Caramel Apple Slab Pie - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Caramel Apple Slab Pie has a thin and flaky melt-in-your-mouth crust that is topped with juicy apples and a crisp topping. It is drizzled in homemade caramel and perfect for feeding a crowd!

Caramel Apple Upside Cake is a twist on my tried and true favorite Pineapple Upside Down Cake and it is a must-try recipe. It is loaded with all the crave-worthy fall flavors like rich caramel and sweet apple!

Caramel Apple Slab Pie - The Recipe Critic (1)

Caramel Apple Slab Pie

This twist on a classic favorite is the perfect dessert to satisfy your fall cravings all year long. The blend of cinnamon and apples baking together is simply amazing. And when the ooey, gooey caramel mixture is simmered and drizzled over the pie, it becomes irresistible. Each bite is perfection with its flaky crust, crunchy topping, and tender, juicy apples, all drenched in a rich, sweet cinnamon-apple flavor. Simply delish!

This Caramel Apple Slab Pie is perfect for feeding a crowd, making it an excellent choice for family gatherings and get-togethers. It has quickly become one of my favorite desserts ever, and I’m sure you and your guests will love it just as much as we did!

Ingredients in Slab Pie

This dessert is just screaming all of my favorite things about fall. From the thin and flaky melt-in-your-mouth pie crust, the fresh juicy apples, and the crisp topping, to the sweet caramel drizzle on top. All of the exact ingredient measurements are listed at the bottom of the post on the recipe card.

  • All-purpose flour: This adds strength and structure to the crust.
  • Salt: This is a must to bring out the delicious flavors in the recipe.
  • Shortening: I used butter-flavored shortening to create a more tender, flaky dough.
  • Cold water: Add in a few drops at a time until your dough is the perfect texture.
  • Sugar: This will sweeten up the crust.
  • Ground cinnamon: The cinnamon adds a sweet and savory warm spice to the apple mixture.
  • Granny Smith apples: These apples are perfect for baking.

Crumb Topping

  • Rolled oats: Quick-cooking oats give the perfect crunch in the topping.
  • Brown sugar: Make sure to pack it when it’s measured to get just the right amount of sweetness.
  • All-purpose flour: This gives structure to the crumb topping and binds it together.
  • Butter: I use unsalted for more control over the saltiness of the dessert.

Homemade Caramel

  • Brown Sugar: This caramelizes to be a delicious flavor.
  • Butter: The butter adds a rich taste and makes a chewy caramel texture.
  • Half-and-half: This makes the caramel smooth and creamy.
  • Vanilla: A splash of vanilla brings out the other flavors and adds a rich depth to the flavor.
  • Salt: Just a pinch of salt enhances the flavor of the topping for this caramel apple slab pie.
Caramel Apple Slab Pie - The Recipe Critic (2)

Let’s Make a Slab Pie!

This caramel apple slab pie comes together simply and will get rave reviews every time! Take your time on the dough and work through each section, and in no time, you will have a huge hit dessert ready to enjoy!

  1. Prep: Start by spraying a 15x10x1 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Then, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle one tablespoon of the cold water over the mixture and toss with a fork. Repeat using one tablespoon of water at a time until it is moistened, and knead the dough into a ball.
  3. Place dough in baking pan: Roll dough into a 19×13-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it into the prepared baking pan. Ease dough into the pan and up the sides, being careful not to stretch it. Trim the dough to 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pan. Fold dough edge over and flute as desired.
  4. Combine apple mixture: In an extra-large bowl, combine the sugar, 1/3 cup flour, cinnamon, and apples. Toss until coated. Spoon the mixture on the dough and spread evenly.

To Make the Crumb Topping

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together quick-cooking rolled oats, packed brown sugar, and all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until the topping mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of apples.
  2. Bake: Place in a preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the apples are tender. Cover the top with foil for the last 5-10 minutes if it starts to brown too fast. Cool slightly.

To Make the Homemade Caramel

  1. Mix all ingredients: Mix ingredients together in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Continue to cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until thicker. Then, turn off the heat. Serve warm or refrigerate until cold. Finally, drizzle on top of the caramel apple slab pie.
Caramel Apple Slab Pie - The Recipe Critic (3)

Caramel Apple Slab Pie Tips

When I made this, I intended just to make an Apple Slab Pie. But as soon as it came out of the oven, it begged me to drizzle some homemade caramel. I was glad that I did because it added such a delicious finishing touch!

  • Caramel Sauce: For best results, cook the glaze slowly until it thickens to prevent separating. Additionally, whisking constantly will keep it from clumping.
  • Dough: Keep the dough cold, and don’t overhandle it. Because the dough is cooler, it will be firmer, easier to roll out, and shrink less as it cooks in the oven.
  • Rolling the dough: Add more flour to the dough as you are rolling it out to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin or the surface.
  • Leftover dough: Bake any leftover trimmings separately, then drizzle with caramel or sprinkle them with a bit of cinnamon sugar for a special treat.
  • Apples: Try to cut the apples into similar sizes for most, even baking. Using an apple slicer is helpful, but it is not hard to do by hand if you don’t have a tool to help.
  • Serve: Be sure to finish this caramel apple slab pie with some cold vanilla ice cream!
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Storing Caramel Apple Slab Pie:

It is highly unlikely this dessert will last long without being devoured. It is so good that no one can get enough of it! However, if you end up with leftovers, this caramel apple slab pie will store well.

