French Apple Pie

Written by
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Linda Larsen
Updated 12/18/20
French Apple Pie

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
381 Calories
12g Fat
67g Carbs
4g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 381
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Sodium 535mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 67g 24%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Protein 4g
Calcium 95mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for French apple pie with streusel topping is a classic. The streusel topping is much easier to handle than a second top crust, so this pie is simple for beginners to make, especially if you use a refrigerated or frozen pie crust for the bottom of the pie.

This pie also is known as Dutch apple pie and it makes your house smell incredible as it bakes.  

For the pie crust, you can purchase a crust mix in a box, prepare it and fit it into the pie pan, or you can buy a frozen pie shell. Don't use a graham cracker crust; it won't stand up to the apple filling. It's not difficult to make your own crust though, and this hot water pie crust recipe is simple to follow.

Try this low-calorie and healthy apple pie version.

Ingredients

  • For the Pie:
  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked flour pie crust
  • 8 cups apples (peeled, thinly sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • For the Streusel Topping:
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 5 tablespoons cold butter

Steps to Make It

Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, the French apple pie is broken down into workable categories to help you plan for preparation and baking.

Prepare the Pie

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven 425 F.

    French Apple Pie ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. In a large bowl, place the apple slices and sprinkle them with the lemon juice.

    apple slices in a bowl, sprinkled with lemon juice

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until combined.

    granulated sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the apples and toss to coat.

    apples covered with the sugar mixture

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Spoon this mixture into an unbaked 9-inch pie crust, mounding the apples in the center of the pie shell.

    sugar covered apples in the pie crust

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Make the Streusel

  1. In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup flour, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and butter until crumbly.

    Streusel ingredients in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Sprinkle the streusel over the apples in the crust.

    Sprinkle the streusel over the apples in the crust

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Bake the pie for 12 minutes.

    French Apple Pie unbaked

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Bake the pie 30 to 40 minutes longer, or until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork and the juices are bubbling in the center of the pie.

    bake the French Apple Pie

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Cool the pie on a wire rack.

    French Apple Pie on a cooling rack

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

How to Pick Apples For Baking

  • When you're making a pie, choose the best apples for baking. Those varieties include Baldwin, Cortland, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Northern Spy, and Winesap.
  • You want an apple that will stand up to baking and keep its shape even after it's cooked. Some apples turn to mush when they are heated. That's great for applesauce, but not for a pie!

Related Articles