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Vegan Apple Pie

1 hr + 45 min

Dessert

10 ingredients or less

Freezer-friendly

This vegan apple pie recipe has soft apples baked with fragrant cinnamon, encased in flakey pastry. It's a truly classic dessert and is perfect for fall gatherings like Thanksgiving, holidays like Christmas, or any time really! It's best served with fluffy whipped cream or rich ice cream.

Servings

Total

1 hr + 45 min

Prep

20 min

Cook

55 min

Cool

30 min

Contains

Gluten symbol

gluten

Swap out

Soy symbol

soy

Free from

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Ingredients

Apple pie filling

  • 35 oz (1000 g)
    apples, peeled, cored, cut into ½ cm slices
  • ¼ tsp
    salt
  • 3 Tbsp (41 g)
    brown sugar, packed
  • 2 Tbsp (16 g)
    cornstarch
  • ½
    lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp (3 g)
    ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp
    ground ginger (optional)

Homemade pie crust

  • 2½ cups (345 g)
    all-purpose flour
  • 7.9 oz (224 g)
    unsalted vegan butter, chilled, cubed
  • 1 Tbsp (14 g)
    granulated sugar (optional)
  • ½ tsp
    salt
  • 4 Tbsp (60 mL)
    ice water

Pie toppings

  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL)
    vegan whipping cream, for brushing
  • 1 tsp (5 g)
    granulated sugar (optional)

Serves well with

  • coconut whipping cream
  • vegan ice cream

Make your own

Directions

  1. Place the apple slices and salt in a large bowl and microwave at 600W for 5 minutes*. Mix, then microwave for another 5 minutes. Drain off any liquid released from the apples.
  2. Mix in the brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ginger with the apples. Set aside to cool.
  3. To a food processor, add the flour, butter, sugar, and salt**. Pulse until the butter has been broken up into pea-sized pieces.
  4. Add half of the water, pulsing a few times to combine. Then add the remaining water and pulse again until a dough has formed.
  5. Turn the dough into a bowl or floured surface. Use your hands to incorporate any stray bits into the dough. Don't overdo it, as your hands will start to melt the butter. Divide the dough in two and roughly form each into a ball.
  6. Place 1 ball onto a large piece of lightly floured parchment paper. Sprinkle with some flour. Place the second piece of parchment over top and use a rolling pin to roll it into a ⅛ inch (¼ cm) thick circle, or about 4 cm wider than your pie plate. Repeat with the second ball of dough.
  7. When rolled to size, carefully peel back the top layer of parchment, dust with flour, and place the parchment back on the dough. Flip the dough over and peel back the other layer of parchment. Dust with flour as well. This step helps prevent the dough from sticking to the parchment. Then place both rolled sheets into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
  8. When ready to assemble, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C)***. Peel off a parchment sheet from the dough and flip it into a 9-inch (23 cm) glass pie plate so that the second parchment sheet is facing up. Use your fingers to lift and press the crust into the pie plate. Try not to stretch the dough. Peel the second sheet of parchment off the crust.
  9. Fill the pie shell with the apple mixture.
  10. To make a lattice top, use a pastry wheel or knife to cut the second crust into ribbons. Weave these pieces over and under one another. Alternatively, just cover the pie with the whole second rolled-out dough****.
  11. Trim any excess dough beyond 1cm from the edges of the pie. Fold in the over-hanging dough and pinch to seal the edges. Brush with cream and a sprinkle of sugar to create a golden crust. Bake in the oven on the lower rack, placed on top of a metal cookie sheet, for 45 - 55 minutes or until the crust is golden.
  12. Although nothing beats fresh-out-of-the-oven pie, we recommend waiting until the pie is completely cooled before serving. Waiting until the next day (if you can make it that long before digging in), and reheating individual cut slices, makes this a great make-ahead dessert. Enjoy!

Notes

  • 5 medium apples weigh about 1kg. Use a few more apples if they are small. We suggest using apple varieties such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, and Mutsu, for their firm texture and tart flavour. Softer apples like Red Delicious, Fuji, Macintosh, and Gala tend to cook down too much when baked.
  • * Alternatively, cook covered on the stove.
  • ** If you don't have a food processor, use a fork to "cut" the butter into the flour, or grate frozen butter into the flour.
  • *** We used top and bottom heating (not fan-assisted/convection).
  • **** A lattice top allows more moisture to cook off, resulting in soft apples, with just the slightest bite to them. A full double crust keeps the steam in, resulting in apples that are melt-in-your-mouth tender. A few slits need to be cut in the top of a double crust, to allow steam to escape.

