Dutch Apple Pie

Dutch Apple Pie is the most delicious iconic apple pie recipe with buttery streusel baked into the top instead of a top crust.

May 13th in National Apple Pie Day! Of course you must celebrate with apple pie! The most delicious apple pie around is this Dutch Apple Pie. You must grab some apples (preferably Granny Smith) and bake this fabulous pie.

Share the apple pie love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalApplePieDay, #ApplePieDay and #RecipesForHolidays.

Be sure to follow my May Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of May.

“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.”

-Jane Austen

The History of Apple Pie:

We can most likely thank the English for making the 1st apple pies. The earliest recipe was found in an English cookbook published in 1381. Since sugar was so expensive at that time, the English used dried fruit- figs, raisins and pears- to sweeten their apple pies.

The first “Dutch” apple pie dates back to a Dutch cookbook from 1514.

Apples didn’t exist in America until they were introduced by Dutch and English colonists. “Modern” Dutch Apple Pie, as we know it, may have been created by French colonists in Pennsylvania. Dutch apple pies have a crumbly streusel topping. Traditional apple pies have a top layer made from pie crust.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, apple pie became a symbol of American prosperity and national pride. Apple orchards expanded across the U.S., and apples could easily be stored in the winter. By the turn of the century, Americans were eating more apple pie than any other variety.

Apple pie is now the #1 favorite pie in America.

Ingredients needed:

• pie crust
• all purpose flour
• packed brown sugar
• salt
• ground cinnamon
• butter
• pecans
• white sugar
• apples
• heavy whipping cream

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pie crust. Flute the edge.

How to make Dutch Apple Pie:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Make the streusel: In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar, salt and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Use a pastry blender (or two knives) to cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the pecans.

In another large bowl, stir together the sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the apples and toss to coat. Transfer the apple mixture to the pie crust. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bowl and add any juices on top. Drizzle the cream on top of the apple mixture. Sprinkle the streusel on top of the apple filling. Pat it down to cover all the filling.

Place a foil-lined baking sheet on the lower rack of the oven. Place the pie on the rack above. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake 50 to 60 minutes more or until the filling is bubbly. Cover the pie loosely with foil after 30 minutes of baking to prevent burning. Cool on a wire rack.

It’s best to let the pie cool completely before cutting and serving. You’ll get the cleanest cuts that way!

If you try to cut it while still warm, all of those apples you see in the cut pie there will come crashing down!

Serve with freshly whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream. Enjoy!

Fun Facts about Apple Pie:

• Apples appeared in paintings of the 1600’s (apples in baskets, and women peeling and cutting apples- indicating that they must have been using in baking).
• The Pilgrims didn’t eat apple pie with the Wampanoag’s at the 1st Thanksgiving. They enjoyed sweetened pumpkin instead.
• One of the best varieties of apples to use for making apple pie is the Granny Smith apple.
• Nebraska eats more apple pie than any other state.
• Apple pie with cheddar is popular in the Midwest and New England.
• Julian, CA is famous for their apple pies.
• If you don’t have apples, you can make a Mock Apple Pie. It is, oddly enough, made with Ritz crackers, and it has the iconic apple pie flavor!