  • In the Refrigerator: Simply keep the caramel apple slab pie on the baking sheet, let it cool completely, and cover it loosely with some foil.Store it in the refrigerator, and it will last about 2-3 days.
  • In the Freezer: If you are making an apple pie ahead, you can freeze it for 3-4 months and thaw it in the refrigerator before baking.

Pro Tip: Keep a batch of uncooked crumble topping in the freezer to bake and sprinkle on anything. It makes a great last-minute dessert topping that is absolutely heavenly!

More Caramel Apple Recipes

Caramel goes with everything and elevates any dessert (just like it did with this apple slab pie)! Try some more delicious desserts that use caramel. The hardest part will be picking which one is your favorite!

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Caramel Apple Slab Pie

By: Alyssa Rivers

Caramel Apple Slab Pie has a thin and flaky melt-in-your-mouth crust that is topped with juicy apples and a crisp topping. It is drizzled in homemade caramel and perfect for feeding a crowd!

Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 Servings

Ingredients

  • 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shortening, butter-flavored
  • 12 tablespoons cold water
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 1/2 pounds granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (10 cups)

Crumb Topping

Homemade Caramel:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 15x10x1 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

  • To make the dough combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add four tablespoons of the cold water over the mixture and stir with a fork. Repeat using the remaining water one tablespoon at a time until it is moistened. Use your hands to form the dough into a ball.

  • On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 19×13-inch rectangle. Wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it into the prepared baking pan. Gently unroll the dough into the pan and press up the sides, being careful not to stretch it. Trim the dough to 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pan. Fold dough edge over and flute as desired. Place the pan in the fridge to chill while you prepare the filling.

  • In an extra-large bowl, toss the sugar, 1/3 cup flour, cinnamon, and apples together until the apples are evenly coated. Carefully spread the apples evenly over the chilled crust.

Crumb Topping

  • Stir together quick-cooking rolled oats, packed brown sugar, and all-purpose flour in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until the topping mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of the apples.

  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the apples are tender. Cover the top with foil for the last 5-10 minutes if it starts to brown too quickly. Cool slightly.

Homemade Caramel

  • Combine the brown sugar, butter, half, and half in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-low to medium heat. Whisk constantly while cooking for 5 to 7 minutes, until the caramel begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. Drizzle the warm caramel over the cooled pie, or let it cool and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Notes

Updated on July 26, 2023

Originally Posted on August 7, 2020

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 127mgPotassium: 126mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 221IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Caramel Apple Slab Pie - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

Why is my apple pie so juicy? ›

Allow your pie to bake for the entire recommended period.

People often pull their pie too soon out of fear that it will burn. This leads to runny pie because it prevents the filling from thickening.

What are the best apples to use for apple pie? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
  • Cortland. ...
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy.
Oct 8, 2021

Why is apple pie gooey? ›

Cornstarch and sugar help thicken the juices into a gooey syrup, while lemon juice gives it a bright flavor.

What is the best thickener for apple pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed.

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

How do I keep the bottom of my apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

Why did my apple pie turn to mush? ›

Avoid using overripe apples to prevent your pie from becoming mushy and wet. Southern Living says choosing the perfect apple variety will be for naught if the fruit is overripe. Your pie will turn out very mushy and lack the flavor apple pie is known for.

How do you make apple pie filling not runny? ›

Experiment with different thickeners

If you usually use flour to thicken your apple pie and it's not doing the job, try something different: cornstarch, tapioca, and arrowroot are other established fruit pie thickeners. For more on specific thickeners and how to use them, see our Pie Filling Thickeners Guide.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

What kind of apples does mcdonalds use for their pies? ›

So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home. Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.

Why did my apple pie turn into applesauce? ›

For example, sweeter apples tend to break down easier than their acidic partners. This means that apples like Red Delicious break down quickly, turning your pie into more of an applesauce than a delectable dessert.

Why do you have to let apple pie sit for so long after cooking it? ›

Cooling is crucial for thickeners like flour, cornstarch, and even the natural pectin found in the fruit to work their magic. The thickeners were activated in the oven, but the pie filling gels further with cooling.

How can you tell if an apple pie is undercooked? ›

If you push the toothpick and there's no resistance, the fruit is fully cooked. Just to be safe, repeat this process in a few more vents – check at 90-degree intervals. And if you find that it needs more time, rotate the pie a half turn to equalize the heat in baking.

What is one thing you should not do when making pie crust? ›

A: First, don't just reach for more flour—too much extra flour will make the crust tough, and won't treat the real problem, which is that your butter is too soft. I recently read in Weller's cookbook A Good Bake that it should take no more than one to two minutes to roll out a pie crust.

Why does apple pie crust collapse? ›

Any number of things can contribute to a slumping crust. Maybe your recipe uses an extra-high amount of shortening or butter, or you rolled the crust too vigorously, or you didn't let it rest and chill before baking. Perhaps you used the wrong size pan, or not enough filling.

What happens if you put too much water in pie crust? ›

Richard's solution: The trouble with pastry is that you need to be accurate; too much water and you're left with shrunken, tough pastry, too little and it stays dry and crumbly. When adding the water to the butter and flour, use very cold water and add it a tablespoonful at a time.

How do you keep apples from getting mushy in a pie? ›

It may seem counterintuitive, but par-cooking your apples either by stirring them in a pan on the stovetop, by heating them in the microwave, by cooking them in a sous-vide setup, or by pouring boiling water over them and letting them sit for 10 minutes will make for apples that hold their shape better when you bake ...

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