This easy homemade apple pie makes its own crust. Cinnamon-spiced apples are covered with a sweet batter then baked to make Swedish Apple Pie. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Originally published in 2010. Updated in November 2019.
If you don’t have time for a crust or you don’t want to mess with it, this pie is for you.
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This is the perfect recipe for stressed-out cooks or beginners. The batter is simple enough for the kids to stir together.
Why no crust?
The “crust” is on top. Sorta.
A lot of the sweetened batter you spread over the sliced apples will seep down between the apples in the oven. The part left on top turns golden brown and crunchy.
Why the kind of apples you use matters:
I’ve tried several different types of apples but have settled on a combination of two large Granny Smith apples and one large Golden Delicious. They will give your pie the right amount of sweetness but also the best texture. The apples cook through easily and release some liquid but aren’t mushy.
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Substitutions:
- Replace pecans with walnuts. Either way, toasting them before you add them to your batter will bring out the flavor.
- Bleached flour can be used in place of unbleached flour.
- Ground cardamom can be used in place of or in addition to cinnamon.
Kitchen tip for coring apples:
To keep the tips from breaking off your apple quarters, remove the core starting from the bottom of the apple instead of the top. This will help make your slices more uniform.
It’s not really a big deal in this recipe. I just wanted you to know.
Serving Swedish Apple Pie:
If you serve the pie hot out of the oven, it will probably be a little messy as you try to cut it in slices. Of course, it will taste fabulous as the warm pie melts your ice cream on top.
If you want to make the pie ahead of time, bake it, then allow it to cool for several hours. Refrigerate.
When it’s time to eat it, slice the pie. Put individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up and bring out the cinnamon fragrance. Top with ice cream or whipped cream.
How to make Swedish Apple Pie:
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Besides being my daughter-in-law’s favorite dessert, this recipe is all the more special because I got it from Amanda’s mother, Sandy. I especially enjoy eating it at her house.
Pin the picture below to save for later.
If you make this and enjoy the recipe, it would help me and others if you would return to this post and leave a rating (on the recipe card itself underneath the picture). Although always appreciated, no comment is required. Thank you for visiting! Paula
Swedish Apple Pie
Bake this Swedish Apple Pie in a standard pie crust dish. A sweet batter spread over the apples turns into a crust on top. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream along-side it.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooking apples, (2 large Granny Smith and 1 large Golden Delicious) peeled and sliced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 10 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon unbleached flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate. Fill with sliced apples mixed with lemon juice. Pie pan should be about 2/3 full.
- Sprinkle lemon juice, cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of sugar over apples and combine.
- Mix melted butter, and 3/4 cup of sugar in a separate bowl. Stir in beaten egg, flour and salt. Add toasted pecans
- Spread the batter over apples.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.
- If you want neat slices, chill the pie for 2-3 hours. Slice the pie when ready to serve and reheat individual slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds before serving with ice cream or whipped cream.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 337 Total Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 9g Cholesterol: 61mg Sodium: 256mg Carbohydrates: 39g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 24g Protein: 3g
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Connie
Thanks so much on your tip on coring apples. I love apples and use them in many recipes. Thanks again for an amazing blog. I get really excited when I see an email from you. Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgivings.
Paula
Hi Connie,
So nice to hear from you again. Your kind words made my day! Paula
Bojana
i love this recipe. my batter came out stiffer then yours and i had to use my hands to spread it evenly, but it baked into a delicious pie. i also added an apricot and a peach to the apples, just to use them up, they were the last in the fruit bowl, and i think this pie would be equally nice made with just apricot or just peaches. can’t wait to make it again. this first one was gone in one day.
Pam
Do you know the Weight Watchers smart point value? Or nutrition info?
Laura
What can I substitute for regular flour? Would coconut flour or almond flour work? Too many carbs in regular flour. LOL
Faith
enjoy this yummy!
Faith
enjoy!!
AlyB
Thank you, Paula, Sandy and Amanda! This pie was fantastic and so easy to prepare. It’s like a cross between apple crisp and pie – heaven! It will certainly grace my Thanksgiving Day table this year.
Continued thanks for all you share on your blog, Paula. Your styling and photography are top-notch, just like your recipes 🙂
AlyB
We enjoyed this recipe again for TDay 2019 and it was the most popular dessert on the table. Thanks for re-sharing the post and reminding me of this quick and excellent pie, Paula!
Deb Koltis
I have done this recipe for years as I’m not a pie crust eater. This recipe can be done in a gluten-free version as well and if you don’t like pecans, I’ve used walnuts too. Great recipe for great eating 🙂
Alexa
AMAZING!!! This is literally te best recipe I have ever found online! Even my apple hating brother can’t resist the taste of it. I’ve made more than three times in the last two weeks so good so buttery so sweet. Thank you so much for sharing such an amazing recipe.
Paula
Glad to hear it. Easy too since you don’t have to make a crust! Thanks for writing.
Pam
Love your blog! Could you tell me what kind of apples you used. I think I’ll try this recipe for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Angie
After perfecting the 1st attempt, this is surely a keeper. Not that I’m a crust-a-phobe, but it just makes life easier, (talking about a novice in the kitchen plus a 20 month old toddler, whew!) and you still get all that cinammony goodness, yum!
Thanks a lot for sharing. Stay inspired Paula!
Paula
Angie,
So glad you liked the pie and thanks for writing to say so. Sometimes no crust can be a good thing.
