Rustic Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie recipe is loaded with thick cinnamon apples on top of a crust sitting in a layer of hot buttery caramel. This pie just begs for a scoop of ice cream and a crowd to help you eat it.
THIS POST HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM 8/22/14 TO IMPROVE READER EXPERIENCE.
Skillet Apple Pie hides a layer of thick buttery caramel below the bottom crust that bakes into the pie. Cast Iron Apple Pie is a simple rustic but easy pie to bake that will soon be everyone’s favorite apple pie.
Have you seen my “Apple Baked Beans” post where I told you about our Back-to-School potluck that we participate in every year with our neighborhood kiddos?
In addition to the apple baked beans, I bring the dessert. They’ve requested the same dessert for the last several years in a row, Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie.
Even though the weather is still warm, baked apple desserts are my favorite and I can eat them any time of year.
Years ago I found this recipe for Skillet Apple Pie in Southern Living SEPTEMBER 2011 and it’s still our most requested dessert. One bite will tell you why!
I served this pie like a cobbler by scooping servings out with a large spoon instead of slicing it. It goes a lot further that way and you can make sure each serving gets a healthy dose of that caramel bottom.
Either way, it’s scrumptious! If you can serve it hot, all the better. My guests are always intrigued when I show up with an Apple pie in a skillet.
How to transport this pie?
When I have to transport this pie, I’ll cover the top with foil and place it in the bottom of a cooler with a towel covering the bottom like a nest and then wrap another towel around the pie.
The skillet really holds the heat and the cooler helps keep it warm until it’s time to serve it.
What are the best baking apples?
You want a firmer apple for baking. Softer apples will break down too much and will not let you slice or spoon a decent looking serving.
Plus the texture isn’t as desirable as being able to bite into a loaded slice of skillet apple pie! Good baking apples according to Bon Appetit include:
- Granny Smith – also my go-to for baking!
- Jonagold
- Honey Crisp – also my favorite for everyday eating.
- Braeburn
- Mutsu
- Winesap
It’s important to use baking apples because they contain pectin that contributes to the thickness of the filling and is less likely to be watery. They also are firmer so will hold their shape and is less likely to become mushy.
Doesn’t this Skillet Apple Pie just scream ooey gooey comfort food? You would never believe how easy it is to make.
How to Make a Cast Iron Apple Pie
- First, melt the brown sugar and butter together in the bottom of the skillet. Let it cool so can put the bottom crust down on it without melting the crust or your fingers! If you try and put the crust in the skillet when it’s very hot it will just slide down the sides.
- Slice the apples 1/2 inch thick. I don’t measure my cinnamon I just sprinkle away until I’m happy. I always use more cinnamon than the recipe calls for because we love cinnamon.
- Place the first crust down over that warm buttery brown sugar mixture. Rustic right? Trust me, it will be just fine. Press it down carefully on the sugar mixture and up the sides.
You need to be gentle but work quickly. Once the crust starts getting warm, you aren’t going to be able to move it around. You can make your own crust or buy one. Please don’t judge.
- Spoon the apples on top of the pie crust. The pan looks really full but the apples will cook down.
- Put the remaining pie crust over the top and just slide the edges down into the pan a bit.
- Whisk an egg white with a small amount of water until foamy. Brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash by combining a beaten egg with a teaspoon of water.
- Sprinkle with white sugar, turbinado sugar, or a mix of both. I like the crunch that you get with turbinado sugar.
- Cut 4 or 5 slits in the top so steam can escape.
- Bake
FAQ’s
Can I make Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this apple pie ahead of time. Once it cools the caramel on the bottom will become hard and difficult to serve. To warm it back up, place the baked pie in a 350ºF oven on a baking sheet for 15 minutes or until the bottom is heated through.
How do you keep the pie from getting watery?
- Use baking apples as recommended above.
- Combine uncooked apples with a thickener. Combine flour or Instant ClearJel with the sugar before stirring it into the apples will keep it from clumping. King Arthur has a great article on thickeners.
- I don’t recommend corn starch which can be gummy and have a starchy flavor.
- You can pre-cook your apples. Combine the apples with the sugar and spices. Put them in a skillet and cook for about 5 minutes. This also makes it easier to make your pie ahead of time.
Tips to help you make the perfect Cast Iron Apple Pie:
- Put a baking sheet or pan on the rack below your skillet to catch any drips. I had a mess the first time I made this in my oven.
- You can make this pie on the grill! We’ve done it several times so I don’t heat up my kitchen.
- You can make this pie in a Dutch oven or other deep-sided pans. I personally recommend cast-iron, however.
- Cut apples at least 1/2-inch thick. They cook down and everyone wants a pie loaded with thick apples.
A few items that you will use to make this Skillet Apple Pie:
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- 10-inch cast-iron skillet – I use cast iron skillets whenever I can. There isn’t anything like them when it comes to browning food. They last forever, and they’re our favorite pan for camping too.
