Rustic Vegan Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

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Rustic vegan apple pie recipe made from scratch using fresh apples and homemade pie crust. This is a the perfect pie to serve on Thanksgiving or any day of the week.

This is my first pie recipe on this blog!

Can you believe that I baked a pie?

What I discovered is that baking a pie is not hard. Why I was intimidated by the process?!?!

I think I might go on a pie baking binge this weekend!

Disclaimer: This recipe is inspired by Hostess At Heart’s Rustic Vegan Apple Pie. Thank you for making it easy for me to bake a pie.

Tips for making this pie

Since I can’t find vegan pie crusts, I decided to make my own crust recipe. But, you can use store bought pie crust (Vegetarian)
Use a mix of fiji apples or granny smiths which will give this recipe a delicious sweet and tangy flavor. If you would rather use just one, go with the grannys!
Since I used homemade pie crust, I broiled the pie for the last 7 minutes. Broiling made the top of the crust turned golden brown.
I went with a rustic feel to this vegan apple pie by baking it in a cast iron pan. If you are more comfortable with a pie pan or pie dish, use that instead.
I made the apple filling the day before which was a really good idea. The apples tasted sweeter
To brush the top of the pie crust, I used a combination of vegan butter, sugar and a dash of cinnamon. I also used a little almond milk for the edges.

Why I love this recipe!

The main reason is that its my first sweet pie recipe on this blog. When I bake a pie at home, it’s usually just for me or a few very close people in my life who will eat anything I make. 🙂

I have never been confident to bake one for the blog. But, this time, I am really really proud of this apple pie recipe, so, I hope you like it too.

The other reason I like this pie recipe is because it is truly a delicious recipe! The flavors in the filling are in perfect harmony with each other. I took Julie’s recipe and added to it, which makes it beyond delicious.

Top this with a little vegan caramel ice cream and I am in a-la-mode heaven!

This thanksgiving, I am going to put this apple pie on the dessert table for everyone to enjoy. I am excited to see the look on their on their faces when they tasted it.

If you want an oven baked apple pie, you will love this super easy apple pie with graham cracker crust by Chenee.

What dessert do you plan to feature at your Thanksgiving table?

Other fillings to try

Peach pie filling
Cranberry pie filling
Blueberry pie filling
Pear pie filling
Cherry pie filling (Put leftover in a Babybel strudel)
Chocolate Pie Filling

Last week, I tried this apple pie recipe using fried apples filling, a recipe by Finding Zest and they came out so good.

Answering your questions

As you bake this rustic apple pie, you may have questions. How to freeze it? What kind of sugar to use? Below, I answer some common questions for you. If you have other questions, please feel free to comment below.

Can vegans eat apple pie?

No, most pre-baked and store bought apple pies are not vegan. They are made with eggs and/or egg wash, which vegans can’t eat.
The filling itself can be vegan friendly, if not eaten with the pie crust. I also have a homemade vegan pie crust recipe that is super easy to make.

Where can I get a vegan pie crust?

Finding a crust that is dairy-free and egg-free, which is a tall order! Sometimes, Whole Foods will carry vegan recipes in their frozen desserts section, but its rare. I have had better luck with Publix because they have vegan and GF pie crusts.

Can I make it with puff pastry?

Yes, you can use puff pastry instead of a pie crust. Puff pastry is vegan and it will give the apple pie a crusty taste.
Use one of the puff pastry for the crust and the other one for the pie cover. Fold the edge of the puff pastry top or use a (affiliate link) lattice roller to get a fancy look to the rustic apple pie.

Freezing and reheating vegan apple pie

Yes, apple pie is perfect for freezing. First, cook the whole pie and let it cool to touch. Then, cut it into slices and freeze them individually or as a whole pie
To reheat the pie, place the pie in a pie dish directly from the freezer (without thawing) into a preheated oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and heat it for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

More vegan desserts to try

Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Giant Cookie

If you prefer to see your whole apple when eating it, then I have just the dessert for you. This baked apple with cashew cream will make you fall in love with vegan desserts. I collected all my best vegan desserts in one place to make it easy for you to find. Which one is your favorite?

Make vegan apple pie from scratch (with step-by-step images)

Start by melting butter in a cast iron pan

Add demerara sugar and swirl the pan to mix it all together. Set aside to cool

Peel the Fiji apple and the granny Smith apple

Cut them into thick wedges

In a large bowl, add the chopped apples and add pumpkin pie spice + cardamom powder

Add the brown sugar, lemon juice and coconut oil

Toss it well so that all the apples are coated with the cinnamon mixture

Once it has cooled enough, place the pie crust on it and press it down gently. The butter mixture should come up along the sides of the cast iron pan

Add the apple mixture to the pie in the cast iron pan. Make it leveled so that the apples are not sticking above the pan. Add pecans for a nice crunch.

In a small bowl, make the butter mixture to brush on top of the pie. Melt the butter and sugar

Add a pinch of cinnamon and mix well

Place the top pie crust on the cast iron pan. Cut a few slits on top to let air escape

Brush the top of the pie with the melted butter. Brush the edges with almond milk too. It will make them crispy

Place the pie in the 350° pre-heated oven on the bottom rack. Place an empty tray at the bottom of the cast iron pan to catch all the juices that come out of it.

Bake for 1 hour and broil for the last 7-10 min. Remove the pie and let it cook before serving

Vegan Apple Pie Recipe (Rustic)

Rini

Delicious rustic vegan apple pie made from scratch using simple vegan sugar, vegan butter, fiji apples and granny smith apples

Go Ahead, Rate it now!

