Apple Butter Pie has a 5 minute filling bursting with traditional fall flavor. A great alternative to pumpkin pie, this is one of the best apple recipes to make for the holidays!
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Apple Butter Pie
Move over, pumpkin pie. There’s a new kid in town.
Apple Butter Pie. This recipe is a game changer, friends.
I came across this old recipe in my favorite cookbook and it immediately caught my eye. Apple butter is fantastically delicious to bake with (hello there, sweet rolls!) It’s genius, but it only makes sense. Pumpkin puree is slightly similar in texture to apple butter, so why not switch out the two and create a new flavor of pie?
Using Apple Butter to Make Pie
I really wasn’t sure how this simple apple butter pie recipe was going to turn out, but once I sliced into the custard-like pie, I realized how the ingredients were so similar to pumpkin pie. Switch out the pumpkin puree, add apple butter instead and you have a pie that is full of cinnamony sweet apple flavor.
What type of apple butter is best for apple butter pie?
I’ve made this apple butter pie recipe a few times now and each time I’ve used a different brand of apple butter. Please realize that not all apple butter is created equally. Store-bought apple butter is a different texture than homemade, and most likely everyone’s homemade apple butter recipe has different sugar and cinnamon contents, creating even more diverse textures.
Because of this, each time I’ve baked this pie, it has come out just a little bit differently (because yes, I have three different apple butters in my fridge), but each time it has been delicious. I’d say that a thicker apple butter works best, giving it a firmer, more “pumpkin pie-like” texture.
Apple Butter Pie Recipe Notes
There’s one constant, however, when making apple butter pie. Use a high fat milk. It’s a must for this recipe. Whole milk is great, or you can even try evaporated milk.
Don’t have whole milk on hand? Many times we only have 1% milk. But we often have half and half or heavy whipping cream in the fridge, also. You can use part milk and part cream in order to make a thicker, high fat milk for this recipe. Please just promise you will use dairy that is not skim, 1% and even higher than 2% milkfat.
I’ll admit. I’m head over heels for that layered look. This may not happen every time you make apple butter pie, again, because of the difference in apple butters and the fat content of the milk you use. It’s always a surprise slicing into this pie and seeing the beauty it baked up to be.
Enjoy putting aside the pumpkin for a change and serving this unique apple pie.
Other Apple Recipes
- Danish Pastry Apple Pie Bars
- Upside Down Apple Dumpling Pie
- Traditional Apple Pie
- Apple Butter Pie Tarts
- Apple Pie Crepes
Apple Butter Pie
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups whole milk*
- Pastry for 1 9 pie crust
Instructions
- Beat eggs in a medium size bowl. Add the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and apple butter. Mix well.
- Add milk and whisk together.
- Press the pastry into a 9" pie plate that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust. Use a spoon to mix the filling once it is in the crust to be sure all of the ingredients are equally distributed.
- Bake at 375 for 60-65 minutes, or until the center is set. It will still seem slightly "jiggly" in the very center, but a knife put in the center should come out nearly clean.
- Cool in the pie plate on a wire rack. Do not slice into the pie right away, as it will continue to set as it sits.
- Store the pie in the refrigerator once it is cooled.
Chrissy says
This recipe looks delicious and I picked up some fresh homemade apple butter from a nearby farm. I plan to make this for Thanksgiving. Would I be able to make this the Tuesday before and keep it refrigerated for a few days?
Julie Clark says
Yes!