The Perfect Apple Butter Pie With Quilt Top Crust Recipe for Fall

Sweet autumn memories flood back with this delectable apple butter pie with quilt top crust that celebrates seasonal comfort.

Generations of bakers have perfected this nostalgic dessert, blending rich apple butter into a silky smooth filling.

Intricate pastry designs create a stunning quilted pattern across the golden surface, reminiscent of cozy handmade blankets.

Warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg weave through each delectable bite, promising pure culinary bliss.

The flaky, butter-laden crust provides a tender contrast to the luscious apple filling.

Every slice tells a story of tradition and love, inviting you to savor a moment of pure warmth.

Prepare to experience a dessert that transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary fall celebration.

Why Apple Butter Pie Is a Fall Tradition

• Create a Stunning Centerpiece: Transform your dessert table with this visually striking pie featuring a unique quilt-top crust that turns heads and sparks conversations.
• Master Advanced Baking Skills: Challenge yourself with a multi-step recipe that develops sophisticated pastry techniques, perfect for bakers looking to elevate their culinary prowess.
• Celebrate Seasonal Comfort: Embrace fall flavors with a dessert that captures the warmth of apple butter and the cozy feeling of a homemade treat, ideal for family gatherings and holiday celebrations.
• Personalize with Creative Presentation: Customize the quilt-top pattern to match your style, making each pie a one-of-a-kind edible artwork that reflects your creativity and baking passion.

Everything for Apple Butter Pie With Quilt Crust

• All-Purpose Flour: The base for creating a tender and flaky pie crust that holds the filling perfectly.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pie crust.
• Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to the crust.
• Cold Butter: Provides rich flavor and creates the signature flaky texture when cut into the dry ingredients.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without overworking the gluten.

• Apple Butter: The star ingredient that gives the pie its distinctive fall flavor and smooth texture.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness to complement the apple butter.
• Eggs: Act as a binding agent and provide structure to the pie filling.
• Apple Pie Spice: Brings warm, classic fall spices to enhance the apple flavor.
• Vanilla: Adds depth and complexity to the overall taste.
• Salt: Balances and brightens the sweet flavors.

• Half-and-Half: Creates a creamy, smooth consistency in the pie filling.
• Parchment Paper: Helps with baking and preventing sticking.
• Pie Weights: Ensures the pie crust maintains its shape during blind baking.

Steps for Baking Apple Butter Pie at Home

Step 1: Create Pie Dough Base

• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Granulated sugar

Use a pastry blender to cut cold butter into the mixture until it looks like chunky breadcrumbs.

Slowly drizzle ice water into the dough, mixing gently until it holds together. Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for one hour.

Step 2: Craft Decorative Crust Triangles

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface until very thin.

Cut six large squares, then slice each square diagonally to create 12 triangular pieces. Place triangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.

Cover with another parchment sheet and a second baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the top sheet and continue baking until golden brown.

Step 3: Prepare Pie Crust Shell

Lower oven temperature to 375°F. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle and carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie plate.

Trim edges, fold, and create a decorative crimp. Freeze the crust for 20 minutes.

Line with foil, fill with pie weights, and bake for 25 minutes. Remove weights and continue baking until golden and crisp.

Step 4: Whip Up Creamy Filling

• Apple butter
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• Apple pie spice
• Vanilla extract
• Salt

Slowly whisk in half-and-half until the mixture is silky smooth.

Step 5: Bake and Set Pie

Pour the filling into the cooled pie crust.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are set but center remains slightly jiggly. Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 6: Create Quilted Topping

Arrange the golden-brown crust triangles on top of the pie in a beautiful, overlapping pattern that resembles a cozy quilt. Serve and enjoy this autumn-inspired dessert!

Notes for Warm and Spiced Pie Fans

• Refrigerate pie and crust dough for at least an hour to ensure flaky, tender texture and prevent shrinkage during baking.
• Use ceramic or metal pie weights to keep crust flat and prevent bubbling when blind baking, ensuring an even golden surface.
• Gradually whisk half-and-half into the filling to create a silky, lump-free mixture that bakes evenly and sets beautifully.
• Watch pie closely during final baking stage, removing when edges are set but center still slightly jiggly to prevent over-cooking and cracking.
• Arrange triangular crust pieces in a deliberate quilt-like pattern just before serving to maintain crisp texture and create stunning visual presentation.

Creative Apple Butter Pie Variations

• Pumpkin Spice Swap: Replace apple butter with pumpkin puree and use pumpkin pie spice for a classic autumn-inspired version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend, using xanthan gum to help bind the crust.
• Vegan Adaptation: Use coconut cream instead of half-and-half, replace eggs with cornstarch or flax eggs, and swap butter for plant-based margarine.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Use sugar-free apple butter, replace brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener, and reduce overall sugar content for a diabetic-friendly dessert.