Equipment

Oven for baking braeburn apples
Lodge 8″ Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

For the vegan pie crust

2 cup all purpose flour
1 stick vegan butter
1 can coconut milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp ice water
2 tsp vegetable shortening optional

For the pie filling

1 Fiji apple or braebun apples
1 granny smith apple
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¾ cup demerara sugar
1½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
¼ tsp ground cardamom optional
¼ tsp lemon juice optional
1 tsp coconut oil melted
¼ cup pecan pieces optional

For Basting

1 Tbsp vegan butter
1 Tbsp demerara sugar
⅙ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp almond milk

For the skillet bottom

2 Tbsp vegan butter
2 tsp demerara sugar

Instructions

Make my vegan pie crust or use store bought
Preheat oven to 350°

Make the skillet base

Start by melting butter in a cast iron pan
Add demerara sugar and swirl the pan to mix it all together. Set aside to cool

To make the pie filling

Peel the Fiji apple and the granny Smith apple
Cut them into thick wedges
In a large bowl, add the chopped apples
Add pumpkin pie spice and ground cardamom
Add the brown sugar, lemon juice and coconut oil
Toss it well so that all the apples are coated with the pumpkin pie mixture
Add pecan pieces (see notes)
Once the cast iron has cooled enough, gently place the pie crust in it
Press down on the pie crust gently so that the butter mixture comes up along the sides of the cast iron pan
Add the apple mixture to the pie in the cast iron pan. Make it level so that the apples are not sticking above the pan
Place the top pie crust on the cast iron pan. Cut a few slits on top to let air escape

Make the basting liquid

In a small bowl, make the butter mixture to brush on top of the pie. Melt the butter and sugar
Add a pinch of cinnamon and mix well
Brush the top of the pie with the melted butter.
Brush the edges with almond milk too. It will make them crispy

Baking the pie

Place the pie in the 350° pre-heated oven on the bottom rack.
Place an empty tray at the bottom of the cast iron pan to catch all the juices that come out of it.
Bake for about 1 hour. I basted the top again at about the 30 min mark.
Turn the oven to broil mode and broil for 10 min (see notes)

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes to an hour. Serve immediately or refrigerate it.

Notes

– Pecan pieces are optional, but, I highly recommend it. It adds a nice crunch to the apple pie.

– Why broil? This is optional, but, I like it because it browns and crisps the top of the pie.

Nutrition

Calories: 944kcal

Keyword cast iron apple pie, how to bake a vegan apple pie, Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

FAQs

How can I thicken my apple pie without cornstarch? ›

Our five favorites

All-purpose flour is an easy solution, as you're sure to have it in your pantry. ...
Instant ClearJel keeps fillings thick through a great range of temperatures, making it ideal for pies that are frozen, before or after baking.

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Why did my apples turn to mush in my pie? ›

Pay close attention to the apples you're choosing for your pie, as overripe fruits will cause your filling to turn mushy. Choose firm apples for baked pies to achieve the sweet yet tart flavor. Reserve those overripe apples for chilled pies or applesauce instead.

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Why don t you blind bake apple pie? ›

I do not usually par-bake my fruit pie crusts - this is because with a fresh fruit filling (or even with a cooked fruit filling such as my apple pie or my blueberry crostata), the pie has long enough in the oven that it gives the crust enough time to crisp up properly, removing the need for blind baking.

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What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

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What is the best thickener for apple pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it better to use flour or cornstarch for apple pie? ›

Corn starch lends a glossy thickness and adds sheen to the filling while flour adds opacity and some mouthfeel so that it has a sort-of creaminess. With all corn starch the filling reminds me too much of store-bought pies with that gloopy clear gel-like texture and with all flour it can get too lumpy and stodgy.

Tell Me More ›

What is the best thickening agent for fruit pies? ›

Tapioca-it's not just for pudding! This old-school ingredient may be what your great grandmother used to thicken her pies, and it's still great for making a perfect fruit pie with a clear, stable filling. Tapioca is derived from cassava (also known as yuca or manioc), a starchy root native to South America.

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What is a substitute for cornstarch in apple pie? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy substitute for cornstarch; in fact you may see recipes for thickening pie fillings or soups with either. You'll need 2 tablespoons of flour for every 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a recipe.

See Details ›

Should you cook apples before putting in pie? ›

Should you cook the apples before baking apple pie? You don't have to pre-cook the filling before spooning it into the pie crust, but it's a quick step I recommend. Just 5 minutes on the stove begins the softening process, and also helps the flavors start to mingle.

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How do you make the bottom crust of an apple pie not soggy? ›

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven.

Tell Me More ›

Why do you put butter in apple pie? ›

Some say that scattering small bits of butter over a fruit filling keeps the juices from bubbling over in the same way that adding a bit of fat to simmering jam keeps it from foaming up in the preserving pan. The theory is that the fat disrupts the formation of bubbles on the surface of the viscous fruit mixture.

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Should I Prebake my pie crust for apple pie? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

Should you Prebake bottom pie crust? ›

Pre-baking is a must if you're looking for a flaky pie crust. It's especially helpful for recipes with a wet center. Recipes for most tarts, pies, and quiches call for pre-baking to ensure that the final product doesn't end up soggy.

Get More Info ›

Can you use pennies to blind bake? ›

You're all ready to blind-bake a pie crust when you realize you don't have any pie weights. The simple save: Line the crust with foil, top with 25 pennies and bake. The weight from the pennies will prevent the dough from bubbling while the metal in the coins conducts heat for a perfect crust.

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What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

In pie crust, you don't want gluten to form so you don't want to mix too much and overwork the dough. For a flaky crust, cut the butter so that chunks of butter about the size of walnut halves remain.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it safe to eat apple pie filling out of the can? ›

It will be cooked in the can, before selling, to sterilize the contents. So you can open the can and eat it. What is the best way to bake an apple pie using a canned filling?