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Cozy Brown Butter Apple Crumble Pie – Best Fall Dessert

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This cozy brown butter apple crumble pie is the ultimate fall dessert, featuring a nutty, buttery crust, tender spiced apples, and an impossibly crunchy crumble topping. The secret is browning the butter first, which unlocks a deep, caramel-like richness that makes every bite pure comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cups peeled, sliced apples (about 6 medium apples, mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated if available)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Instructions

  1. Make the brown butter: Place 6 tablespoons butter in a light-colored skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Melt completely, then continue cooking, swirling occasionally, until it foams, the foam subsides, and brown specks form (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat immediately when it smells nutty and turns golden amber. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool slightly.
  2. Prepare the pie crust: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Add 1/2 cup cold butter cubes and cut in with a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces. Drizzle in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork until dough just comes together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). While dough chills, peel and slice apples into 1/4-inch thick slices (mix of wedges and thinner slices).
  4. Roll out the crust: On a lightly floured surface, roll chilled dough into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish, press into bottom and sides, trim excess leaving 1/2-inch overhang, fold under, and crimp edges. Refrigerate crust while making filling and topping.
  5. Make the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and vanilla extract. Pour cooled brown butter over top and toss to coat. Let sit for 10 minutes.
  6. Make the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 6 tablespoons cold butter cubes and cut in with a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture forms clumps of various sizes (pebble-sized and sandy bits).
  7. Assemble the pie: Remove crust from refrigerator. Pour apple filling into crust, spreading evenly. Sprinkle crumble topping over apples, covering completely. Place pie on a baking sheet.
  8. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 to 55 minutes, until filling bubbles around edges and topping is deep golden brown. If topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for last 10-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing.

Notes

Do not walk away while browning butter—it can burn quickly. Chill the crust thoroughly to prevent sticking. Use a mix of apple thicknesses for varied texture. For the crumble, use your hands to form clumps for the best texture. Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours to allow the filling to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crumble pie, brown butter, fall dessert, apple pie, crumble topping, comfort food, Thanksgiving dessert

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/cozy-brown-butter-apple-crumble-pie-best-fall-dessert/