Easy Caramel Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust & Crumb Topping
This easy Caramel Apple Pie with a Graham Cracker Crust and a luscious crumb topping is an absolute must-bake! We’re pairing the rich, sweet flavors of caramel apples with the ultimate convenience of a store-bought Keebler graham cracker crust, and the result is a truly perfect combination. If you’ve never ventured into making fruit pies with a graham cracker crust before, prepare yourself for an incredible treat. This recipe captures all the quintessential fall flavors in a dessert that’s surprisingly simple to prepare, making it an ideal choice for both seasoned bakers and kitchen newcomers.
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If you enjoy this delightful apple pie, you’ll also adore my Pie Crust Cookie Twists, my rich Turtle Pie, and my decadent Biscoff Blondies with White Chocolate! These recipes offer a range of delicious treats that are perfect for any sweet craving.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Crumb Topping
Have you ever found yourself craving a classic apple pie but feeling daunted by the thought of preparing a traditional pastry crust from scratch? If so, consider yourself in luck! This easy apple pie with a graham cracker crust and a generous crumb topping is the perfect solution. It’s a truly delicious dessert that’s wonderfully simple to assemble, making it one of my top choices for special occasions or just a cozy weeknight treat.
This delightful dessert masterfully combines tender, spiced baked apples with the unique texture and flavor of a graham cracker crust, all crowned with a sweet, buttery cinnamon streusel. The result is a satisfying medley of textures and tastes – from the slightly crisp, sweet crust to the soft, warm apple filling, and the crunchy crumb topping. Whether you’re an experienced baker looking for a quick win or a novice in the kitchen eager to impress, this recipe promises a tasty and hassle-free apple pie experience, especially during the peak of apple season. For more fantastic fall dessert ideas, be sure to explore my Apple Cider Donut Cake, the incredibly simple Cake Mix Apple Cobbler, or this charming Apple Dapple Cake! And for an even broader selection, check out my comprehensive list of 36 Best Fall Desserts to celebrate the season with flair.
This recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor with minimal effort. The pre-made graham cracker crust eliminates the need for rolling and chilling dough, saving you valuable time in the kitchen. The cooked apple filling is perfectly spiced and thickened, creating a luscious texture that complements the sweet, crunchy crust. And the streusel topping adds an extra layer of buttery, cinnamon-infused goodness that truly elevates this pie. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce, it’s an unforgettable dessert that will become a staple in your fall baking repertoire.
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Can I Substitute Graham Cracker Crust for Traditional Pie Crust? Absolutely!
Yes, you absolutely can! Substituting a graham cracker crust for a traditional pastry pie crust is a fantastic and convenient option that works wonderfully for many different pie fillings, especially fruit-based ones like this apple pie. The baking time and temperature will likely differ slightly from what you’d use with a classic Flaky Butter Pie Crust, but the overall process remains incredibly straightforward. This simple swap offers a delightful change in texture and flavor, adding a sweet, slightly crumbly base that perfectly complements rich and fruity fillings. Beyond apple pie, you can easily adapt this method to make a delicious Pumpkin Pie in a Graham Cracker Crust or even tangy Lemon Bars with a Graham Cracker Crust! The versatility of a graham cracker crust makes it a secret weapon for hassle-free baking. It bakes up beautifully, providing a sturdy yet tender foundation for your favorite pie fillings. You’ll love the ease and delicious results!
Now, let’s get into the heart of how you can create this incredible caramel apple pie with a graham cracker crust, complete with a buttery crumb topping!
Essential Ingredients for Your Caramel Apple Pie
Crafting the best apple pie with a graham cracker crust requires a selection of simple, fresh ingredients that come together to create a symphony of flavors. While you can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below, here’s a closer look at the key components you’ll need for both the luscious apple filling and the irresistible crumb topping:
- Apples: The undeniable star of the show! For the best apple pie experience, I recommend using a mix of sweet and tart varieties. I personally love Granny Smith for its firm texture and tartness, balanced with the sweetness of Gala apples. This combination ensures a complex flavor profile and apples that hold their shape beautifully when baked.
