The most delicious Apple Crumb Pie that happens to be vegan! Everyone will rave about this crave-worthy pie. Simple to make and great for holidays!
I mean I think this is the most delish thing I've ever made.
Is that a crazy statement? It is indeed. Are you a pie person? Because I think it's impossible to not love this pie.
Jeff let out perhaps the loudest, most extended "mmmm" I've ever heard within one second of this crumbly apple dream pie hitting his face. Success!
Apple pie is his favorite dessert, but even I, a loyal chocoholic, must admit that this recipe is NEXT. LEVEL.
It's also super easy to make! Don't be intimidated by the pie crust...it's just mixing together four ingredients and smooshing it into a pie plate. If that's not your jam, you have a plethora of store-bought crusts to choose from!
I just die for the crumb topping on this pie. It's buttery and cinnamony and delightfully sweet. And when the warm, gooey apples make contact with the chilly vanilla bean ice cream...it's a pie symphony, I tell you!
Which apples are best?
Have you gone apple picking yet?! You must.
I made this pie with mostly Honeycrisp and a few Granny Smith apples. Using a mix is key so you get that variety of flavors and the balance of sweet and tart. Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady...they will all work. Just be sure to thinly and evenly slice them.
In my dreams I own this fancy apple peeler and corer machine.
You could get away with not peeling the apples if you don't mind the chewy texture or simply if you want this to come together more quickly, but I do recommend peeling for the most appealing (pun intended) texture.
If you have tons of apples to use and want to do closer to 3 pounds or 9-10 cups, you can make it fit! It may need longer to cook and the pie will be more domed, but that's not a problem in my book.
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Whole wheat pastry flour: I love this flour because it's 100% whole grain but softer and less "wheaty" than whole wheat flour. You can totally use all purpose here, or a mix of both. I would guess that a 1:1 gluten free baking flour would also work but I have not tested it.
- Coconut oil: I love the buttery flavor and versatility of coconut oil, plus it's a win for my dairy-free friends! Unrefined coconut oil has a distinct coconut flavor and refined does not, so I recommend refined here. You can also use unsalted butter if you're not vegan.
- Sugar: I like using organic cane sugar in the apple mixture and caramely coconut sugar in the crumble topping, but you can really use whatever granulated sweetener you please. Brown sugar is a good substitute for coconut sugar. If you use super sweet apples, your pie will be more sweet, and vice versa.
- Apples: The best part! I used mostly Honeycrisp and a few Granny Smith apples for a good balance of sweet and tart. I recommend a blend of crisp apples that will hold their shape, nothing mealy like Red Delicious.
- Cinnamon: A good dose of cinnamon for extra warm flavor. A pinch of ground nutmeg and ginger would also be delish here, as would a splash of vanilla extract. Do you!
- Pie crust: My homemade recipe is pretty fool-proof but store-bought works just as well. The dough should be raw.
- Foil: Not a food ingredient, but very important here! The nuts in this recipe will burn quickly if left uncovered, so be sure to use foil per the recipe instructions.
Is this pie healthy?
Well, its not a salad...BUT! This pie is made with whole grain flour and a bit less sugar than most pies. My pie crust also has less oil than typical crusts.
That said, it's plenty sweet and satisfying---no one would ever guess this pie is a wee bit more nutritious than its classic counterparts or that it doesn't contain butter!
Storage and freezing tips
I learned while pie making that fruit pies not containing dairy or eggs are safe to sit at room temperature for up to two days. That means you can easily make this pie in advance for serving guests!
To store: Store leftovers loosely wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat room temperature pie at 325F for about 20 minutes before serving, if you'd like! Mmmmm....warm pie.
To freeze: Freeze the baked and cooled pie for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and let pie come to room temperature before serving. The filling can also be frozen for to 3 months and then thawed in the refrigerator before using in the pie.
I hope you’re as in love with this delectable Apple Crumb Pie as I am! If you make it, please leave a comment and star rating letting me know how it turned out. I’m so grateful for your feedback!
Pie on, pals. Pie on!
PrintVegan Apple Crumb Pie Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
The most delicious Apple Crumb Pie that happens to be vegan! Everyone will rave about this crave-worthy pie. Simple to make and great for holidays!
Ingredients
For the crust (or use a prepared pie crust):
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or all purpose flour
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ cup refined coconut oil, melted and cooled
- ¼ cup ice water
For the filling:
- 6 medium to large apples (7-8 cups or about 2.5 lbs) peeled and thinly sliced (I like using a mix of sweet and tart like Honeycrisp or Gala and Granny Smith)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup cane sugar
- 3 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour or all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
For the crumb topping:
- ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour or all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans (can omit for nut-free)
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar*
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ⅓ cup refined coconut oil (not melted)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F and spray a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.
- Combine crust ingredients in a mixing bowl. You can roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a large round or press dough ball directly into pie dish so it covers the bottoms and sides.
- Combine filling ingredients in a mixing bowl. Place in unbaked pie crust, leaving any extra juice in the bowl.
- In a separate mixing bowl, make crumble by mixing together flour, pecans, coconut sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add coconut oil and use your fingers to combine until you reach a sandy, crumbly texture. It will look dry. Top apples with crumble, patting it down onto the pie. If your pie is super full, you can place it on a baking sheet.
- Bake pie for for 15 minutes at 425F. Loosely cover pie with foil to prevent crust from burning, then reduce heat to 350F and bake for another 45-55 minutes. You can poke the center of the pie to make sure the apples are fully softened.
