Description
This Apple Butter Pie features a spelt pie crust filled with a creamy, spiced apple butter custard. The pie is baked to perfection with a subtly sweet and warmly spiced filling, then chilled to set, making it an ideal dessert for fall or any occasion where comforting flavors are welcome.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 (9-inch) spelt pie crust (see notes below)
Filling
- 1–¾ cups (470 grams/17 ounces) prepared apple butter
- 1 cup (226 grams) heavy cream
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup packed (110 grams) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- Pinch ground cloves
Instructions
- Prepare the Pie Dough: Roll out the pie dough to an 11-inch circle and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate. Press the dough into the sides and bottom, and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom all over with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking. Place the pie in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven temperature to 375ºF, placing oven racks in the middle and lower positions.
- Blind Bake the Pie Shell: Remove the chilled pie shell from the freezer, line it with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights like dry rice, beans, or lentils, pushing weights to the edges. Bake on the lower rack for 20 minutes.
- Remove Weights and Continue Baking: Carefully remove the parchment and weights, return the crust to the oven, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Set aside the baked crust and lower the oven temperature to 325ºF.
- Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together apple butter, heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, kosher salt, and ground cloves until fully combined.
- Fill and Bake the Pie: Pour the filling into the blind-baked crust and smooth the top. Bake on the middle rack for 45-55 minutes until the edges are puffed and the center is slightly wobbly with an internal temperature above 180ºF.
- Cool and Chill: Transfer the pie to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours to allow the pie to firm up before serving.
Notes
- Using a spelt pie crust adds a nutty flavor and a healthier twist compared to traditional wheat crusts.
- If apple butter is not available, homemade apple butter can be used or a thick apple sauce mixed with extra cinnamon and spices.
- Blind baking is essential to prevent the crust from becoming soggy when filled with the custard.
- Allowing the pie to chill overnight helps the filling set perfectly for clean slices.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (including chilling dough)
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes (including blind baking and filling bake time)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Apple Butter Pie, spiced pie, fall dessert, custard pie, apple dessert, homemade pie recipes
