Caramel Apple Crumble Pie

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Caramel Apple Crumble Pie — Apple pie meets apple crumble in this easy caramel apple crumble pie recipe. This apple pie is dense, rich, and is packed with caramel apple flavor!

slice of Caramel Apple Crumble Pie on pink plate with fork

Easy Apple Crumble Pie Recipe

I almost didn’t make this apple pie with crumb topping  But it took me all of five minutes to put it together and I’m so glad I did.

I was working in the kitchen Thanksgiving morning and realized that the pumpkin dessert I had made a few days before the holiday somehow all had been eaten. Hmmm, how did that happen? I was out of pumpkin puree because I used my last can to bake a pumpkin pie for Skylar’s school’s Thanksgiving celebration, held the day before.

I looked in my cupboard and saw a can of apple pie filling and figured I could do something with it. I was going to make Caramel Apple Bars but remembered the frozen pie crust I used for the pumpkin pie was sold in a two-pack and I had a spare pie crust in the freezer waiting. Some girls have all the luck.

In literally three minutes, I made the pie filling by melting one half stick of butter, and then added brown and granulated sugar, one egg, vanilla, cinnamon, and pinches of allspice, ground cloves and whisked.

Then I added flour, oats, and gently stirred in the apple pie filling. I enjoy the heartiness, chewiness, and texture that oats lend to apple crumbles, and my goal for this caramel apple pie was to be more like an apple crumble than just another plain old apple pie. There was nothing plain about this.

slice of Caramel Apple Crumble Pie on pink plate

I poured the filling into the frozen crust straight from the freezer without even thawing it, and filled it right up to the brim. The filling domed and puffed a bit while baking, and for a minute I was a bit worried it may overflow, but all was well. As the pie cooled, the filling relaxed and sank down, leaving behind rich density and fullness with each bite.

For the almost one hour that the pie baked, my house smelled like a bakery from the pie crust and oats, as well as a fragrant apple orchard. And the cinnamon-sugar and buttery caramely scents wafting were aromatherapy torture because all I wanted to do was dive into my oven.

Between the flour and oats, brown sugar and cinnamon, I got my wish for apple-pie-meets-apple-crumble. This apple pie with crumb topping has apple crumble tendencies with streusel-like texture and warm cinnamon-sugar notes, yet it’s all contained in a neat and tidy pie crust package, perfect to catch the sweet juices released from the apples as they bake.

slice of apple pie with crumb topping on pink plate

Caramel and apple is a perfect pairing, and for me, the more caramel, the merrier. Two dimensions of caramel are present. First, the butter and brown sugar in the filling caramelize while baking, giving a depth of flavor that reminds me of one of favorite frostings of all time, this Vanilla Caramel Glaze. Then, prior to serving, I drizzled caramel sauce over the top for an extra boost of sweet buttery caramel intensity.

Homemade Dark Rum Caramel Sauce would have been heavenly, as would have Vanilla Caramel Glaze, but I was pressed for time on a busy Thanksgiving day morning in the kitchen. I used Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel Caramel sauce, with no complaints.

unbaked caramel apple pie with crumb topping

If you ever need a quick pie to make, with less than five minutes of active work time, that yields luscious and rich results, this is the one.

caramel apple pie with crump topping on wood surface

What’s in Caramel Apple Crumble Pie? 

To make this apple pie with crumb topping, you’ll need: 

  • Unsalted butter
  • Egg 
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Spices
  • Salt
  • All-purpose flour
  • Rolled oats
  • Canned apple pie filling
  • Frozen pie crust (or homemade pie crust if you’re up for it)
  • Caramel sauce
slice of apple crumble pie on pink plate in front of pie plate filled with pie

How to Make Apple Crumble Pie

To make this apple crumble pie recipe, simply follow these basic steps.