Good luck with your toddler and cooking. Could be a challenging combination. 🙂
Georgie
I love this recipe. Since I’m diabetic, I made it with Splenda. Because splenda makes things a bit dry, I added a splash of milk to the “dough” to help it go over apples easier. It worked pretty well though nothing would have been as good as pure sugar! If a person doesn’t like the amount of butter, I guess they could use Smart Balance. But nothing tastes as good as real butter! Thanks for posting the recipe.
Paula
Georgie,
Inspired. Love how you improvised to suit your particular diet. Thanks for taking the time to write and share.
Rummy
This pie is amazing! Thank you for sharing the recipe. It’s so easy to make and so delicious!
Gary
What size pie plate did you use since 2.5 cups of apples is not a whole lot.
Paula
Gary, 9-inch. You are right–not a lot of apples. But this is not the traditional apple pie. It’s not cake either but the apples are bound together by a very thin but rich batter which is why you don’t need a crust to hold it. This is definitely one of the most popular recipes on this blog although certainly not original with me.
Gary
Great! Thanks for your swift reply. It’s on the weekend menu!
Betty
I am so excited about this recipe. I like different recipes that I have never tried before. Thanks.
tricia
I had the pleasure of meeting two special members of your family last night at a book signing – Sandy & Amanda. It was fun to learn about your creative website. I look forward to making Sandy’s pie, as well as a few other recipes from salad-in-a-jar.
Paula
Hi Tricia, Welcome. Know you must have had a great time seeing Pioneer Woman. Sandy’s pie is fabulous. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by.
tricia
Paula, would you please thank Sandy for me? My family loves the Swedish Apple Pie.
I’m going to share your website with a friend who is a blue ribbon pie baker at the TX State Fair. Thanks so much – and I think your new photo with your treasured bowl is really cute.
Paula
Thanks Tricia, and I’ll pass the word on to Sandy.
Charlotte
I have been making this recipe for 10 years now and will never go back to a traditional 2 crust apple pie. It is always requested that I bring it for potluck’s and family get togethers. Over the years I have tried using margarine and sugar substitutes but nothing compares to the original recipe.
Paula
I have not tried any substitutes myself so good to know. I’m always amazed at how popular this dish is considering how easy it is.
Laura
I stumbled upon your website last week when I was searching for a balsamic salad dressing recipe, your creamy balsamic dressing was great but this pie recipe is to die for! Even my husband who is not usually a desert lover asked for seconds! I did cut the butter down to 8 T and am going to work on a few other edits to cut down on fat and calories as I know I will want to be making and eating this often! Thanks for posting, it was delicious.
Pat
Can’t wait to try it! I’v passed it along to all on my mailing list….
David
I don’t want to eat anything that contains nearly one cup of sugar and 10 tablespoons of butter. I’ll pass … thank you.
Paula
David, Each to his own. Only a small slice is needed for a special treat. Thanks for dropping by.
Tresa
Negative Nancy…I mean David – strikes again. Seriously, if you don’t have anything nice to say or constructive, why say it? Just…move along.
I am definitely going to try this recipe today for Thanksgiving….as I realized I am out of shortening to make my crust! Thanks for the recipe, Paula.
Paula
You’re welcome, Tresa. Hope you liked it. paula
Suzette
Thanks for sharing this fabulous looking recipe! I can’t wait to try it—I have always hated to make pies because of that obnoxious crust thing!! I’ll take this to the next Brother’s Keeper get-together at church…..
Paula
You will be the hit of the party. Be sure to serve with ice cream or whipped cream and of course, warm.
Ann
This looks wonderful, Tyler LOVES Apple Pie- so I might have to do this one…
marykristen
I am going to have to try this recipe! Thank you!
Katrina
Ooh, one of my downfalls is apple pie! YOu’d think it was chocolate, but sitting here Sunday night was a French Silk Pie and a little apple galette I made with the leftover crust and I only took a little bite of the pie and ate way too much of the galette! Love the easy idea of no crust!
Susan
What a fabulous looking pie! (And pie dish!) I am definitely going to be making this one before the end of the week! Can’t wait to taste it!
mike
These are some of the most wonderful apple pie photos I’ve ever seen… this looks WONDERFUL! Now… are “cooking” apples Granny Smith or Golden Delicious? I just inherited a bunch of Fuji’s from work…. and yes, I’m a recovering crust-a-holic. I’ve made one too many bad ones!
Susie
such a delicious recipe, am so glad it made it to the blog!
Kitchen Butterfly
♥ from one apple pie lover to another!
Sandy
Thank you Paula for featuring one of my favorite recipes. I usually only make it on special occassions when there are plenty of friends and family to help me eat it. Your pie turned out beautiful and I could almost taste it just by looking at it. Thank you for the kind words. I love having an extended family.
Mimi
Nice idea to skip the crust, I’ll count that as a calorie savings, making this a reduced calorie apple pie. See how I am working it into my diet.
Mimi
Debbie
Looks great and perfect for me as I am not a pie crust lover. Unfortunately, my husband is but he will eat anything sweet!! Well, anything really! Can’t wait to try it!!
Mommas Soapbox
You always make the most YUMMIEST (is that a word?) recipes!
Love not having to make a crust. I’m going to have to try this one out….
Hunk and the rugrats are sure to love it.
Christine @ Fresh Local and Best
I love the idea of no pie crust! I will have to try this recipe!
Amanda
Mmmm, I think I should have taken some leftovers home. 🙂
Jill
That looks so delicious, and how nice that there’s no crust to roll! The topping looks a little questionable before baking, but it sure looks good after!
MaryMoh
I would really love a piece of this. Looks so pretty and delicious. Beautiful photo.