Welcome to my kitchen! Today, we are making something truly special and comforting: Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie. If you love the warm flavors of fall and the cozy feeling of a homemade dessert, then you are in for a treat. This recipe takes the classic apple pie to a whole new level with the nutty, rich taste of brown butter. Trust me, once you try this Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie, it will become your new go-to dessert for any occasion.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This isn’t just any apple pie; it’s a Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie, and that brown butter makes all the difference! Browning the butter gives it a deep, caramel-like flavor that elevates both the crust and the crumble topping. The combination of sweet and tart apples, warm spices, and that buttery, crunchy crumble is simply irresistible. Plus, this recipe is designed to be easy to follow, even if you’re not a pie-making pro. It’s the perfect balance of rustic charm and delicious sophistication, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. You’ll love how the brown butter adds a depth of flavor that store-bought pies just can’t match, making your homemade apple crumble pie truly stand out.
Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to bake this delicious Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie. Make sure you have all your ingredients ready before you start!
For the Crust:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold
- 1/4 cup ice water
For the Brown Butter Apple Filling:
- 6 medium apples (like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup brown butter, cooled (see instructions below)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Crumble Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s get baking! Follow these simple steps to create your own amazing Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie.
1. Make the Brown Butter
First, we need to make the star of our recipe – brown butter! Place the 1/2 cup of butter for the filling in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Why light-colored? It helps you see the color change! Melt the butter completely. It will start to foam and sizzle. Keep cooking, swirling the pan occasionally. You’ll notice the milk solids at the bottom of the pan turning golden brown and it will smell nutty – like butterscotch! This is brown butter! Remove from heat immediately and pour into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking process. Let it cool slightly while you prepare the crust.
2. Prepare the Pie Crust
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt for the pie crust. Cut in the cold butter and vegetable shortening using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently after each addition, until the dough just comes together. Don’t overmix! Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time is important for a flaky crust.
3. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pie Pan
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the oven is heating, lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan.
4. Roll Out the Pie Crust
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pie crust into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer the crust to the prepared pie pan. Trim and crimp the edges as desired. You can make a simple crimp with a fork or get fancy!
5. Make the Apple Filling
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, cooled brown butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss everything together gently until the apples are evenly coated. Finally, add the lemon juice and toss again. The lemon juice brightens the flavors and prevents the apples from browning too much.
6. Assemble the Crumble Topping
In another bowl, make the crumble topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and cut it in using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the rolled oats.
7. Fill and Top the Pie
Pour the apple filling into the prepared pie crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples. Make sure to distribute it well so every bite has a bit of crumble.
8. Bake the Pie
Bake the Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie for 45-55 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crumble topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent the pie with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking. Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly and makes it easier to slice.
Serving Suggestions
This Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie is wonderful on its own, warm from the oven. But to make it even more special, try serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. The cold creaminess is the perfect contrast to the warm, spiced pie.
For presentation, a dusting of powdered sugar over the cooled crumble adds a lovely touch. You can also add a sprig of fresh mint for a pop of color. Slice into generous wedges and enjoy!
This homemade apple crumble pie is perfect for so many occasions. It’s ideal for fall gatherings, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a cozy weekend dessert. It’s also a fantastic dish to bring to potlucks or to share with friends and family. Everyone will love the comforting flavors of this classic dessert with a delicious brown butter twist.
Storage and Reheating
If you have any leftover Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie (though I doubt you will!), you can store it at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure to cover it loosely with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
To reheat, you can warm individual slices in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. For a crispier crust and crumble, reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Reheating in the oven is definitely the best way to bring back that freshly baked texture and flavor.
Key Details
Prep time: 30 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling time)
Cook time: 45-55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Equipment you’ll need:
- 9-inch pie pan
- Large mixing bowls
- Pastry blender or fork
- Rolling pin
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wire rack
Enjoy making and sharing this Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie! I hope you love it as much as I do. Happy baking!
Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening cold
- 1/4 cup ice water
- 6 medium apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup brown butter cooled
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
Instructions
- Make the Brown Butter: Place the 1/2 cup of butter for the filling in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter completely. Keep cooking, swirling the pan occasionally until milk solids turn golden brown and it smells nutty. Remove from heat immediately and pour into a heatproof bowl to cool.
- Prepare the Pie Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter and vegetable shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pie Pan: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan.
- Roll Out the Pie Crust: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pie crust into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to the pie pan, trim and crimp the edges.
- Make the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, cooled brown butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss gently. Add lemon juice and toss again.
- Assemble the Crumble Topping: In another bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold, cubed butter until crumbly. Stir in rolled oats.
- Fill and Top the Pie: Pour apple filling into the pie crust. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake the Pie: Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before serving.