Description
A homemade apple pie filling recipe that combines tart Granny Smith and sweet Golden Delicious apples simmered with brown sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of lemon. Thickened with a cornstarch slurry, this filling is perfect for pies, tarts, or as a delicious topping for desserts.
Ingredients
Apples
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1 medium Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
Sweeteners & Flavorings
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Other Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons water (for cooking)
- 1¼ tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and chop all apples into evenly sized pieces to ensure uniform cooking.
- Combine ingredients in saucepan: Add the dark and light brown sugars, unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons of water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large saucepan.
- Simmer the apples: Add the chopped apples to the saucepan and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the apples are tender but still hold their shape—avoid overcooking to prevent mushiness.
- Make the cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water until smooth and free of lumps.
- Thicken the filling: Slowly stir the cornstarch slurry into the simmering apples. Continue cooking the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Finish the filling: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the lemon zest for a fresh, bright flavor.
- Cool before use: Allow the filling to cool completely before using it in pies, tarts, or as a dessert topping.
Notes
- Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for a balanced flavor and texture.
- Do not overcook the apples to maintain some firmness in the filling.
- The filling can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Adjust the sugar quantity based on the sweetness of your apples and personal preference.
- This filling is perfect for traditional apple pies, turnovers, or as a topping for pancakes and ice cream.
