Effortless filo pastry apple pie is the perfect weekend dessert! A simple no-fuss apple pie recipe that is family friendly! This homemade filo apple pie is not only simple and quick to make but a great low fat alternative to the classic apple pie. A sure crowd pleaser, this apple pie with filo pastry will become your go to recipe whenever you’re short on time or as a last minute dessert!
Filo pastry apple pie
Traditional apple pie recipes can be time consuming and difficult to follow. Who has time for all that measuring and stirring? Not to mention the mess it makes in your kitchen. Filo pastry apple pie is the solution. This recipe is simple, quick, and easy to follow. Plus, you only need a few ingredients and a minimal amount of kitchen supplies. You’ll have delicious apple pie in no time!
Apple pie is a classic dessert, but it’s not always easy to make. The crust can be tricky to get just right, and the filling can be a little finnicky. Not to mention, it’s hard to find an apple pie recipe that doesn’t call for loads of sugar and butter. Try my easy filo pastry apple pie! This recipe uses store-bought filo pastry dough so you don’t have to spend hours making the perfect crust. Plus, I’ve cut down on the sugar and butter so you can enjoy your filo apple pie without feeling guilty.
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If you are a beginner at using filo pastry you might have some questions. Let’s try and address them below.
What is the difference between puff and filo pastry?
Puff pastry is made with several layers of dough and a lot of butter. These buttery layers give the puff pastry its flaky texture that melts in your mouth when you eat it.
Filo pastry has a lot less layers and is not as dense and heavy (which means there’s less guilt involved when you indulge in filo vs. puff).
Can you substitute filo for puff pastry?
Yes! But the difference in texture is important to note. Phyllo dough is much thinner than puff pastry, meaning it will crisp up beautifully when you bake it. Filo won’t be flaky or buttery as puff pastry. The overall taste will be quite different.
Is there another good substitute for filo pastry?
Yes! If you don’t want to use filo pastry, try making apple pie with puff pastry or shortcrust pastry.
Is filo pastry less fattening than puff pastry?
Definitely! The amount of butter needed in filo pastry is much less than the amount used to make puff pastry. Filo pastry has a lot less calories and is also lower in cholesterol than puff pastry!
Is filo pastry difficult to work with?
It can be tricky if the pastry was thawed and re-frozen repeatedly or if the pastry was left at room temperature for too long. If you follow my instructions below, I’ve got it covered. It’s not hard; you just need to know what you’re doing.
Does filo pastry need to be cooked immediately?
No! You can keep filo pastry in the refrigerator for a few hours before you use it. Just make sure the pastry if not frozen or has patches that are still frozen when working with it.
Can you use filo pastry straight from fridge?
It’s best to use it straight from the fridge, in the next 20 minutes or so, to avoid getting it too warm. But don’t keep it in the fridge for too long either as it may dry out. Ideally, you should use it within a few hours of getting it from the freezer.
Can you use filo pastry for savory pies?
Yes! You can make many savory pies with filo pastry, like spinach pie or lamb pie, for example.
How do you thaw frozen filo pastry?
It’s best to thaw the pastry in the refrigerator overnight. If you’re short on time you can thaw at room temperature but keep a close eye on the pastry so it won’t get too warm.
How long does filo pastry last?
If not specified on the package, store filo in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Do you pre bake filo pies?
No! Filo pie recipes like this one don’t require pre baking. You just need to brush filo pastry with butter and layer as many sheets of filo as the recipe requires and then add the filling.
How long should I cook filo pastry desserts?
It depends on the recipe. A filo apple pie like mine, for example, will be baked until the crust is golden brown, for about 15-20 minutes. This time is required because there are several layers of filo with filling between them and they all need to be cooked through.
If there are no extra layers, like in apple cups, the baking time can be reduced to 10 minutes or less.
Can I use filo pastry for apple pie?
