Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie (with an efficiency trick!)

Do you have any great childhood food memories?  Some dishes so special you could never tamper with them? One of my favorites is the original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie (sometimes also called Dutch Apple Pie).  My mother made this every fall, straight from the cookbook.  The tartness of the apples, contrasted with the sweetness of the streusel topping always seemed to make the perfect cool weather dessert.

A streusel topped holiday classic, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip!

Served with Ice Cream

Now not altering a recipe is very out of character for me.  I am usually the first person to make a dish healthier by swapping whole wheat flour for white, or reducing the sugar and fat.  But I’m not touching this one (ok maybe just a teeny-weeny bit)! 

A streusel topped holiday classic, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip!

French Apple Pie

Fortunately I got custody of Mom’s cookbook when she reduced her “library” and made this pie for a benefit bake sale yesterday.   I made the donated pie according to the original recipe, though I did use a frozen pie crust.  The one for our family was slightly different–I used unpeeled apples!  If you skip peeling the apples, you reduce waste, improve nutrition and cut the prep time about in half.  Take my word for it–the pie still disappears… fast! 

A streusel topped holiday classic, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip!

Betty Crocker French Apple Pie, Served

And if you are living in a smaller household, or hosting a smaller Thanksgiving, check here for my recipe for Betty Crocker French Apple Pie for 2-4!

Step by Step Directions

The pie is not at all difficult!  You simply:

Toss sliced apples in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Apples in pie crust

Pile sugar-coated apples inside your pie crust. 

Mix streusel ingredients (It Should Look Like Coarse Crumbs)

A streusel topped holiday classic, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip!

Top with streusel and bake.

A streusel topped holiday classic, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip!

Apple Pie wraps up pretty for a gift or donation

And if you’re cooking for a smaller group , don’t forget to check out my mini French Apple Pie for 2-4! Betty Crocker French Apple Pie for 2-4 is as tasty & special as the original with tender apples, flavorful cinnamon & crunchy streusel topping.

Betty Crocker French Apple Pie

A classic holiday pie, the Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie is too good to update. Except for one quick efficiency tip.
Author: Inger
4.58 from 14 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Inactive Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Desserts & Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 456 kcal

Ingredients
  

Pie

  • 9 inch single pie crust
  • 6-7 cups sliced apples cored and sliced in 1/4 inch slices, peeling optional
  • 3/4 c sugar
  • 1 t cinnamon

Streusel Topping

  • 1 c flour
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 c butter or margarine

Instructions
 

  • Mix cinnamon and sugar. Toss sliced apples in cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Place sugar-coated apples inside your pie crust in the pie pan. They should mound up above the edge of the pie pan (apples cook down some).
  • Mix streusel ingredients (I used my fingers) lightly until they come together in crumbly pea-sized pieces. Top the apples with the streusel topping.
  • Set pie pan in a jelly roll pan to catch any drips as it cooks. Bake in 400 degree oven for about 50 minutes. Check periodically and cover topping with a layer of aluminum foil if it is browning too much (you can pretty much count on needing to do this).
  • Let cool slightly (or completely) to facilitate cutting. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 456kcal
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

52 thoughts on “Original Betty Crocker French Apple Pie (with an efficiency trick!)

  1. Cindy

    In my original cookbook I add 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 t. Nutmeg with the sugar and cinnamon and toss with the apples!

    1. Inger Post author

      I’m not home to look at the cookbook so I decided to check out their website. That recipe has less sugar, no nutmeg, 1/4 cup flour and lemon juice, so there are apparently multiple versions–not surprising I suppose, given I’m always tweaking my own recipes! My mother’s cookbook was probably from 1953/54 since I think it was a wedding present. Do you know the date of yours? I’ve always known this was a looser filling with no thickener, but I like that it’s “juicier”–I suppose because that’s what I grew up with.

  2. jc

    5 stars
    This is still the best French apple pie recipe. My boyfriend and his family love it. My coworkers love it. I’ve made homemade caramel sauce and drizzled it over the top of the pie after it came out of the oven! Amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

  3. Mary Ellen Schwemm

    When I started making pies. I made my own crust . I had so much trouble rolling it out . Nobody could see that the bottom was patched but they could my patch top. which still tasted good .
    So started making French Crumb topping,using my old Betty Crocker cook book! Everybody loved it and I didn’t have to cut the pie where they couldn’t see it !