- Lemon Juice: A vital addition, a splash of fresh lemon juice not only brightens the flavor of the apples but also prevents them from browning during preparation, keeping your filling vibrant.
- Vanilla Extract: For an exceptional depth of flavor, I always reach for pure vanilla extract. You can even try your hand at making your own for an extra special touch.
- Salted Butter: My go-to for most baking recipes. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, simply add an additional pinch (about ¼ teaspoon) of salt to the filling mixture to balance the sweetness and enhance all the other flavors.
- Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: This dynamic duo provides the perfect blend of sweetness and a rich, subtle caramel-like depth to the apple filling. Feel free to use either light or dark brown sugar based on your preference for intensity.
- Apple Pie Spice: This pre-mixed spice blend delivers that classic warm, comforting aroma. If you don’t have it, pumpkin pie spice makes an excellent substitute. Alternatively, you can craft your own using my Pumpkin Spice Blend recipe. And if you’re a fan of these warm spices, you’ll definitely want to try my Chai Spice Bundt Cake!
- Salt: A small amount of salt is crucial for bringing out and enhancing all the wonderful flavors in our apple pie filling.
- Cornstarch: This is our secret weapon for a perfectly thick and luscious pie filling. Cornstarch ensures your filling sets beautifully, preventing any dreaded leakage into the crust and keeping your pie neat and delicious.
- Store-Bought Graham Cracker Crust: The ultimate convenience factor! A pre-made graham cracker pie shell is the key to making this pie so effortlessly easy. While a store-bought crust is fantastic for saving time, if you prefer, you can certainly prepare a homemade graham cracker crust from scratch using graham cracker crumbs, following the instructions in my Lemon Icebox Pie recipe.
And to crown this masterpiece, we’ll whip up a quick cinnamon streusel topping, adding a delightful buttery cinnamon crunch that takes this pie to the next level!
- All-Purpose Flour: Precision is key in baking! To ensure you add the correct amount and avoid a dense crumb topping, I highly recommend measuring your flour by weight using a kitchen scale.
- Brown Sugar: This adds a lovely caramely sweetness and helps achieve that signature moist, clumped texture in our crumb topping.
- Ground Cinnamon: Essential for that warm, inviting spice that perfectly complements the apple filling. If you adore warm spices, you’ll be captivated by the flavors in my Cinnamon Rolls Peach Cobbler!
- Salted Butter: For the crumb topping, ensure your butter is softened to room temperature. This makes it easier to combine with the dry ingredients and create that desirable coarse crumb texture. As with the filling, if using unsalted butter, add an additional ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Store-Bought Caramel Sauce: The perfect finishing touch! A generous drizzle of good quality store-bought caramel sauce brings the “caramel” in caramel apple pie to life, especially when paired with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
Recommended Equipment for Easy Pie Making
One of the beauties of making this apple pie in a store-bought graham cracker crust is that the pie pan is already included, simplifying your setup! However, if you choose to make your own graham cracker crust, you’ll want to have a reliable 9-inch pie dish ready. Beyond the crust, you’ll definitely need a sturdy saucepan to meticulously mix and cook your delectable apple pie filling. For precise measurements, especially with flour for the crumb topping, I always recommend using a kitchen scale. This ensures accuracy and consistency in your baking results, leading to a perfect pie every time. Basic mixing bowls and a spatula will also be invaluable.
How to Make and Cook This Easy Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
Making this easy apple pie with a graham cracker crust is incredibly simple, and the process is quite straightforward! For full, detailed instructions and precise ingredient amounts, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below. However, here are the basic steps outlined to give you a clear idea of how quickly this delicious pie comes together:
First, gently heat your peeled and thinly sliced apples with a touch of salt over medium heat. Continue cooking and stirring until the apples begin to release their natural moisture and start to soften, but still retain a slight bite. This initial cooking step helps to ensure the apples are perfectly tender in the baked pie.
