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Vegan Apple Pie Recipe: How to Make Vegan Apple Pie

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 17, 2021 • 3 min read

This homemade vegan apple pie, which pairs warm, baked apple filling with a flaky vegan pie crust recipe, is the ultimate vegan dessert.

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What Is Apple Pie?

Apple pie is a dessert that features a flavorful, spiced apple filling baked inside of a traditional tart or pie crust. Diners often enjoy apple pie with a topping of whipped cream or ice cream (known as à la mode). It often features a decorative lattice top crust, but you can also make the dessert with a crumble topping.

Make a warm, flaky vegan version of a traditional apple pie by incorporating animal byproduct-free ingredients like vegan butter and dairy-free milk.

4 Tips for Making Vegan Apple Pie

Bakers of all levels will be able to craft this comforting dessert. Follow these tips to make the best apple pie possible.

  1. 1. Choose the right apples. You can use any apple variety to make vegan apple pie. Still, the best options are tart varieties (like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), semisweet varieties (like Golden Delicious and Pink Lady), or a mix of sweet and tart apples. Using only sweet types of apples may result in an overly saccharine pie. Using frozen apples or store-bought apple pie filling may result in a soggy apple pie.
  2. 2. Knead the dough just until it forms. A melt-in-your-mouth apple pie crust relies on working layers of butter into your flour. Knead the dough just until it comes together to get the perfect texture. Too much kneading will melt and disperse the butter, making for a dense, dry, bready dough.
  3. 3. Chill the dough. After a quick knead, chilling the pie dough allows the built-up gluten to settle, making for an easier rolling and shaping process. It will also yield an airier, flakier dough.
  4. 4. Use store-bought crust. Use store-bought vegan crust if you want to cut down on prep time. Many standard frozen and shelf-stable crusts do not contain animal products but check the ingredients thoroughly before committing to a pie crust.

Easy Vegan Apple Pie Recipe

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makes

1 9-inch pie

prep time

30 min

total time

1 hr 30 min

cook time

1 hr

Ingredients

For the crust:

For the filling:

Note: The total time does not include 2½ hours of inactive time.

  1. 1

    Make the pie crust. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.

  2. 2

    Add the cubed vegan butter to the flour mixture, and use your hands to work the butter into the flour until the mixture reaches the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.

  3. 3

    Drizzle the ice water and vinegar over the flour, and stir gently to combine.

  4. 4

    Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until it just comes together, making sure not to overwork it.

  5. 5

    Divide the dough into two portions and form each portion into a 1-inch thick disk.

  6. 6

    Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap, and place the dough in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.

  7. 7

    When you’re ready to bake your pie, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  8. 8

    Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to fit a 9-inch pie plate.

  9. 9

    Position the dough in the pie dish and prick the crust all over with a fork. Place a piece of parchment in the center of the crust, and fill the center with pie weights or dried beans.

  10. 10

    Transfer the crust to the oven and bake until it is just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and set it aside to cool.

  11. 11

    While the crust is cooling, make the filling. Peel the apples, discard the cores, and cut them into 1-inch thick slices.

  12. 12

    In a large bowl, stir together the apple slices, lemon juice, cinnamon, sugars, and cornstarch.

  13. 13

    When the crust has fully cooled, remove the beans and parchment paper from inside and pour the apple filling into the crust.

  14. 14

    Drop the slices of vegan butter over the top of the apples.

  15. 15

    Remove the remaining disk of dough from the refrigerator, and roll it out to fit the top of the pie plate.

  16. 16

    Place the top crust over the filling, trim off any excess dough, and crimp the edges together using a fork or your hands. Cut 4 slits into the top of the crust for ventilation.

  17. 17

    Brush the top of the pie dough with oat milk, and sprinkle the Demerara sugar over the crust.

  18. 18

    Transfer the pie pan to the hot oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about 40–45 minutes.

  19. 19

    Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving with a scoop of vegan ice cream.

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