The Best Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Ingredients

5 cups apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great)

¾ cup sugar (adjust to taste)

½ cup cornstarch

2 cups water

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)

1 tsp lemon juice (optional, to balance sweetness)

Pinch of salt

Instructions

Prep the apples: Wash, peel, core, and dice the apples into small chunks. Set aside.

Make the sauce: In a saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Slowly add water while whisking to avoid lumps.

Cook until thickened: Place over medium heat and cook until the mixture begins to thicken and bubble. Stir constantly to prevent sticking.

Add apples: Stir in the apple chunks and cook for 10–12 minutes, or until the apples are tender but not mushy.

Finish: Stir in lemon juice if using. Remove from heat and let it cool.

Store: Transfer to sterilized jars. Refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

Time & Yield

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Fills one 9-inch pie (about 4–5 cups filling)

Enjoy