- Let pie cool completely on a wire rack (3 hours) before slicing so the juices firm up. Store any leftovers loosely wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
Adapted from this Classic Apple Crumb Pie.
*If you use all tart apples like Granny Smith, I'd increase the sugar in the crumb topping to ½ cup.
MAKE IN ADVANCE: This pie tastes great the next day, so you can easily make it the day before serving. Pie can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. You can reheat room temperature pie at 325F for about 20 minutes before serving if desired.
TO FREEZE: Store baked and cooled pie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and let pie come to room temperature before serving. (The filling can also be frozen for to 3 months.)
Gintare says
I made this pie and it turned out really really good!! Making it again this thanksgiving! Thank you for the recipe!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Heck yes, love this thank you!
Brian Evans says
Do you think this would work with a graham cracker crust?
Alexis Joseph says
Yep! Any prepared pie crust should work. I’m not sure flavor wise about the pairing with apple pie since usually it’s more of a traditional pie crust, though. Let me know if you try!
Larraine Pendergrass says
My oven isn’t working, but I want to put a crumble on top of my stove top cooked honey crisps that the wasps ate part of. I love the addition of nuts!
Will add some protein with the whole wheat pastry flour! I love your writing style/ attitude, etc.! Thank you so much!
Alexis Joseph says
That means so much, thank you! And yum to stovetop apples 🙂
Val says
Question on recipe rating etiquette… can you give something 5 stars for each time you make it!? 😆 Asking for a friend bc if so, I (or friend…) need to go ahead and write up 50 reviews or so…!! This recipe is legit the best apple pie I’ve had and we can’t get enough of it! It’s just so easy, the flavor is beyond, and everyone (not just vegans!!) LOVES it! So great to have this go-to for all!
Alexis Joseph says
YESSSSS hahaah I love you. You're the best always!!!
Sharon says
This is the first apple pie I have ever made and the family LOVED it! It was so easy to make. I will definitely make it again.
Alexis Joseph says
Best news ever! Thanks for letting me know, Sharon 🙂
Jewel Smith says
If there were 10 stars, I would give this pie a 50!! I never leave comments, but my extremely picky husband LICKED THE PLATE after eating two servings of this with vegan vanilla ice cream! He and my son finished the entire pie before the night was over.
I just had to thank you and let you know I’m gonna make this over and over again, and I don’t even like apple pie - neither have I ever made one. But it was so delicious that I ate two servings myself. I followed the recipe exactly and it tasted amazing. It is very rare that I try a recipe and shake my head because of how good it is. Thank you, Alexis. To anyone in doubt, I would put my name on this recipe!!
Alexis Joseph says
This is the best comment ever! you seriously made my day, Jewel. I can't tell you how much this positive feedback means to me. Thank you a ton for taking the time to come back and write such a thoughtful review--it's hugely helpful! I'm beyond thrilled it was a winner for you and your hubby 🙂
Jewel Smith says
If there were 10 stars, I would give this pie a 50!! I never leave comments, but my extremely picky husband LICKED THE PLATE after eating two servings of this with vegan vanilla ice cream! He and my son finished the entire pie before the night was over.
I just had to thank you and let you know I’m gonna make this over and over again, and I don’t even like apple pie - neither have I ever made one. But it was so delicious that I ate two servings myself. I followed the recipe exactly and it tasted amazing. It is very rare that I try a recipe and shake my head because of how good it is. Thank you, Alexis. To anyone in doubt, I would put my name on this recipe!!
Masako says
It was SOOO amazing my non-vegan friends can’t shut up about it!
Alexis Joseph says
How awesome! Thank you, Masako!
Valerie says
This is LEGIT the best apple pie I have ever made. And probably ever eaten tbh..! I had planned to make this over thanksgiving but started making another pie my hubs had asked for (from another site) that ended up bombing lol. So I threw a serious Hail Mary and knew this one would save the day. Somehow managed to thaw a frozen pie crust IN THE MICROWAVE that somehow survived (this took 2 tries - the first frozen crust... RIP lol). It came together SO quickly and honestly, no words to describe how incredible this pie is. I used 1/4 cup coconut sugar in the filling bc I didn’t have cane sugar but that’s the only change I made. The filling, the crumb topping w the pecans... it’s all so so good and honestly wouldn’t change a thing. We literally savored the leftovers of it and it kept perfectly in the fridge for a few days. Had it w vanilla NadaMoo - best combo ever!!!
This is a 20 out of 10 recipe! ❤️
Alexis Joseph says
I'm dying over here reading this! Totally smiling from ear to ear 🙂 Now I need to go make it again!! You're the best, thank you Valerie!
Deidre says
I have to admit I’m not a huge apple pie person, but that was the pie wanted for our tiny Thanksgiving this year, so when I saw this recipe I thought I’d give it a shot — Alexis can do no wrong in my book! It is SO GOOD, this pie has changed my mind on apple pies forever! The perfect amount of cinnamon, and the crumble is amazing — I could eat that all on its own! My only regret is that I didn’t make my own pie crust, but will definitely do that the next time this pie is made (which will be SOON!)
Alexis Joseph says
Awwww that is sooo sweet! You made my day!! Thank you tons, Deidre!!
Alexis Joseph says
Yayyyy thank you!
Alexis Joseph says
Yayyyy thank you!
Whitney Michelle Long says
Cannot wait to make this for Thanksgiving this year or maybe before 😉
Alexis Joseph says
Yayyyy let me know if you do!
Dylan Miles says
So good!!