Description
Transform canned or fresh apples into a luscious, spiced apple pie filling with this easy method! Perfect for pies, crisps, or spooning over ice cream, this recipe guarantees a thick, gooey texture with warm cinnamon-vanilla flavors. No more runny fillings—just bakery-quality results every time!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (about 6 medium) peeled, sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 tbsp cornstarch (or tapioca flour for clarity)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (to prevent browning)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup water or apple juice
(Pro Tip: For canned filling adjustments, see Notes!)
Instructions
- Prep apples: Toss sliced apples with lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Mix dry ingredients: Whisk sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Cook filling: In a saucepan, combine apples, dry mix, and water/juice. Simmer 10–12 mins until thickened.
- Finish: Stir in vanilla. Cool slightly before using in pies.
Notes
- For canned filling: Drain liquid, use 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water to thicken.
- No cornstarch? Substitute 2 tbsp flour or 1 tbsp instant tapioca.
- Freezer-friendly: Store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Dessert / Baking
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 0.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: apple pie filling, homemade pie filling, thick apple filling, spiced apples