Storage

  • Baked pies can be stored, covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Rolled-out pie dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days (allow it to come close to room temperature before fitting into the pie plate, to prevent cracking). The rolled-out dough can also be wrapped and stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • The filling can also be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • Assembled but unbaked pie can be wrapped with plastic wrap and kept in the freezer for up to a month.

Let us know what you think

Watch it step-by-step!

Nutrition info

Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician. While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best apples to use for apple pie?

We recommend using firmer, tarter apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, and Mutsu. Softer apples, like Red Delicious, Fuji, McIntosh, and Gala, tend to break down too much when baked.

Do I have to peel the apples?

We recommend peeling the apples for a smoother texture, but you can leave the peels on if you prefer.

Can I use a store-bought crust instead of the homemade pie crust?

Yes, you can use a store-bought pie crust instead if you’d like.

More for the eyes

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Kai - Nov. 19, 2024, 2:19 p.m.

We loved it! So simple but elegant!


Sai Raghuram Kothapalli - Nov. 11, 2024, 11:54 p.m.

Thank you for this lovely recipe
I had a quick question- is it essential to use whipping cream/soy milk or any other milk essential on the top?
Can I skip it and only use sugar on top

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 12, 2024, 4:04 a.m.

Hey there, Sai, thanks for your interest in the vegan apple pie recipe 🤗 You can skip the milk on top and just sprinkle sugar - it’ll still turn out delicious! The milk just helps the crust brown a bit more, but without it, the pie will still be golden!


Shogofa sarabi - Sept. 13, 2024, 3:24 a.m.

Thank you for this recipe.
I tried the recipe and waiting to be cooked now.
I have two questions:
1- Why you put dough in fridge before baking? Is it fine to escape?
2- Why you precook the apple the water then add lemon juice?
Thank you for taking time to reading comments.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Sept. 14, 2024, 4:20 a.m.

Hey there, Shogofa, thanks for trying the vegan apple pie recipe and the lovely questions! Chilling the dough helps the butter stay solid, creating a flakier crust. Pre-cooking the apples softens them and ensures an even texture, while adding lemon juice after cooking prevents browning and brightens the flavour. Do let us know if there's anything else we can help us 🤗


Aileen - July 19, 2024, 2:15 a.m.

Yum yum yum! I’ve never really cared for apple pie, but this one was amazing! I paired it with vegan cookie dough ice cream (it’s all I had, or I would’ve used plain vanilla). Huge win! The homemade crust was my favorite part. I used homemade butter, and it worked perfectly in this recipe. My husband pretended to steal a piece of my crust (as the lattice top makes it easy to take a piece off), and I said, “Noooo!!!” It was very funny, and I did say, “Just so you know, if you had actually taken a piece, I would’ve taken some from the whole pie.” I can’t wait to make the rest of the PUL pies. I’m thinking pumpkin pie next!

PUL small logo PUL Team - July 19, 2024, 3:49 a.m.

Awe we're so happy that the apple pie and crust were enjoyed, Aileen! Vegan cookie dough ice cream sounds delicious also 🤤 hope you enjoy the pumpkin pie!


Carrie McGraw - May 5, 2024, 6:11 p.m.

I've made this a few times, and it always turns out perfectly. The star of this recipe is the crust in my opinion. My husband and I couldn't stop raving about how perfect it was! Thank you for my new go to pie crust recipe!

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 6, 2024, 11:58 p.m.

Awe how lovely to hear, Carrie! It means a lot that the pie and crust are being enjoyed 😊


Szilvia - April 5, 2024, 2:13 p.m.

I didn't succeed with this recipe, as I should have skipped the food prcessor part and do the dough with my bare hands. My processor (1000W) couldn't handle the flour and the butter and I had to add more water then i had to add more flour so it wasn't edible in the end :( Trying it again soon as the apple part was still tasty.

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 5, 2024, 4:03 p.m.

Hey Szilvia, we're sad to hear this! In case you used cup measurements for the flour instead of weighing, it can help to ensure that the flour isn't too packed in the cup, but rather, gently spooned into the measuring cup and levelled. Cutting the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter or a couple of forks, instead of using a food processor, is definitely an option! We hope it works out if you try it again 😊


Marguerite De Valois - Feb. 26, 2024, 11:04 a.m.

Très chouette tarte


Leenie - Feb. 4, 2024, 4 p.m.

Thank you ! I love all the tips and tricks!
I make it also with pears which is also awesome deliciously!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 4, 2024, 7:55 p.m.

A lovely idea to use pear in the pie, Leenie, thank you! 😊


Rike - Jan. 28, 2024, 10:35 p.m.

It tastes great! Comes together quickly and easy. This will definitely become part of my repertoire!


Ioana - Jan. 3, 2024, 1:39 p.m.

Made this a few times, and it always tastes amazing.


