Dutch Apple Pie: Traditional Recipe

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With fall on our doorstep this delicious traditional ‘Dutch Apple Pie’ recipe is a real crowd-pleaser and together with a generous helping of fresh whipped cream it makes the perfect accompaniment to a warm cup of coffee or cocoa.

Hi Kenarry readers, I’m Sam from ‘A Happy Home In Holland‘ and I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Kenarry – Ideas For The Home Creative Team. I thought since I am based in the Netherlands it would be great to share something typically Dutch for my first post.  And you can’t get more Dutch than ‘Appeltaart’ (Dutch Apple Pie).

Appeltaart - a popular and super delicious traditional recipe for 'Dutch Apple Pie'

This traditional Dutch Apple Pie is hugely popular here in the Netherlands and can be found everywhere you turn; in restaurants, cafe bars, at birthday parties and in supermarkets.

The Dutch people can not get enough of it and when you taste it you will understand why.

Appeltaart - a popular and super delicious traditional recipe for 'Dutch Apple Pie'

It’s not difficult to make but you do need allow enough time for the prep work.

Dutch Apple Pie

(serves 10)
Prep time: 30 – 45 mins

Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients

Dough Mix

2 1/2 cups – plain flour

7/8 cup (14 tablespoons) – cold butter (cubed)

2/3 cup – white sugar

1 egg

1 pinch of salt

Apple Filling

7 apples (8 if small)

1/2 cup – sultana raisins

1/2 cup – white sugar

3 teaspoons – cinnamon

2 tablespoons – custard powder

1/2 cup – fine breadcrumbs (set aside – do not add these to your mixture as you will need these later for the base)

Directions

To make the ‘Dutch Apple Pie’

Filling

  • Peel, core and thinly slice apple and put in large mixing bowl.
  • Add sultanas, sugar, cinnamon, and custard to the apples and mix thoroughly.
  • Set aside.

Dough

  • Put flour, sugar and salt and butter into food processor and blend until mix resembles breadcrumbs.
  • Whisk egg and add 2/3 of it to the mixture (reserve 1/3 for the top of the pie later).
  • Blend until mixture begins to stick together and forms into a ball of dough.
  • If the mixture seems a little dry and is not sticking together well you can add a little of cold water (be careful not to add too much).
  • Remove from food processor, with floured hands pat into an oval, wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for 1/2 hour.

(if you don’t have a food processor this step can also be done by hand – with cold hands use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs, then add the egg and work into the mix until it forms into a dough consistency)

Appeltaart - a popular and super delicious traditional recipe for 'Dutch Apple Pie'

Pie Base

  • Pre-heat the oven to 180 ℃ / 350 ℉ (170 â„ƒ / 325 â„‰ for fan or convection ovens).
  • Grease 9″ springform baking tin.
  • On a floured surface roll out 2/3 of the dough (save a 1/3 for the topping) into a circle that is big enough to line the bottom and sides of a 9″ springform tin.
  • Drape the dough over the rolling pin and line the bottom and sides of the baking tin (don’t worry if the side crumbles a bit you can repair it in a moment).
  • Trim the dough from the top of the tin and use any excess dough to repair any holes or cracks in the bottom and sides of the dough base.
  • Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the dough base (this is to absorb any excess juice from the apples).
  • Now tip the apple filling (not the juice) into the dough base and firmly press the apples down.
Appeltaart - a popular and super delicious traditional recipe for 'Dutch Apple Pie'

Pie Topping

  • Roll out the dough you reserved earlier and cut into long strips.
  • Use these long strips to create a criss-cross pattern on top of the pie.
  • Press the edges of the strips firmly into the sides of the pie.
  • Now use the 1/3 of the egg you reserved earlier to brush the top of the pie.
  • Place in the centre of the pre-warmed oven and bake for approximately 1 hour.
  • When the pie is a light golden brown remove from oven and allow to cool before removing from the baking tin.

Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and enjoy 🙂

Appeltaart - a popular and super delicious traditional recipe for 'Dutch Apple Pie'

If this has made your mouth water and it has got you in a baking mood you may like to pop over and check out a few more of my recipes …

Traditional British Flapjacks

British Flapjacks Recipe - Yummy Traybake Recipe Made From Oatflakes & Syrup

Easy Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Breadmaker Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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12 Comments

  1. GREAT !!!

    Now I dumped the breadcrumbs right into the apple filling as it was listed as the ingredients for the filling.
    After going to the next step, I read that the breadcrumbs need to be spread on the dough…..dumped the whole thing in the trash, starting over tonight after getting new ingredients, aaaaaaw…WHY ???

    1. Aww no!!

      I’m so sorry Diana if it was not clear.

      I guess in my head I added it to the apple pie filling section because that is the point where I add it to the pie.

      Although it says in the instruction at what stage you add it, it would indeed be better to add a note in brackets to set it aside to avoid any confusion. I will see to that – thanks so much for letting us know!

      You probably could have got away with using the apple mix with the breadcrumbs in it because it is only to help with the moisture on the base and you don’t taste them.

      I do hope that this hasn’t put you off and that you have had another go at the pie because I really do think this is a great recipe. It’s one of my family’s favourites.

      1. Hi Sam,

        No worries. I am making a third apple pie as we speak 🙂
        It is indeed delicious. I brought one to a party and it was gone in less than 10 minutes. I had to promise to make TWO next time 🙂
        Thanks again for sharing !

        Diana

  2. Am so happy to find the “real” dutch apple pie recipe! We spent a week in Amsterdam at the end of August and had Dutch apple pie every day. I dislike American apple pie, so was really skeptical about trying dutch apple pie. What a difference! Never soggy — apples slices beautifully layered — a pastry that was flaky and crispy and high. When I returned to the US I went to a number of popular cooking sites on the internet and was sorely disappointed for what was being passed as Dutch apple pie. Your recipe looks like the real thing! I found you on Pinterest. Lucky me! Thanks for sharing. Patty

    1. Hi Patty,
      We’re so glad you found the recipe and link to our site on Pinterest. Let us know how it goes for you and if it tastes just like the pie you enjoyed in Amsterdam.

      Best wishes,
      Carrie, Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®

  3. I too, was in Amsterdam, in Nov. 2018, and fell in love with the Appeltaart!

    I want to try to make this recipe but have two questions:

    Is there a preference on type of apples?

    Also, can I use just raisins or leave the Sultanas out without dramatically change the outcome?

    I am not a baker and want to make this come out like I remembered!

  4. This looks awesome! My kids will love it! I still have a large bag of organic apples from my mom’s garden laying around. It is time to do something about it!

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