Name: Applesauce Pie Recipe
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup applesauce (240g); 1/2 cup white sugar (105g); 1/2 cup light brown sugar (120g); *In the video, I first used 1/3 cup of each type of sugar, then I added more; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ginger; 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 6 tablespoon unsalted butter; 2 large eggs; 9-inch pie crust, unbaked; *1 Tablespoon cornstarch (if using storebought applesauce); Microwave Applesauce Recipe:; 300 grams of apple, skin on, without core (1 1/4 cups) -- you will need about 1 pound of fresh apples per batch; 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice; 1. Cover and microwave on high for 3 increments of 5 minutes, stirring after each increment; 2. Use immersion blender to puree

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My applesauce pie recipe is easy and delicious! This old-fashioned recipe combines unsweetened applesauce, sugar, butter, eggs, and spices to make a custard pie that’s one of the best you’ll ever try. Although you can use storebought applesauce,, I used homemade microwave applesauce to give this pie the best flavor possible. If you’re looking to put a twist on a classic American dessert, this no peel apple pie recipe is just what you need. Keep reading to learn more!

Can You Make Apple Pie With Applesauce?

Yes! Unlike traditional apple pie with its apple slices, sugar, and spices between two pie crusts, applesauce pie is made by mixing applesauce, sugar, eggs, butter, and spices to form a custard that’s then poured into a pie shell and baked. Although it sounds odd, it tastes amazing.

In fact, AnnArbor.com writer Mary Bilyeu states that she discovered a recipe for applesauce pie in an Amish cookbook entitled New Recipes From Quilt Country by Marcia Adams. She loved the “richness and spice” because the resulting flavor was “simultaneously unique and familiar.”

Although I came up with my applesauce pie independent of the cookbook, our recipes are similar, and also loved the unique, old-fashioned flavor. If you like desserts that taste like grandma (or great-grandma) would have made them, then this pie is for you.

Why Make Applesauce Pie?

Even if you already have a favorite apple pie recipe, this applesauce version is worth a try for a number of reasons:

It’s Easy

No Peeling – The worst part of making an apple pie is prepping the apples. But with this pie, all you have to do is open a jar of applesauce. Even if you make my microwave applesauce, you don’t have to peel with that recipe, either!

One Crust – Making homemade pie crust is time-consuming, and if you have to make a double-crust fruit pie, putting on the top crust can be nerve-wracking. But with this recipe, there’s only a bottom crust.

Any Time of the Year (With Canned or Storebought Applesauce) – If you use storebought or canned applesauce, you can make this apple pie at any time of the year: not just when apples are in season.

It’s Unique

Custardy Texture – When people think of a custard pie, they usually think of pumpkin, sweet potato, or even egg custard. The smooth, velvety filling is great when combined with a crispy pie crust.

Hint of Spice – Although normal apple pie has spices, the cinnamon and other flavors come through a bit stronger in this recipe. Honestly, the filling has the perfect combination of apple, butter, and spice flavors.

So, if you’re in the mood for apple pie but want to try something different, this recipe is for you.

What Type of Applesauce Should You Use?

I think this easy recipe is flexible, so multiple types of applesauce will work:

Microwave Applesauce

When I made the pie, I made a thick version of unsweetened microwave applesauce for the filling. Made with ripe golden delicious apples and fresh lemon juice, it’s full of apple flavor. And since it’s thicker than normal apple sauce, it’s perfect for pie filling.

Storebought Applesauce

When researching this recipe, I realized that other food bloggers used unsweetened storebought applesauce. Although it’s not quite as thick as my microwave applesauce, a bit of cornstarch or flour will thicken the applesauce filling.

Canned applesauce.

If you have your own homemade canned applesauce, you could use that, too. I saw some recipe videos on YouTube in which people used canned applesauce for the filling.

Easy Applesauce Pie with Homemade Applesauce — My easy applesauce pie recipe can be made with either storebought or homemade applesauce.

How To Thicken Applesauce For Pie Filling?

