This applesauce custard pie is a unique and wonderfully flavorful pie that is perfect for Fall. Serve it warm or cold and enjoy with some caramel sauce or scoops of vanilla ice cream.
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Fresh apples can be pricey depending on location and season, but applesauce remains affordable, often found in dollar stores or available through state WIC program. With a long shelf life, it's perfect for snacking.
While an old-fashioned applesauce pie recipe may seem dated, it rivals modern flavors like our Apple Pie with Graham Cracker Crust. Offering the delicious taste of apple pie in a smoother texture, it's a favorite in Autumn and beyond.
Explore more apple treats like Instant Pot Apple Pie Filling, Apple Pie Bites, Spiced Vegan Apple Bundt Cake, and Vegan Apple Upside Down Cake.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It bakes like magic. Made with real applesauce and a few other ingredients, the pie filling bakes into a great custard-like consistency.
- It is novice-friendly. Baking pies from scratch can feel daunting or scary, but this is one of the easiest baked pie recipes you'll ever find.
- Simple ingredients. Made with basic pantry staple ingredients, this recipe comes together easily and cheaply so it can fit conveniently into your meal plan and budget.
🛒 Ingredients
Eggs. Act as the binding agent and create a custard like texture.
Sugar. Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps the pie thicken properly.
Applesauce. The base of the filling, so it's important to use plain sweetened applesauce. See the notes below for other applesauce options.
If you still have applesauce left, try our Vegan Banana Bread with Applesauce or Applesauce Fritters.
Pie crust shell. Use a store bought crust or make your own Homemade Pie Crust. Regular pastry crust works best. Graham cracker crusts don't hold up well to this filling.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Homemade Pie Crust Saves Money: Making your own pie crust with flour, fat, and water is usually cheaper than buying a frozen crust and gives you better control over ingredients.
Choose the Cheapest Applesauce: Any applesauce works here. Unsweetened or store-brand options are often the most affordable.
Skip Extras If Needed: The pie is flavorful on its own, so toppings like caramel sauce or whipped cream are optional.
🥄 Instructions for Applesauce Custard Pie
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Roll your pie crust into a pie plate and crimp the edges. Poke multiple times with the prongs of a fork along the sides and bottom of the crust (Image 1).
Step 3: Bake in the oven at 400F for 10 minutes and remove. Let cool before use (Image 2).
Step 4: After the crust has cooled, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, add your stick of butter (Image 3).
Step 6: Melt in the microwave for 30 seconds and cool slightly (until no longer hot) (Image 4).
Step 7: Add in the applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice (Image 5).
Step 8: Whisk together until well mixed (Image 6).
Step 9: In another bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon, and flour (Image 7).
Step 10: Whisk together until blended (Image 8).
Step 11: Add the cinnamon sugar mixture to the applesauce mixture (Image 9).
Step 12: Stir together to combine (Image 10).
Step 13: Pour the applesauce filling into the prebaked pie crust (Image 11).
Step 14: Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes or until a knife can be inserted into it and come out clean (clear liquid is okay!) (Image 12).
Step 15: Let the pie cool for about 1 hour to set before slicing.
I recommend chilling the pie in the fridge after it has cooled for 2 hours before serving.
Step 16: Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, or caramel sauce.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Filling appearance. The filling will look similar to a wet pumpkin pie filling when added to the crust. Cracks after baking or as the pie cools are normal and happen as the filling settles.
- Checking doneness. The filling will jiggle when hot but firm up as it cools. Test with a knife. It may come out shiny but should not have clumps attached. If needed, bake for an additional five minutes.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store the Applesauce Custard Pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Reheating: Serve chilled or reheat slices gently in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. The filling will soften as it warms.
Make Ahead: This pie is a great make-ahead dessert. Bake it 1 day in advance, cool completely, and refrigerate until ready to serve. The filling sets even better after chilling.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This Applesauce Custard Pie pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, or caramel sauce. For a dessert spread, serve it alongside cookies, brownies, or a warm drink like coffee, tea, or hot apple cider.
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❓ Applesauce Custard Pie FAQs
Yes, apple butter and apple sauce can be interchanged within this recipe and the results should be the same or similar. If you feel your apple pie filling is a bit too dry before baking, you can add in up to 3 tablespoons of apple juice to help dilute the mixture.
You can use any applesauce of your choice! This includes the berry flavored ones, cinnamon ones, sweetened, or unsweetened. Simply adjust ingredients to accommodate the flavors (cinnamon should be omitted if using cinnamon flavored applesauce, and lemon juice should be omitted if using unsweetened applesauce). You can even use homemade applesauce like with our Instant Pot Applesauce!
Either one is totally fine! I like serving mine either at room temperature or slightly chilled because the texture is great but serving your applesauce pie warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce is an incredibly tasty experience.
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🐝 If you tried this Applesauce Custard Pie, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Applesauce Custard Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (9-inch) pie crust, thawed - ($1.27)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted - ($0.99)
- 1 cup applesauce, sweetened or unsweetened - ($0.56)
- 2 large eggs - ($0.30)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract - ($0.06)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional - ($0.12)
- 1 cup granulated sugar - ($0.36)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - ($0.16)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour - ($0.01)
Instructions
- Preheat and blind bake. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Fit the pie crust into a pie plate, crimp the edges, and prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
- Lower oven temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F once the crust has cooled.
- Prepare the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, melt the butter in the microwave and let cool slightly. Whisk in the applesauce, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
- Combine the filling. Stir the dry mixture into the applesauce mixture until fully combined.
- Fill and bake. Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a knife inserted comes out clean. Clear moisture on the knife is normal.
- Cool and serve. Let the pie cool for about 1 hour to set, then refrigerate for 2 hours before slicing. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Notes
- Texture. The filling resembles pumpkin pie and may crack while baking or cooling. It will jiggle when hot and firm up as it cools.
- Doneness test. Use a shiny, wet knife to test. Add up to 5 minutes if needed.
- Applesauce swaps. Applesauce or apple butter both work. Add up to 3 tablespoons apple juice if the filling seems dry.
- Flavor adjustments. Skip the lemon juice if using unsweetened or tart applesauce. Reduce cinnamon if using flavored applesauce.
- Serving. Delicious served plain or topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, or caramel sauce.
Nutritional Information
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