Last Updated on November 15, 2025 by Michelle Mundy
Caramel Apple Pie is packed full of tart Granny Smith Apples wrapped in a blanket of sweet, perfectly spiced caramel sauce!
Apple pie is traditional fall dessert and easily one of our favorites. This pie uses pantry staples like apples, sugar and spices and can be made using any kind of pastry you want to use (including the pre-made kind!).
This pie is way better than traditional apple pie because of the addition of one super easy extra step that creates caramel in the pan. Every year this pie gets requested and it never disappoints.
Caramel Apple Pie is delicious and best of all, super easy to make!
What You’ll Need to make Caramel Apple Pie
- Pie Crust – You’ll need enough pastry for a top and bottom crust, unbaked. You can make our Easy Scratch Pastry, or use pre-made (refrigerated or frozen and defrosted).
- Apples – Granny Smith Apples provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the sugar. Honeycrisp, Braeburn or Fuji apples are good substitutes.
- Lemon Juice – Lemon juice adds a tangy brightness and acidity.
- Brown Sugar – We use light brown sugar. You can also use dark brown sugar for a deeper, richer flavor.
- White Sugar – Regular white granulated sugar.
- Flour – We prefer to use all purpose flour for best results.
- Pantry Spices & Seasonings – Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla extract..
- Butter – We use regular salted butter, but unsalted butter may also be used.
- Heavy Cream – If you don’t have heavy cream, substitutions include half and half or evaporated milk in equal amounts.
- Egg White – The white of one egg, any color, white or brown.
- Raw Sugar – Also known as Turbinado sugar. This gives the pie a sparkly, sugary crunch on top..
How to Make Caramel Apple Pie
Sold at fall festivals, Caramel Apple Pie is a special seasonal favorite! It’s also one of the easiest pies to make.
Using pantry staples like apples, sugar and spices, this can be made using any kind of pastry you want to use, including store bought.
The final result is both beautiful and delicious!
Like any pie, it all begins with an unbaked pie crust. You can make homemade Easy Scratch Pastry or purchase pre-made dough. This can be refrigerated or frozen, just make sure it is defrosted before you begin. You will need enough pastry for both a bottom and a top crust.
Line a pie plate with an unbaked bottom pie crust and set aside.
As a precaution, you should line the bottom of the oven with foil and preheat to 450 degrees F. This pie filling has a tendency to bubble during cooking and it is a total pain to get off the bottom of the oven.
Peel and slice the apples then sprinkle with lemon juice and toss to coat.
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and add apple slices. Toss to mix.
Add vanilla and heavy cream and stir to combine.
The heavy cream is what will create the caramel sauce when it mixes with the butter and the heat in the next step.
Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple mixture.
Cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring often, until apples are softened and caramel has developed.
Turn apple mixture into prepared pie shell. Add top crust to pie in whichever fashion you prefer, sealing the top and venting (making cuts in the crust to allow steam to escape) if using a whole sheet of pastry.
Using a pastry brush, brush the slightly beaten egg over the top crust. This is what will give the pie that perfect golden brown color.
Generously sprinkle raw sugar evenly over top crust. If you don’t have raw sugar (which is just a little more coarse), you can use plain white sugar or you can skip it entirely.
Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F, then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake 30 minutes longer until crust is golden brown.
Allow to stand at least an hour before serving. Serve with ice cream if desired. Enjoy!
Other Sweet Bites You Might Like
Apple Crumble Cookie Cups – Tender pieces of fresh apple wrapped in a buttery cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar sauce and baked in a bite sized oatmeal cookie cup.
Easy Classic Pumpkin Pie – This traditional dessert is easy to make and is the perfect ending to a Thanksgiving feast!
Fudgy Salted Cookie Bars – a soft and chewy one pan treat with a great balance of gooey chocolate and the perfect hint of flaky sea salt!
Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies – deliciously crispy edges and chocolate in every bite!
Butterscotch Ranger Cookies – a little bit of everything when you want something a little out of the ordinary.
Caramel Apple Pie
Ingredients
Method
- Line the bottom of the oven with foil and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a pie plate with an unbaked bottom pie crust and set aside.
- Peel and slice apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice and toss to coat.
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and add apple slices. Toss to mix.
- Add vanilla and heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple mixture and cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring often, until apples are softened and caramel has developed.
- Turn apple mixture into prepared pie shell. Add top crust to pie in whichever fashion you prefer, sealing the top and venting the top crust if using a whole sheet of pastry.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the slightly beaten egg over the top crust.
- Generously sprinkle raw sugar evenly over top crust.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake 30 minutes longer until crust is golden brown.
- Allow to stand at least an hour before serving. Serve with ice cream if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Alyshia says
I just made this pie because I want to make one to take to Thanksgiving dinner at my inlaws and I am so happy with how it turned out. My husband is happy to because I dont bake. I think I will impress them. Thanks
Michelle Mundy says
We love to hear this! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