At this point you might be thinking that applesauce is too watery to use in a pie filling. Normally, you’re right, but the my applesauce pie recipe thickens the filling with multiple ingredients:

Sugar – Sugar absorbs some of the liquid, thickening the applesauce.

Butter – Butter is a saturated fat, so it’s solid at room temperature. After the pie bakes and then cools, the butter that’s mixed into the applesauce will help thicken the filling.

Eggs – Eggs are a binding agent in many recipes, especially custard pies. This recipe is no different.

And if you use storebought applesauce, or a homemade applesauce that’s thinner than my microwave version, you can add:

Cornstarch – I use cornstarch to thicken the fruit filling in my peach pie with frozen peaches recipe, as well as many other pie and cobbler recipes. A Tablespoon of cornstarch will help in this recipe, too.

Applesauce Pie Ingredients

This applesauce pie recipe has 2 parts: the custard filling and the crust. All you need is:

Applesauce – 1 cup of my thick microwave applesauce, storebought, or canned.

White Sugar – 1/2 cup (If your applesauce is sweetened, you may only have to add 1/4 cup, or depending on your tastes, you might even leave this out)

Light Brown Sugar – 1/2 cup (Even if your applesauce is sweetened, I still recommend adding at least 1/4 of light brown sugar since the molasses adds a distinct flavor)

Eggs – 2 large eggs help thicken the applesauce filling and hold it together

Lemon Juice – 1 Tablespoon tones down the sweetness and brings out the other flavors

Butter – Butter thickens the filling and adds richness–honestly, butter makes everything better, haha!

Spices – Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg come together to spice the filling perfectly

Salt – As with almost all dessert recipes, a bit of salt helps to bring out the flavors

*Cornstarch – 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch will help thicken storebought applesauce.

9-inch pie crust (one) – You only need one crust for this pie, so if you prefer to make your own crust, this recipe is half the work.

As you can see, this applesauce pie recipe is fairly basic. It’s incredible how a few fairly ordinary and unassuming ingredients can come together to make something so delicious.

How To Make Applesauce Pie

Like stated above, learning how to make applesauce pie is easy: you just have to follow a few directions:

Make the Homemade Applesauce (If Not Using Storebought)

If you want to follow the recipe exactly as I made it in the video, the first step is making the thick, rich homemade applesauce. You will need to make 2 batches. For more detailed instructions, see my unsweetened applesauce in the microwave recipe.

Step 1. Cut up apple chunks to get 3 cups – You’ll probably need to use 1 pound of whole apples. Simple cut around the core – WITHOUT peeling – into chunks that are more or less the same size.

Step 2. Add 1.5 Tablespoons lemon juice – This is to prevent browning and bring out the flavor.

Step 3. Cover with plastic wrap – Just enough to seal in the heat and moisture.

Step 4. Microwave – Cook on HIGH in 5-minute increments for a total of 15 minutes, stirring after each increment.

Step 5. Blend – Blend the cooked apples with an immersion blender to form a smooth paste.

Step 6. Make 2 batches – As stated above, you will probably need to make 2 batches to have 1 full cup of applesauce.

Although making your own applesauce for the pie filling is a bit more work, I highly recommend it since it will be a lot more flavorful than any storebought kind.

BTW: Be sure to let the applesauce cool down to about room temperature before adding the eggs: you don’t want to accidentally cook them.

Make the Applesauce Pie Filling

Once you have 1 cup of applesauce (whether microwave, storebought, or canned), it’s time to make the filling. Making the filling is really easy: all you have to do is combine the sugar, eggs, butter, spices, and salt (and cornstarch if using storebought apple sauce) and the mix them together.

How Much Sugar to Add to the Filling?

In total, I used 1/2 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of white sugar. However, in the video I started out with 1/3 cup of each and then tasted the filling. I felt it wasn’t quite sweet enough, so I added more.

If you’re making this applesauce pie for the first time (especially if using applesauce that already has some sugar in it), I recommend adding a bit less sugar (maybe 1/4 cup of each) and then taste the filling. As any chef will tell you, you can always add more later, but you can’t take way.

