Description
A quick and easy Cheater Apple Pie recipe featuring crispy cinnamon sugar pie crust cut-outs paired with warm, spiced apple pie filling. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a fast dessert served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust and Topping
- 1 refrigerated pie crust
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon water
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (or 2 tablespoons granulated sugar plus 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon)
Apple Filling
- 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
Serving
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) and prepare a large rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare pie crust cut-outs: Unroll the refrigerated pie crust onto the parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and 1 teaspoon water, then brush this egg wash evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top. Let the crust sit for 5 minutes so the egg wash dries slightly, then cut into squares or shapes of your choice. Arrange the pieces spaced out on the baking sheet.
- Bake the crust pieces: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake until the crust squares are golden brown and crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye to prevent burning.
- Warm the apple pie filling: While the crust is baking, pour the apple pie filling into a small saucepan and place it over low heat. Cover with a lid and gently heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes until warmed through. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice if using, to add brightness and balance sweetness.
- Serve: Divide the warm apple filling into serving bowls. Top with the cinnamon sugar pie crust cut-outs and finish by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired, for a deliciously comforting dessert.
Notes
- You can substitute cinnamon sugar with plain sugar and cinnamon mixed fresh if preferred.
- Letting the egg wash dry a bit before cutting helps prevent the crust from becoming soggy and allows it to crisp nicely when baked.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean edges when cutting the pie crust.
- If you don’t have fresh lemon juice, a small splash of bottled lemon juice or a dash of apple cider vinegar can add acidity to the warm filling.
- Serve immediately for the best texture contrast between crispy crust and warm filling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheater apple pie, quick apple dessert, cinnamon sugar crust, easy apple pie, no-mess apple pie