While the apples are cooking, prepare your delightful crumb topping. In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Use your hands to mix these ingredients together, gently pressing until the mixture forms coarse, buttery crumbs. This hands-on method ensures a perfect, rustic streusel texture.
Once the apple filling has cooled slightly and the vanilla has been stirred in, spoon the warm, fragrant apple mixture evenly into your ready-made graham cracker crust. Take care not to overfill, ensuring there’s enough space for the glorious topping.
Finally, generously sprinkle the chilled crumb topping evenly over the apple filling. Pop your pie into a preheated oven and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until the crumb topping achieves a beautiful golden-brown hue and the apple filling is visibly bubbling. This indicates it’s cooked through and utterly delicious.
Hint: Much like with my Cherry Crumb Pie or my delightful Cherry Coffee Cake, you absolutely won’t want to skip the brief chilling time for the crumb topping! This crucial step truly helps to achieve that desired buttery, distinct crumble texture. While you wait for the topping to chill, why not treat yourself to a festive Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini?
Tips for a Perfect Graham Cracker Apple Pie
- Don’t Overcook Apples: When pre-cooking the apples, aim for “tender-crisp” – they should be softened but still have a little structure. They will continue to cook in the oven.
- Chilling the Crumb Topping: This is a small but mighty step! Chilling the streusel topping for 15 minutes before baking helps the butter firm up, leading to a more defined, crispier crumb rather than melting into the filling too quickly.
- Preventing a Soggy Crust: While graham cracker crusts are generally resilient, ensure your apple filling isn’t excessively watery. The cornstarch should handle this, but if your apples are particularly juicy, you might add an extra teaspoon of cornstarch.
- Cooling is Key: It’s tempting to dive right in, but allowing your pie to cool completely (or at least significantly) before slicing is vital. This gives the filling time to fully set, ensuring clean, beautiful slices.
- Serve Warm with Toppings: While delicious at room temperature, a slightly warm slice of this apple pie, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of caramel sauce, is pure bliss. Heat individual slices for the best “à la mode” experience.
Storage Instructions for Your Apple Pie
Another fantastic advantage of making apple pie in a store-bought graham cracker crust is the convenient storage options! Many pre-made crusts come with a plastic lid that can simply be flipped over and secured onto the finished pie with the edges of the foil pan. This creates a neat, ready-made airtight container, perfect for keeping your pie fresh.
If your crust didn’t come with such a lid, or if you made a homemade graham cracker crust, simply transfer any leftover pie slices to an airtight container. Your apple pie should remain fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best flavor and texture, allow slices to come to room temperature or gently warm them before serving.
Top Tip for Serving
For truly even and beautiful slices, always allow your pie to cool completely before attempting to cut into it. If you prefer your pie served warm (à la mode style!), simply heat individual slices in the microwave or oven just before adding your favorite toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Graham Cracker Pies
Generally, there’s no need to pre-bake a store-bought graham cracker crust when making this apple pie! The crust gets wonderfully crisped and toasted during the regular baking process with the filling. The moisture from the cooked apple filling helps to set the crust, resulting in a perfect texture. Skipping the pre-bake saves you an extra step and ensures a hassle-free experience when making this apple pie in a graham cracker crust!
Absolutely, yes! Baking in a pre-made graham cracker crust is a fantastic shortcut for countless pie recipes. This caramel apple pie is just the beginning of what you can create. Many other fruit pies can be made using the exact same method – simply pour in your prepared fruit filling and bake! The sturdy nature of a pre-made graham cracker crust holds up beautifully to baking, providing a sweet, crunchy base that complements a wide array of fillings. It’s a game-changer for quick and easy dessert preparation, allowing you to focus on creating a delicious filling without the fuss of traditional pie dough.
