sure it will be fine.
Sara
What a fun idea, a creative twist on a classic recipe! i love the bright red color and I'm sure the red hots add so much flavor.
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer
Okay, this is genius! I wonder what my dad would think of it! I am so excited to try this!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
I, too, love Halloween and come from a time when it was much safer to go trick or treating. I can't even imagine letting my daughter go off for hours and hours like I used to.
Pure genius on your part with this pie, great idea to take that candied apple and make it a pie. Oh and fireball is not optional.
Alice
this is certainly intriguing and I think it fits your blog so perfectly!
heather @french press
oh how I miss candy apples - they were a childhood favorite of mine
I never would have thought to add red hots to apple pie - that is just genius!!
Katie @ Recipe for Perfection
I very much agree that things can taste better in memory! It's a lovely memory, though, and inspired a beautifully colored pie.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Dear Marye, I loved your halloween memories. And I love this beautiful pie. Is that sparkling sugar I see on the lattice work?I couldn't quite tell. I've still never made a lattice pie. Maybe my first will be this one.