Eva - Dec. 4, 2023, 11:18 a.m.

I thought the crust was a bit dry - I think adding baking powder would improve that.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 5, 2023, 6:31 a.m.

Oh darn, thanks for sharing this, Eva. In case you're using cups as a measurement, gently spooning the flour into the cup can also help avoid packing too much flour in which dries out of the crust 💛


Déborah - Nov. 23, 2023, 10:44 a.m.

Taste amazing, it's different from the original apple pie recipe that everyone know 😍 Plus, it's super nourishing


Donna - Nov. 23, 2023, 2:14 a.m.

unfortunately i didn't pay attention to microwave wattage and ended up with applesauce. It would be nice to have alternative specific instructions. But i willtry again. Havent tasted the applesauce pie yet - i did add about 5 fresh sliced apples

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 23, 2023, 6:03 p.m.

Hey Donna, oh shoot! Instead of using the microwave, you could cook the apple slices covered on the stove. Place apple slices in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and drain off any released liquid. You'll know the apples are done when they're soft to the touch 😊 we hope you enjoy the pie more if you give it another try!


Mathilde B - Oct. 17, 2023, 11:09 a.m.

Be careful with the quantity of salt, my pie tastes a little salty. But with a little more caramel it's absolutely delicious ! I definitely recommend. ☺️


Kamryn Scott - June 27, 2023, 11:41 p.m.

I made this 3 different times and they were SUCH a hit!! The filling feels like the flavor is focused on the apple rather than being coated in sugar. It’s just so perfect and I definitely recommend.

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 28, 2023, 9:08 a.m.

Woop woop! Thank you, Kamryn ✨


Tina - May 30, 2023, 11:18 p.m.

Made it for the 3. time today. Always turns out great and is relatively easy to make. (I did not peel the apples and left out the ginger, still super yummy). Thanks for the awesome recepie.

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 31, 2023, 2:13 a.m.

It means so much, Tina, thank you! 🫶


Alaïs - March 20, 2023, 1:17 p.m.

This pie is just so good out of the oven or reheated. The trickiest part is to make the crust when you don't have a food processor but otherwise 10/10 :)


Martunia - March 14, 2023, 9:05 p.m.

I had some guests over tonight so I decided to make this apple pie and it came out perfect! I used a metal pie plate so I baked the pie on a metal crate rather than a metal cookie sheet and that worked just fine. I'm seriously amazed at how much it tastes like the real buttery deal!

PUL small logo PUL Team - March 15, 2023, 3:42 a.m.

Awe so happy to hear, Martunia, thank you!


Tina - March 5, 2023, 9:46 p.m.

Came out well, will definitly make it again. Thanks for the recipie. I liked the level of sweetness combined with ice cream :)

PUL small logo PUL Team - March 5, 2023, 11:15 p.m.

So glad the pie was enjoyed, Tina, thank you 😃


Shirley - Feb. 14, 2023, 8:18 a.m.

I baked it yesterday and apparently you miss sugar in the crust :(

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 14, 2023, 5:43 p.m.

Hey Shirley, thanks for your comment :) Sugar in pie crust is optional, and so we chose to leave it out as we felt there was enough sugar already in the filling itself, and also spinrkled on the top before baking. Omiting the sugar also makes it an all-purpose pie crust, so if there is leftover you can use it in savoury dishes as well, such as in a quiche. With that said, you can definitely add sugar directly into the crust if desired, but not too much as it interferes with the develpment of the gluten strands. I've updated the ingredient list to include (optional) sugar in case you ever wanted to make it again 😊 I hope this helps for now!


Anne - Feb. 11, 2023, 6:01 p.m.

I was thinking of how Snow White was baking pie in the original movie while making this :) Our friends enjoyed the pie. Unfortunately the crust ended up a bit savorless in my opinion.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 12, 2023, 12:01 a.m.

Awe we wish we had as many helpers as Snow White when making pie! The butter impacts the flavour of this pie crust so we'd recommend using a high-quality one for best results. Using fine salt instead of coarse salt can ensure that the flavour is distributed evenly throughout the crust as well in case it helps. So glad it was still enjoyed by your friends, Anne 😊


Ioana - Feb. 9, 2023, 5:44 p.m.

I used an already made dough, but it was still super tasty. It was hard to not dig in while still hot 😃

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 9, 2023, 10:40 p.m.

Hehe patience is a virtue, Ioana 😎


Swati - Jan. 12, 2023, 6:01 a.m.

Love it! Can't wait to to try it.


Charleen - Dec. 30, 2022, 1:26 p.m.

Who knew making homemade apple pie would be so easy?! Thanks for building my confidence in cooking and baking!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 31, 2022, 3:30 a.m.