- Oven Mitts – When I work with heavy pots and pans I want an oven mitt versus a hot pad. These mitts are heat rated to 550° so are good for the oven or bbq and come in several colors. They also come in a longer length for longer arms!
- Pastry Brush – I like the silicone pastry/basting brushes for this job. They stand up to high heat which makes them perfect for the BBQ too!
More amazing apple recipes
- Quick and Easy Apple Crisp
- Caramel Apple Slab Pie
- Dutch Apple Kolaches Recipe
- Apple Sauce Coffee Cake
- Homemade Apple-Cinnamon Waffles
- Swedish Apple Pie
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Rustic Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs granny smith apples peeled, cored & sliced
- 2 lbs braeburn apples or similar cooking apple
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon *or more
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar I use dark but either work
- 2 pie crust homemade or store-bought
- 1 egg white
- 2 tbsp sugar White sugar or turbinado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F, and place a baking sheet on the rack below it to catch any drips from the apple pie.
- Melt butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat; add brown sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let the mixture cool while you prepare the apples.
- Peel apples, and cut them into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Toss apples with cinnamon and 3/4 cup granulated sugar.
- Place 1 pie crust in the skillet over the brown sugar mixture. Spoon the apple mixture over the bottom pie crust, and top with remaining piecrust. Slide the edges down along the edges a bit.
- Whisk one egg white with a little water until foamy. Brush the top of the pie crust with egg white using a pastry brush; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cut 4 or 5 slits in top for steam to escape.
- Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly, shielding with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary.
- Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
What is your favorite way to use cast-iron? What is your favorite pie? Please share! You are my inspiration!
Holly
Thursday 9th of November 2023
As recommended by others, add Flour to the apples before cooking. Makes a huge difference.
Julie Menghini
Friday 10th of November 2023
Thanks for your input Holly. I haven't tried this but glad that it's worked for you and others.
Colleen
Wednesday 6th of September 2023
I want to make this at camp on my Blackstone. Could I do that? I saw that you said it can be made on a grill. Do you have instructions for that? Looks delicious!
Julie Menghini
Thursday 7th of September 2023
I use a wood charcoal grill that can be covered and used like an oven. I don't believe open grill such as your Blackstone could capture the heat to create an oven-like environment.
Julianne
Sunday 9th of July 2023
This is my first attempt at a cast iron skillet apple pie and it was fantastic!!! The caramel on the bottom is spectacular! I used a homemade crust. I was hoping to be able to get slices, so I added 2 T flour to apple mixture and it came out perfect! This is a delicious recipe and I don’t need to find another one. Thank you!!
Julie Menghini
Tuesday 11th of July 2023
Thank you so much, Julianne! We love this pie too and I'm always asked to bring it when we're invited somewhere. It may be the biggest reason we get invited LOL!
Cat
Saturday 26th of November 2022
I had the same issue that someone else mentioned. The butter pooled on top of the brown sugar (when making the caramel), and so I drained the butter off. The caramel looked great after I did that, but ended up sticking to the bottom of the skillet after being baked. It was difficult to cut pretty slices. Just wondered if you could put a pre-made caramel sauce on the bottom of the skillet as opposed to making this mixture and waiting for the sugar to dissolve...? Or do as another person commented and place some parchment on the bottom of the skillet, then place caramel over that. I really liked the way the pie tasted, and it is definitely easy to prepare...would just like to figure out the caramel issue!
Julie Menghini
Sunday 27th of November 2022
Hi Cat. Actually, the butter will rise to the top of the caramel but I don't drain it off. It will blend back together as it bakes. It's very difficult to get pretty slices with this pie. I prefer to just use a big spoon and top it with ice cream. No one ever complains that it's not the perfect slice. I've never tried jarred caramel sauce. I bet it would work pretty well.
JC from DC
Thursday 20th of October 2022
I didn't have a 10" cast iron skillet, so I used a stainless steel one instead, with a deeper lip. The advantage was that I didn't have to put a drip tray underneath but the disadvantage was I should have a) cooked it longer because stainless steel doesn't hold heat as well as cast iron and b) let it sit for at least 1.5 hours after baking, so that the juices could congeal. Or perhaps I should have just added corn starch and flour to make up for that. But it's true what everyone says - the bottom crust miraculously stays intact and that caramel is lovely!!! I also accidentally used white instead of brown sugar for most of the caramel because I wasn't thinking and it still worked out. I also used all honey crisp apples and cut them slightly larger than 1/2 inch because I wanted them to have heft.
Julie Menghini
Thursday 20th of October 2022
I'm so glad that it worked for you, JC! Thank you for your tips. They are all appreciated. Not everyone has cast iron so your tips are greatly appreciated!