Don’t Accidentally Cook the Eggs

Although making the applesauce filling is really easy, the one thing you want to keep in mind is to not add the eggs to hot butter or applesauce. Otherwise, you’ll end up with scrambled eggs.

That’s why in the video I added the melted butter to the room temperature applesauce, then the sugar, spices, salt, and then finally the eggs. By combining the melted butter with the applesauce, sugar, and other ingredients, I lowered the temperature of the butter so I could add safely add the eggs.

Pour the Applesauce Filling into an Unbaked Pie Shell

Once the applesauce filling is made, simply pour it into an unbaked 9-inch pie shell. Use a spoon to distribute it evenly and smooth it out.

Bake

Bake the pie at 350F, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

Serve

After a few hours, the pie should be cool enough to serve.

Old-Fashioned Applesauce Pie Recipe — My old-fashioned applesauce pie recipe has plenty of apple flavor, along with the richness of butter and the depth of spices.

How to Serve Applesauce Pie?

Honestly, I think that my old-fashioned applesauce pie is best on its own. However, if you want, you can add:

Ice Cream – Apple pie with vanilla ice cream is a classic combination.

Whipped Cream – Whipped cream / Cool Whip is commonly put on custard-style pies such as pumpkin, so you might like it on this pie, too.

How Long to Bake Applesauce Pie?

As stated above, I baked the pie at 350F, uncovered, for 45 minutes. I recommend placing it on a baking sheet or pizza pan: it’ll be a lot easier to take in and out of the oven.

Can I Use Regular Applesauce (Not Unsweetened)?

Yes! As stated in the ingredients sections, you can use sweetened applesauce to make this pie–just use less sugar. Honestly, you’ll have to be the judge in terms of how much sugar you put in the pie.

My guess is that you might only need 1/4 cup of white sugar, possibly less–or even none. However, recommend adding the 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, or at least 1/4 cup since a hint of molasses in the background is what gives apple pie its characteristic taste.

Can I Use Flour to Thicken the Filling Instead of Cornstarch?

Yes! Although I prefer cornstarch since you don’t need as much and it has less effect on the taste, you can use flour to thicken the filling. Substitute 2 Tablespoons of flour for the cornstarch (flour isn’t as good of a thickener, so you will need twice the amount).

Can I Use Apple Butter to Make the Pie Filling?

Yes! I haven’t tried this, but I think that an apple butter pie would be delicious. You probably wouldn’t need to add as much sugar or extra spices, either. If you substitute apple butter for applesauce in this recipe, please tell me about it.

Can I Add a Top Crust to this Pie?

I think so. Honestly, I think part of the beauty of this applesauce pie is the simplicity: mix a together the filling, pour it into a bottom crust, and then bake.

However, if you want something more like a traditional apple pie, I think you could add a top crust if you wanted. Just remember to cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.

How Long Does Applesauce Pie Keep?

This pie should keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. After that, the moisture in the filling will probably start to make the crust soggy and the filling less flavorful. Personally, I wouldn’t cover it in the refrigerator since trapping in the moisture might make the crust soggy faster.

A Chef’s Review

My applesauce pie recipe was fantastic. As others have noted, this old-fashioned dessert has a flavor that’s both unique and familiar at the same time. While it definitely has good apple flavor (especially if you use my microwave applesauce), it has a buttery richness and flavorful spice that sets it apart.

Although you could definitely use storebought applesauce, I think making your own with my recipe is worth the bit of extra effort. Not only will your filling be thicker, it’ll also have more apple flavor.

So, if you love apple pie and cobbler–or apple desserts in general–and you’re looking for something different that’s similar enough to not be odd yet different enough to be unique, this recipe is for you.

Possible Changes to the Recipe

Although I thought this pie turned out perfectly, possible changes include:

Granny Smith Apples – Although I prefer golden delicious when baking, most people use green apples. I wonder what difference that would make.

Storebought Applesauce – It would make the recipe super simple, for sure.

Replace some of the butter with evaporated milk – It wouldn’t be as rich, but it’d also be lower in calories, too.