    1. Inger Post author

      Love this story Mary Ellen! I have done pie crust cutouts (using cookie cutters) to avoid a top crust too!

  4. Kathleen McLaughlin

    I got a Betty Crocker cookbook 42 years ago for a wedding gift and I have been making this pie for decades. It always gets rave reviews and I get many requests for this pie at family dinners/gatherings. Just today my brother, who is an apple pie lover asked me for my apple pie recipe, and I forwarded this to him. It is the BEST apple pie ever!!!

  5. Cindy Coffman

    Came out beautiful made two of them as one is never enough. I wanted to post pics of them but did it have the option for that here 🙁

    1. Inger Post author

      I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. It’s one of our favorites–and I’ve been known to make them in quantity too :). I’d enjoy seeing the picture if you have some left and can get to facebook https://www.facebook.com/artofnatrliving I’ll have to see what it would take to allow posting here–great idea.

  6. Jodie ML!!

    I made the French Apple Pie from Betty Grocker cookbook that my Mother and I used in 1960’s. It calls to omit butter and to top with crumb topping-1c. Flour,1/2c. Firm butter,1/2c. Packed brown sugar until crumbly. I tossed 1/4c chopped walnuts into it. I used a pie crust that calls for cold ingredients,also egg and vinegar in it. Best ever pie compliments from everyone!Give it a try! Let me know what you taste!

    1. Inger Post author

      I have started using vodka in my pie crusts (and my last also had egg). I used to go with store bought crust until I started eating local and now I wonder what I was so afraid of (though I admit the store bought is super fast)! I’ll bet nuts would be delicious in the crumb topping!

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  8. Cheryl

    My grandma made a fabulous apple pie. When I got married, I asked my mom for the recipe. I started my Thanksgiving tradition of making the apple pie for my husband’s and my family Thanksgiving dinners. One year, my sister-in-law asked where I got the recipe & I told her it was grandma’s. I couldn’t remember which grandma made the pie, though, so I went in to ask my mom which grandma’s recipe it was, and she said, “That’s a Betty Crocker recipe!” Sure enough it is this very recipe!!! I’ve been baking this pie for 20 years now. It always gets rave reviews, and I get MANY requests for this pie for Birthdays, carry in dinners, etc. A few years ago, I started prepping “Grandma Betty’s pie” and freezing it unbaked. I give them as Christmas & Birthday gifts to neighbors & friends so they can bake & enjoy them whenever they want!

    1. Inger Post author

      Freezing it unbaked–what a wonderful tip! I loved your story and agree that it’s a great “go to” recipe to bring almost anywhere! I’ve been freezing apple slices for a few years to make this anytime, though now I’ll have to try your whole frozen pie too!

  9. Pam

    You didn’t have any flour listed in the pie filling ingredients. Was that correct or a mistake?

    1. Inger Post author

      That is correct. I know it seems funny but my theory is that some bits of flour from the crumb topping fall in to the apples to thicken it some. Don’t know if Betty Crocker would agree with that or not 😉

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  11. Joann Turner

    I had some really small apples and decided not to peel them as there would be little left. Now I hardly ever peel them when making an apple pie.

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  13. grace

    i’ve peeled so many apples in my lifetime that it’s a pretty quick process for me by now, but i still like the idea of not having to do it! lovely pie!

  14. Lynn

    Love French apple pie! The tip about not peeling the apples is brilliant! What a time saver (and now I won’t have to feel guilty about throwing the peels away).

  15. erica

    Interesting about the unpeeled apples. I didn’t know that was your beautiful pie at the sale! I remember seeing you talking to the girls, but don’t think I saw you after that so I missed saying hello!

    1. Inger Wilkerson

      I saw your picture there and was sad I missed you. I think I focused in on picking out my cookies pretty fast (had to get in & out to pick up one of my kids). I was happy to hear what a success the event was!

  16. lisalivingwell

    The pie looks delicious! It was great to see you yesterday. Glad you enjoyed seeing the historic buildings around Best Place as much as I did. Oh and happy to hear you got a new small camera. What type did you end up purchasing?

    1. Inger Wilkerson

      I got a Canon A1300 for $59.99 in a pre-black Friday sale and have been pretty happy. I still need to get a better “real” camera (especially after class!) but that’s a much more daunting purchase! Best Place was really lovely–I was wishing I needed to schedule a party ;-).

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