Oh it means so much, Charleen, happy cooking and baking!


dora - Dec. 22, 2022, 12:11 p.m.

So yummy pie! do you think I can use pears instead of apples? I have lots of them in my fridge and I dont know what to do them....

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 22, 2022, 6:51 p.m.

Hey there, Dora, pear pie sounds like a lovely idea! In case you're interested and haven't already seen, we also have a pizza recipe with pears here: pickuplimes.com/recipe/fruity… and Gingerbread Oatmeal with Caramelized Pear: pickuplimes.com/recipe/ginger…


Charlotte - Nov. 24, 2022, 1:25 a.m.

Wow!! This was the first time I'd made apple pie and I absolutely loved the process and the taste, flavour and texture! I swapped the plain flour for gluten free which meant the dough was more brittle to work with but I rolled with it! Thank you ever so much for these new holiday dessert ideas!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 25, 2022, 5:02 a.m.

Woohoo! So happy the pie was enjoyed, Charlotte, thank you 🤗


Michelle - Nov. 23, 2022, 11:55 a.m.

I just made this yesterday when some friends came over and it was amazing! It was the first pie I made, so I was really nervous, but the video and instructions were clear and easy to follow. The crust was crisp and buttery and together with the apples, it tasted perfect! I would definitely make it again! All your recipes are always incredible 😊 I'd love it if you could make more baking recipes but anything you post is always great!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 24, 2022, 5:10 p.m.

Aw we're so happy to hear, Michelle, thank you! We'll note down the request for more baking recipes. In the meantime, you may find exploring our recipe page with filters such as 'dessert' and 'bake' interesting if you haven't already seen it: pickuplimes.com/recipe/?sb=ba… 😊


José - Nov. 15, 2022, 11:02 p.m.

First glance at this recipe I thought it would be a lot of work, but it was actually really easy! And delicious of course ;) is it true though that the pie crust doesn't get really typical darker brown, or am I doing something wrong? I have a very old oven on gas so it's always a bit of a challenge to find the right temperature

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 16, 2022, 1:15 a.m.

Hey there, José, so glad to hear and thanks for the question! Brushing the pie crust with cream and a sugar sprinkle helps create a golden crust colour. If your pie didn't darken much but you want it to, you can always move it higher up in the oven or simply broil it for a minute or two. Although indeed, normally only a lightly golden crust is desired, not too brown 🥧 I hope this helps!

José Meijer - Nov. 23, 2022, 9:45 a.m.

Okay, thank you! :)


jane - Nov. 10, 2022, 8:47 p.m.

Such a lovely pie, crisp, flakey... perfection!


Omri - Nov. 6, 2022, 12:15 p.m.

oh my goodness, I just made pie all by myself. I can't even believe it. The hardest part was waiting for it to cool before cutting into it because the smell was just divine! But it was well worth the wait, everyone loved it!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 6, 2022, 6:36 p.m.

Aw it means so much! Thanks a bunch, Omri 🤗


Lakshani - Nov. 4, 2022, 5:19 a.m.

Thank You. It was delucious...


Alexandra - Nov. 2, 2022, 5:44 p.m.

Thank you for this simple and delicious recipe. I made this apple pie earlier and my family and I already ate it all. Even though it had very little sugar, it was sweet and tasty. I highly recommend!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 2, 2022, 10:39 p.m.

So thrilled to hear, Alexandra, thank you!


Charlotte - Nov. 2, 2022, 11:36 a.m.

This pie was perfection ✨


Jacob - Oct. 31, 2022, 10 a.m.

Apple pie is the BEST and this recipe was perfection. Highly recommend!! Our family loved it. They didn't even realize it was plant-based. Can't believe it's that easy to make apple pie haha.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 2, 2022, 4:17 a.m.

A huuuge compliment, Jacob! We're so happy to hear 🤗


Denise - Oct. 30, 2022, 12:51 a.m.

Loved the video and I love baking so I had to give this a try. It. was. delicious!! And loved the the tip to cook down the apples first. Thanks PUL!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 30, 2022, 2:25 a.m.

Woohoo 😃 Thanks, Denise!


Lemon - Oct. 29, 2022, 6:18 a.m.

Love the recipe, will try to bake it on a weekend. But something needs to be done with the print recipe options, it is impossible to correctly position it on a paper, no option to print it on 1 paper. Please return the old options like it was before when the recipes filled the whole page and were easily scaled.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 30, 2022, 2:20 a.m.

Hi Lemon, we hope you enjoy the pie and thank you for the feedback! It's definitely helpful for us to work towards improving. In the meantime, opting not to print the photo (unchecking the "print image" box) and making the font smaller by pressing the green "-" button at the top of the print preview page may help. Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you'd like any further support 🙂