Description

Warm, spiced, and naturally sweetened, this homemade apple pie filling is perfect for pies, crisps, pancakes, or oatmeal. Made with fresh apples, maple syrup, and cozy spices, it’s a versatile, refined sugar-free filling made completely from scratch.

Ingredients

6 medium apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or sub brown sugar)

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine maple syrup, 3 tablespoons of water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to blend the flavors.
In a small bowl, whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon of water with cornstarch until smooth.
Add the apples to the saucepan and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.
Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for another 3–5 minutes until the mixture thickens and the apples are tender.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Let the filling cool before using in pies or storing in jars.

Notes

Use a mix of apple varieties for deeper flavor.

Substitute arrowroot or tapioca starch if avoiding cornstarch.

Add a tablespoon of bourbon for a boozy twist.

Adjust apple chop size for chunkier or smoother texture.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 120
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 20mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 31g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg