PA Dutch Apple Pie With Crumb Topping

Ingredients

For the Apple Pie Filling:

• Lemon juice - adds a tangy flavor, balances sweetness, and keeps apples from browning.
• Sugar - sweetens the filling and balances the tartness of the apples and lemon juice.
• Cinnamon - adds warmth and enhances the natural sweetness of the apples.
• Salt - brings out all the flavors.
• Butter - adds richness and a smooth, buttery flavor. (I always use salted butter.)
• Cook-type Clear Jel - dissolved in water, it thickens the filling and gives it a glossy, smooth texture without being runny.
• Apples - the star of the pie! Choose crisp, tart varieties like Granny Smith or a mix of baking apples that hold their shape.

For the Crumb Topping:

• Brown sugar - adds sweetness and a caramel-like flavor.
• All-purpose flour - gives the topping structure and helps it hold together.
• Quick oats - add texture and a subtle nutty flavor for that signature oat crumble.
• Butter - binds everything together, adds flavor, and helps the topping brown beautifully.

How to Make Apple Oatmeal Crumble Pie

You'll need one 9-inch pie crust (you can use my Flaky Amish Pie Crust recipe if you like).

For this Pennsylvania Dutch apple pie, you'll cook the filling ingredients first, then stir in the raw apples. This gives you a smooth, flavorful base that coats the fruit perfectly.

Step 1: Make the Apple Filling

• In a saucepan, combine sugar, salt, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Bring to a gentle boil.
• In a small bowl, mix the clear jel with water to make a slurry. Slowly pour it into the boiling mixture while whisking constantly until the filling becomes thick and bubbly.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter until melted.
• You can find cook-type clear jel at most Amish or Mennonite bulk food stores, but if you don't live near one, you can easily order it online. Just make sure it's the cook-type (not instant).
• Peel, core, and slice/chop your apples, then stir them into the thickened filling.

Step 2: Make the Crumb Topping

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, and brown sugar. Add butter slices and cut them in using a pastry blender or your hands until you get coarse crumbs.

(If you prefer, you can melt the butter and stir it in for a crispier crumble texture.)

Step 3: Assemble the Pie

Pour the apple filling into the unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle the oat crumble evenly over the top, then gently pat it down to help it stick.

Your Amish Dutch Apple Pie is now ready for the oven!

When You Have an Abundance of Apples, Make Apple Crumb Pie

Growing up, we had about every kind of fruit tree, vine, and bush that you would ever hope for except for ones that only grow in the South, etc. I never realized how fortunate we were to be able to pick all our own fresh fruit.

I lived at the same place for the first twenty-five years of my life. But ever since I moved away from my home farm, I have not lived in the same place long enough to reap rewards from the fruit trees that I planted.

I am hoping to have an orchard again someday (I'm working on it) if I can keep my trees alive to full maturity. However, I have discovered that gardening and keeping the plants alive is more of a challenge in Missouri than it was in Pennsylvania.

I hope you enjoy this Amish recipe for Dutch Apple Pie with Oat Crumb Topping as much as we do. If you try this Pennsylvania Dutch apple pie recipe, I'd love it if you left a comment and star rating below. Thank you!

This pie could also be made using canned apple pie filling. Check out more Pennsylvania Dutch Food Recipes.