Pairings to Serve With Quilt Top Pie

• Pair with Caramel Bourbon Sauce: Drizzle a rich, smooth caramel bourbon sauce over each slice to enhance the apple butter's deep, warm flavors and add a luxurious adult twist to the dessert.
• Complement with Cinnamon Whipped Cream: Whip heavy cream with a touch of ground cinnamon and powdered sugar to create a light, spicy topping that perfectly matches the pie's autumnal essence.
• Match with Spiced Chai Latte: Serve a warm, fragrant chai latte alongside the pie, where the tea's cardamom, ginger, and clove notes will beautifully echo the apple pie spice in the dessert.

Storing Apple Butter Pie for the Season

• Store the pie covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the delicate quilt top crust separate to maintain its crispy texture.
• Wrap the pie tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing the crust triangles with the pie to prevent sogginess.
• Warm individual slices in the oven at 325F for 10-15 minutes to restore the crust's crispness. Alternatively, use a toaster oven for smaller portions.
• Let refrigerated pie sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavors and soften the filling slightly.

FAQs

• What is the key ingredient that gives this pie its unique flavor?

Apple butter is the star ingredient, providing a rich, concentrated apple taste that sets this pie apart from traditional apple pies.

• How difficult is this recipe for home bakers?

While it requires multiple steps, home bakers with moderate baking skills can successfully create this pie by carefully following each stage of preparation.

• Can I substitute ingredients if I don't have exact measurements?

It’s best to follow the recipe precisely, especially for the crust and filling, as baking requires specific ratios to achieve the right texture and consistency.

The triangular crust pieces are arranged in a decorative quilt-like pattern, adding a beautiful visual element and unique texture to the traditional pie design.

Perfect Apple Butter Pie With Quilt Top Crust Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Comforting apple butter pie showcases rustic American baking at its finest, blending warm spices with silky fruit filling beneath an intricate lattice crust. Quilted pastry patterns invite nostalgic moments of harvest season sharing and homemade dessert delights you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup apple butter
• 1 pie crust

Crust Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup (94 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Butter and Liquid Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup (57 grams or 1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons ice water

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Instructions

1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl, creating a dry ingredient base for the quilt top crust dough.
2. Incorporate cold butter into the dry mixture using a pastry blender, breaking it down until the texture resembles coarse, pebbled crumbs.
3. Gradually introduce ice water, one tablespoon at a time, gently mixing until the dough begins to bind together cohesively.
4. Shape the dough into a compact disc, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up and enhance flavor melding.
5. Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet for the crust triangles.
6. Roll out the chilled dough to a thin 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface, then meticulously cut into six 22-inch squares.
7. Slice each square diagonally to create 12 distinct triangular pieces for the decorative crust.
8. Arrange the triangles on the prepared baking sheet, then freeze for 15 minutes to maintain their crisp shape.
9. Cover the triangles with an additional parchment sheet and a second baking sheet to ensure even baking.
10. Bake for 10 minutes on the middle rack, then remove the top baking sheet and continue baking, removing individual pieces as they turn golden brown (approximately 38 minutes).
11. Allow the triangles to cool completely on a wire rack, developing a crisp texture.
12. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and prepare a foil-lined baking sheet for the pie crust.
13. Carefully roll the remaining dough into a 12-inch circle and transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, trimming and crimping the edges.
14. Freeze the pie crust for 20 minutes, then line with foil and fill with pie weights for initial baking.
15. Bake on the bottom rack for 25 minutes, then remove weights and foil, prick the crust bottom, and continue baking until golden and dry (8-10 minutes).
16. Whisk apple butter, brown sugar, eggs, apple pie spice, vanilla, and salt into a smooth, harmonious filling mixture.
17. Slowly incorporate half-and-half, stirring until the filling reaches a silky, uniform consistency.
18. Pour the prepared filling into the completely cooled pie crust.
19. Bake on the middle rack for 30-35 minutes, watching for set edges while allowing a slight center jiggle.
20. Cool the pie thoroughly on a wire rack to stabilize the filling.
21. Just before serving, artfully arrange the pre-baked triangular crust pieces atop the pie in an intricate, quilt-inspired pattern.

Notes

• Chill the dough thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that doesn’t shrink during baking.
• Use cold butter and ice water when making the pie crust to create those beautiful, delicate layers.
• For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and add a pinch of xanthan gum for better texture.
• Adjust the spice level by experimenting with different apple pie spice blends or creating your own custom mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.

• Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 62 kcal
• Sugar: 0.3 g
• Sodium: 54 mg
• Fat: 4.1 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 6.7 g
• Fiber: 0.3 g
• Protein: 0.6 g
• Cholesterol: 11 mg