Deep Dish Apple Crumble Pie with Oat Pecan Topping
A rustic deep dish apple pie featuring a tender butter crust filled with cinnamon-spiced apples and crowned with a crunchy oat-pecan crumble topping. The combination of sweet and tart apples creates perfect balance, while the nutty crumble adds delightful texture contrast. This homestyle dessert works beautifully for family gatherings, holiday meals, or weekend baking projects. The cast iron skillet gives it an extra-deep filling and creates gorgeous caramelized edges that set this version apart from standard apple pies.
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup unbleached all-purpose flourwhole wheat pastry flour1:1 up to halfhealth
lighter texture
- ½ tsp salt
- 6 Tbsp cold butter
- 3 Tbsp cold water
- 7 medium apples, cored, peeled and sliced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup almond meal
- ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 4 Tbsp cold butter
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- 2
Mix salt in flour and cut butter into flour with fork or pastry cutter until well blended.
- 3
Add enough water until dough scrapes away from bowl.
- 4
Remove from bowl and mold together with hands on well-floured surface.
- 5
Form into 1-inch thick disc then roll out into even circle, adding more flour if sticky.
- 6
Use rolling pin to roll up and lay gently over cast iron skillet or pie dish.
- 7
Form to edges with fingers, extending to top of pan.
- 8
Refrigerate until ready to add apples.
- 9
Prep apples and add to bowl, toss with sugar, cinnamon and flour.
- 10
Add apple mixture to pie crust and top with butter in small dots or strips.
- 11
Mix crumble topping ingredients with fingers or pastry cutter until crumbly.
- 12
Pour crumble over pie, spreading evenly to coat.
- 13
Bake for 45 minutes or until pie is warm and bubbly and top is golden brown.
- 14
If crumble top gets too brown, cover with foil and continue baking until apples are tender.
- 15
Let rest at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Tips
Mix sweet and tart apple varieties for the best flavor balance - try combining Honeycrisp with Granny Smith.
If the crumble topping browns too quickly, tent with foil to prevent burning while apples finish cooking.
Make sure butter is cold when making both crust and crumble for the best texture.
Good to Know
covered at room temperature up to 2-3 days
let rest at least 30 minutes before slicing
Common Mistakes
Don't skip chilling the crust to avoid shrinkage during baking.
Avoid overworking the pie dough to prevent tough crust.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make this pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the pie and refrigerate overnight before baking. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if starting from cold.
What if I don't have a cast iron skillet?
A standard 9-inch pie dish works perfectly fine. The cast iron just gives extra-deep sides and helps with browning.
Can I freeze this apple crumble pie?
This recipe is noted as not freezer friendly, so it's best enjoyed fresh or stored at room temperature for 2-3 days.