  1. You’ll first need to melt the butter.
  2. Then stir in the egg.
  3. Add in the sugars, vanilla, spices, and salt and whisk until combined. 
  4. Add the flour and oats, followed by the apple pie filling.
  5. Pour the mixture into the frozen pie crust and bake until golden on top and the filling is set. 
  6. You’ll need to let this apple crumble pie rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving it. I highly recommend topping it with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a scoop of ice cream! 
slice of apple crumble pie on pink plate

Can I Use Homemade Apple Pie Filling? 

You could of course make your own pie crust, as well as peel and core your own apples for the filling, but on a day about giving thanks and being thankful, I was grateful that I pulled this off on the fly.

Oftentimes it’s the things I make without a recipe, and just on a whim, that end up being our favorites.

apple pie with crumb topping slice on pink plate

Can I Use Instant Oats in the Filling? 

No, neither quick cook nor instant oats will work in this apple pie with crumb topping. You must use rolled oats (aka old-fashioned oats). 

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie - Apple Pie meets Apple Crumble meets plenty of gooey caramel. Easy, fast, 5-minutes to assemble. Goofproof recipe for those of us who aren't pie-makers!

Can I Make This With a Different Canned Filling? 

Oh, that’s a fun idea! I’ve only made this caramel apple pie using canned apple pie filling, but now I’m curious to make this with canned peach pie filling, canned cherry pie filling, and more. However, since I’ve not yet tried those variations myself I can’t say for sure if they’ll work with this recipe. 

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie - Apple pie meets apple crumble with loads of caramel! The easiest apple pie you'll ever make. Goofproof 5-minute recipe for those of us who aren't pie makers!

Can I Freeze Apple Pie? 

Yes, you can freeze the entire pie once it’s cooled or slice and freeze portions individually. To freeze apple pie, wrap it in a few layers of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. To thaw the pie, set it in your fridge overnight. 

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie — Apple pie meets apple crumble in this easy caramel apple crumble pie recipe. This apple pie is dense, rich, and is packed with caramel apple flavor!

Tips for Making Caramel Apple Crumb Pie

When adding the spices to this apple pie with crumb topping, I made sure to use the spices in enough quantity so that they’d pop and complement the dish, rather than just getting lost. With that said, you’re welcome to alter the amount of spices you add to this apple crumble pie to suit your own tastes. 

Also, if you don’t tend to keep allspice or cloves around, feel free to add extra cinnamon, or try ground ginger or pumpkin pie spice instead. Use what you have on hand and don’t make a special trip to the store just for spices. 

Lastly, before baking this apple crumble pie I placed the pie plate on a baking sheet as insurance against overflow. My pie didn’t overflow, but you can never be too safe! 

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie — Apple pie meets apple crumble in this easy caramel apple crumble pie recipe. This apple pie is dense, rich, and is packed with caramel apple flavor!

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4.43 from 56 votes

Caramel Apple Crumble Pie

By Averie Sunshine
Apple pie meets apple crumble in this easy caramel apple crumble pie recipe. This apple pie is dense, rich, and is packed with caramel apple flavor!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 10
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Ingredients  

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (half of one stick)
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, loosely measured
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup whole rolled old-fashioned oats, not quick cook or instant
  • one 21-ounce can apple pie filling, I used Comstock More Fruit Cinnamon ‘n Spice Apple filling
  • one 9-inch frozen pie crust, or make your own using your favorite recipe
  • caramel sauce or caramel ice cream topping, optional but recommended for drizzling*
  • ice cream or whipped topping, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350F. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
  • Allow the butter to cool momentarily so you don’t scramble the egg; then add the egg, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, salt, and whisk to combine until batter is smooth (All spices and salt should be added to taste and use what you have on hand; omitting what you don’t have and mixing and matching with other spices such as ginger or pumpkin pie spice is okay).
  • Add the flour, oats, and stir to incorporate. Fold in the apple pie filling.
  • Pour filling mixture into frozen pie crust (I didn’t bother pre-thawing it)and lightly smooth filling with a spatula. It’s okay to fill pie crust up nearly to the brim; I did and it did not overflow. As insurance, place pie crust on a baking tray so if it does overflow a bit, it won’t pool in the bottom of the oven.
  • Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until top has just set and is not jiggly, and is golden. I baked mine for about 54 minutes and when I took it out of the oven, the filling had risen and was a bit domed and puffed, and as pie cooled, the dome sank and it flattened out.
  • Allow pie to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Prior to serving, optionally drizzle with caramel sauce or serve with ice cream.

