Creamy Apple Pie with Browned Butter and Crumble Topping
A simple egg custard is whipped up, then browned butter is incorporated along with freshly sliced apples, which adds a fantastic flavor layer of nutty caramel to this pie.
What is ‘browned butter’ and how do you make it?
Browning butter is simply heating butter until the bits of milk solids in the butter caramelize and brown, turning the liquids brown and giving the butter a nutty flavor and aroma. It’s really tasty in pies, cookies, and other pastries.
To make it- simply melt some butter in a stainless steel or other light-colored saucepan or skillet. Do not use anything coated with a black non-stick coating because you won’t be able to see the butter brown and it will burn.
Whisk the butter constantly, and it will start to foam. Then you’ll start to see little brown bits floating around the bottom. This is when you remove the pan/skillet from the heat. The butter browns extremely quickly and will burn if you don’t take it off the heat immediately. You now have browned butter! You’ll notice a nutty aroma as well, this is normal.
How to make a Creamy Browned Butter Apple Pie
This pie is extremely easy to make and assemble!
First, brown the butter.
Next, prep your pie plate by placing the pie crust dough into it and decorating the crust how you like, then place it in the fridge to chill.
Whip up the custard and stir in the cooled brown butter.
Stir in sliced and peeled apples.
Fill the prepared pie plate with the filling.
Mix the streusel ingredients, and sprinkle over the top of the apples.
Bake as directed below and enjoy!
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Creamy Browned Butter Apple Pie with Crumble Topping
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Browned butter is whipped into a simple egg custard and stirred with freshly sliced apples to create a dreamy delicious apple pie filling. This pie is perfectly paired with a streusel crumble topping lightly spiced with cinnamon and allspice.
Ingredients
Pie Filling
- 1 store-bought single pie crust or homemade pie crust
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 5 cups of sliced apples peeled, sliced, core removed (can be sweet or tart apples)
Crumble Topping
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Place the pie crust into the pan, pressing it gently against the sides to eliminate air pockets. Fold the edges to form a decorative crust. Place in the fridge to chill.
- Set your oven to heat to 400°F and move an oven rack to the middle position.
- In a small saucepan or stainless-steel skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly. The butter will bubble and foam. When small brown specks on the bottom begin to appear, remove from heat and continue stirring for another minute as the butter continues to darken and cool. Set aside to cool for at least 10-15 minutes.
- Add the egg and sugar to a medium mixing bowl and whisk until light and fluffy. Whisk in the flour and vanilla, followed by the cooled brown butter. Stir in the sliced apples.
- Pour filling into prepared pie crust.
- To make the streusel place the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a mixing bowl and stir together. Pour melted butter over the mixture and mix until clumpy. Sprinkle the streusel over the top of the apple pie filling. Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the oven.
- Bake the pie for 25 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. If desired, cover the crust with foil or a pie crust shield. Bake for another 40-50 minutes until the pie is bubbly in the center and the crust is golden brown. Cool completely before slicing, about 2 hours.
Notes
You can certainly serve this pie warm, just know the crust will be more crumbly (the pie will not slice as neatly as a cooled pie).
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 60-70 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