The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to fillings for a graham cracker crust – the world is your oyster of delicious options! If you’re looking for alternatives to this homemade apple pie filling, classic fruit fillings like sweet blueberry pie filling and tart cherry pie filling would be absolutely delicious, reminiscent of my Cherry Crumb Pie or my creamy Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. Beyond fruit, graham cracker crusts are perfect for creamy fillings; you could certainly add a rich cheesecake filling, just like in my No Bake Cheesecake! They also work beautifully with custard pies, chocolate fillings, and even some savory options if you’re feeling adventurous. The sweet and slightly spiced flavor of the graham cracker crust provides a wonderful contrast to almost any creamy or fruity filling.
Absolutely! Making a canned apple pie with a graham cracker crust is a fantastic way to simplify this recipe even further without sacrificing flavor. You can easily substitute 1 to 2 cans of your favorite high-quality canned apple pie filling for the homemade apple filling we’re preparing in this recipe. Just spoon the canned filling directly into your graham cracker crust, top with the streusel, and bake as directed. This convenient shortcut is perfect for those days when you’re short on time but still crave the comforting taste of a warm apple pie. It’s a quick and delicious way to enjoy this beloved dessert with minimal effort.
I’ve got a treasure trove of delicious goodies waiting for you! For a unique twist on fall flavors in ice cream form, you must check out my Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream. If you’re in the mood for an elegant chocolate cake with an exciting twist, try my Crystallized Ginger Chocolate Olive Oil Cake! Pumpkin lovers will absolutely flip for my Pumpkin Blondies with Apple Cider Glaze, which are bursting with autumn flavor. And if you adore the distinctive taste of Biscoff cookie butter, my rich and chewy Biscoff Brownies are an absolute must-try!
More Cozy Fall Recipes to Delight In
Searching for even more comforting autumn treats to complement this classic apple pie recipe? Dive into these delightful recipes that capture the essence of the fall season:
- Starbucks Brown Sugar Syrup
- Cinnamon Cupcakes
- Banana and Pumpkin Muffins
- Graveyard Brownies
10 Cozy Recipes. No Stress. All the Fall Flavor.
Make this your easiest, coziest baking season yet. Inside this exclusive ebook, you’ll discover:
- 10 simple, foolproof fall dessert recipes
- Irresistible cozy flavors like pumpkin, chai, apple, and brown butter
- Clear, step-by-step instructions designed for beginners and busy bakers
- Bonus: A comprehensive fall flavor pairing guide and a handy printable fall grocery list
If you give this delightful recipe a try, I would be absolutely thrilled if you could leave a star review rating and a comment below! Your feedback is incredibly valuable and wonderful to hear! And please, don’t forget to share your beautiful creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust – Easy Recipe
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Equipment you may need
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3-quart saucepan
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measuring cups and spoons
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food scale
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mixing bowls
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rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 7-8 medium apples – peeled and sliced ¼-inch thin (I used Granny Smith and Gala)
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 4 teaspoon (20 ml) lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon (42 g) salted butter
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon (4 g) apple pie spice
- 3 tablespoon (24 g) cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoon (7 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1 graham cracker crust – store-bought or homemade
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (73 g) light brown sugar – packed
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) ground cinnamon – or apple pie spice
- ½ cup (114 g) salted butter – softened to room temperature
- caramel sauce
Instructions
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Heat apples and salt over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until apples release some moisture and begin to soften.7-8 medium apples, ½ teaspoon salt
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Add lemon, butter, sugars, apple pie spice, and cornstarch and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook, stirring, until mixture is thickened and apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly, then stir in vanilla.4 teaspoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon salted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup light brown sugar, 2 teaspoon apple pie spice, 3 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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To make crumb topping, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter in a large bowl. Press together with your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place bowl in freezer to chill 15 minutes while you preheat oven to 375℉/190℃.1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ cup salted butter
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Pour apple mixture into graham cracker crust and smooth top – do not overfill. Sprinkle chilled crumb topping evenly over apple filling.1 graham cracker crust
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Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling.
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Let pie cool completely before slicing. Top with a drizzle of caramel sauce.caramel sauce
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Nutrition
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