Notes

  • *For the caramel sauce, you can use store-bought, or make your own. My favortie caramel sauce recipes are: The Best and Easiest Salted Caramel Sauce, Dark Rum Caramel Sauce, and Vanilla Caramel Glaze.
  • Pie should be kept covered and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I prefer refrigerating it rather than keeping it at room temperature and I store my pie inside a large two-gallon sized plastic food storage bag in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 356kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 201mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 40g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Apple Desserts: 

Apple Pie Bars – A flaky, buttery crust is topped with homemade apple pie filling and an oat crumble topping in these INCREDIBLE spiced apple pie bars! Salted caramel sauce is the finishing touch because nothing beats the combination of caramel and apples! Make these EASY, no-mixer bars as written for a smaller gathering, or double it for a party! 

Apple Pie Bars — A flaky, buttery crust is topped with homemade apple pie filling and an oat crumble topping in these INCREDIBLE spiced apple pie bars! Salted caramel sauce is the finishing touch because nothing beats the combination of caramel and apples! Make these EASY, no-mixer bars as written for a smaller gathering, or double it for a party! 

Apple Turnovers — These apple turnovers take just 15 minutes to prep and are filled with the most incredible cinnamon apple filling. These are the ultimate fall dessert! 

Apple Turnovers

Cinnamon Roll Apple Crisp – A layer of cinnamon rolls topped with apples and a crunchy oatmeal crumble makes this the ULTIMATE apple crisp!! EASY, ready in 40 minutes, and tastes AMAZING!!

Cinnamon Roll Apple Crisp

Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting — An EASY, one-bowl, no-mixer apple cake that’s to-die-for!! Loaded with juicy apples in every bite, perfectly spiced, and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting! So DELISH!!

Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 

Cinnamon Spice Applesauce Bread with Honey Butter — This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not? 

Cinnamon Spice Applesauce Bread with Honey Butter 

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Crumble Bars — These caramel apple cheesecake bars feature a buttery crust that’s topped with cheesecake and spiced apples. After they’re done baking, the bars are drizzled with salted caramel sauce!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Crumble Bars 

5-Minute Apple Cinnamon Crumble for One — This microwave apple crisp comes together in just 5 minutes and generously serves one person. Top it with a scoop or ice cream or whipped cream! 

5-Minute Apple Cinnamon Crumble for One 

Sugar Cookie Apple Crumble Cheesecake Pie – A buttery sugar cookie crust, tangy cream cheese filling, tender juicy apples, and a crumble topping make this pie a total SHOWSTOPPER!! EASY and THE BEST apple pie!!

Sugar Cookie Apple Crumble Cheesecake Pie

Originally published November 2012. Republished October 2019.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. Averie, love the idea of quick pies and I wouldn’t mind to have a dose of that aromatherapy. :) Great pie to make as a gift!

  2. You have redeemed apple pie filling forever more. What an amazing way to elevate this pie. It looks so homey, yet the oats seem really unique too.
    And you are right-everything is better a la mode!
    Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving Averie!

    1. Thanks for saying hi Erin & hope you had a nice holiday, too! And this pie was ‘homey’. Perfect word for it!

  3. This recipe is total perfection. Not only is this pie easy, but I love how different it is. The oats are a great addition to pie, but I never would have thought of adding them! The chewiness from that oats surely gives the apple pie that extra pizazz. Great recipe all around!!

    1. “Not only is this pie easy, but I love how different it is.” <-- Those were my two goals. Thanks for the compliments!

  4. Mmmmmm love love apple cinnamon. Such a comforting aroma too. When I was a kid, I was a master of lemon meringue. I probably made a pie a week or then I got fancy and made turnovers for a while. I like cherry pies or a good apple and I say “good” b/c sometimes they’re awful…soggy and bland.

