Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Introduction

Homemade apple pie filling is one of those kitchen staples that instantly makes baking feel more comforting and personal. The gentle simmer of apples, cinnamon, and sugar fills the house with a warm, cozy aroma that brings back memories of family gatherings and freshly baked pies cooling on the counter. This version is perfectly balanced—sweet but not overpowering, warmly spiced, and thick enough to hold together beautifully in pies, tarts, turnovers, or even spooned over pancakes and yogurt. Once you try making apple pie filling from scratch, it’s hard to go back to store-bought.

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling

• 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 900 g / 2 lb)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g / 5.3 oz)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (55 g / 2 oz)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch (24 g / 0.85 oz)
• 3/4 cup water or apple juice (180 ml / 6 fl oz)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2.5 g / 0.09 oz)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (0.5 g / 0.02 oz)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (0.5 g / 0.02 oz, optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (1.5 g / 0.05 oz)

Optional Flavor Enhancers

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (14 g / 0.5 oz)

Directions