    1. Meringue is just one thing I never make! You could make that for me all day because it’s just one of those never-do-it things.

  5. I made a fail of a caramel apple pie on Thanksgiving so I’m on the lookout for a good recipe to redeem myself. And yeah, this pretty much sounds like heaven.

    1. Joanne this was the easiest pie, goofproof, and made itself in 5 minutes flat. Too easy! Sorry about your failed recipe…ouch, hate those!

    1. 1 million percent on the fly. I had 17 pots boiling over and kettles going, was cooking the whole feast myself and had just stepped back on US soil a day earlier after a 4 day weekend at Food & Wine Barbados and got home and started cranking out pies on the fly like it was my job :)

      1. Well not really but necessity is the mother of invention and I just ad-lib on the fly :) Story of my life! Running around like a chicken with my head cut off most days…lol

  6. What a terrific creation … an apple crisp-y pie. Yum. Bookmarking this for the next time I need to whip up a pie super-quick. I mean, five minutes – that’s faster than a run to the grocery store bakery!

    1. WAY faster than a run to the groc store bakery and your house will smell amazing. It’s the easiest pie EVER to make!

  7. My favourite pie is pumpkin pie ! However, it is really hard to find the pie filling here in Australia and if you do it is expensive. So this Thanksgiving I decided to try to find a substitute.

    I steamed a large sweet potato, diced up with cloves in the water underneath, then threw it in the food processor with a can of condensed milk, and all the appropriate spices till I got a nice smooth consistecy. It made enough to fill 4 pie shells and was a great replacement !

    1. You may not know this but most canned ‘pumpkin puree’ in the US is actually a blend of squashes, not pumpkin. Pumpkin is a bit bitter, or can be, on it’s own so it’s usually blended with other things – so your homemade version is probably not that far off from what they sell here AND it no doubt tastes way better!

  8. Averie, this pie looks incredible! I love that you jazzed regular apple pie up. It looks gorgeous!

    And YAY for winning the cookbook!!!! I am SO excited to receive it! Loads of thanks :) xx

  9. The oats – the ease – the caramel – the spices – the density – I am in love. Apple pie is actually my favorite dessert EVER (along with Apple Crisp ) – two recipes I did not make this year. Sigh! If I were to make apple pie, though – it would require some pizazz. I love the normal version, but to really make it stand out – I think I would do just what you did! I love the dded texture from the oats – oats in desserts (like crisps, crumbles, oatmeal cookies) are among my favorites. The filling looks SO thick and full of body – not liquidy or falling apart like I’ve seen with some apple pie recipes. A winning pie right here Averie and I am a huge fan of these photos – esp the head-on one 3 down. ;)

    1. It was the easiest pie to make, took me literally 5 mins and totally on the fly, and it just all worked out! And WAY more texture and pizazz than the normal plain-ole apple pie. As a crumble topping/oat person, I know this is your kinda pie!

  10. Looks wonderful! I just tried my hand at making homemade caramel sauce for the first time and it was amazing, and so now I’m on a caramel kick!

    1. Homemade caramel sauce is the best! And it’s really so easy – if I wasn’t simultaneously preparing a Thanksgiving feast single-handed, I would have but I was literally out of burners on my stovetop!

  11. It’s always nice to have a quick and easy dessert option! I’m definitely in favor of the crumb topping…..caramel is hit or miss.

      1. It just depends! There’s a certain consistency of caramel that I do like (thinner rather than stick-in-my-teeth-thick). So when it’s not that consistency, I’m not a big fan. I’d rather have dark chocolate! :)

  12. Crumble or caramel topping? The easy & delicious pie always gets my vote. Thank you for sharing the story & recipe of good fortune with canned apple filling in the cupboard.

  13. Ooooh, crumble toppings are the best-they are the reasoning behind my apple-cranberry streusel pie. unlike that, however, your pie looks almost TOO easy;)