Yes, absolutely! Filo pastry is the perfect substitute apple pie crust. You’ll be able to make apple pie with filo in no time at all. The difference is you’ll be using several layers of pastry with apple filling between them.
How many sheets of filo pastry are on this filo pastry pie?
There are 8 sheets of filo pastry used for this recipe. You can reduce the layers or add more, adjusting the baking time. But I found this number gives just the right thickness to this filo apple pie.
How do you layer filo pie?
Start by brushing a baking dish with melted butter. Then lay two filo pastry sheets over it, one at a time, brushing each sheet with melted butter (one at a time of course), before adding the second sheet. Spread a third of the apple mixture over this first layer of filo dough and top with another 2 filo pastry sheets brushed with butter between them and another third of the apple mixture. Repeat with filo pastry sheets, butter and apples until everything is used up.
Do I have to use a round cake pan for this filo apple pie recipe?
No. You can make the filo apple pie in a square baking dish as well.
What do I need to make filo apple pie?
Now that you’re all armed with so much information about filo pastry, let’s gather the ingredients for our filo pastry apple pie:
- Juicy, sweet red apples of choice. If you prefer tart apples like Granny Smith, go ahead and use those instead. After all it’s your dessert!
- Filo pastry
- Granulated sugar (use brown sugar for a more intense color in your apple filling)
- Unsalted butter for the filling and the pastry
- Crushed walnuts – these are optional and can be replaced with pecans
- Cinnamon powder
- Icing sugar for dressing
- Lemon juice – optional, to add some tartness to the apple filling if needed.
As for the tool you’ll be needing:
- A non stick large skillet or saucepan
- Spatula
- Baking dish (preferably the size of the pastry or similar)
- Pastry brush
- Parchment paper
How do you make filo pastry apple pie?
- Preheat the oven to 390 F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Clean and peel the apples then grate them in a large bowl. Slice apples first to make the process easier. Don’t discard the juices, use to cook the apple pie filling.
- Brown the grated apple in a non stick pan over medium heat, together with the butter and sugar, for 10 minutes, or until caramelized. Add the cinnamon and stir until completely incorporated. Fold in the crushed walnuts.
- Stack 2 sheets of filo pastry to the bottom of the baking dish, buttering each sheet of phyllo. Then spread 1/3 of the caramelized apples.
- Top with 2 other filo pastry sheets, also brushed with butter. Continue in this manner with the remaining phyllo sheets and apple filling.
- Finish with a layer of 2 filo pastry sheets brushed with butter. Dust some icing sugar.
- Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the top phyllo crust is a light golden (keep a little more if you want them crispy).
- Sprinkle cinnamon and confectioner’s sugar once cooled.
- Cut into squares, just like apple strudel.
How to store filo pastry apple pie?
This filo apple pie is best enjoyed fresh. You can store any leftovers in the fridge for about 2-3 days, wrapped in aluminum foil or with plastic wrap pressed against it to avoid drying out. Please note that the crispiness of the top layer might be gone in a few hours post baking, due to the moisture in the apple filling layers.
Can you freeze filo pie?
Yes, apple pie in filo pastry freezes well if wrapped in aluminum foil. It can be kept in the freezer for up to a month. When you want to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge. If you want to serve it warm, reheat it for a few minutes in the oven.
What can you serve with this pie?
I like to serve this filo apple pie recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. This pie works really well with vanilla sauce, a dollop of whipped cream or cream cheese.
It can also be enjoyed as it is on its own.
Filo pastry apple pie brings together layers of filo pastry, sweet caramelized apples in a buttery but light filling. Packed with protein and fiber, this decadent dessert is the perfect indulgence for any occasion. The resulting tastiness of this pie when baked will have you hooked!
Have you ever made filo apple pie before? Do you make pies often in your home? Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, they’ll be much appreciated.
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Filo pastry apple pie
Equipment
- A non stick large skillet or saucepan
- baking dish (preferably the size of the pastry or similar)
Ingredients
- 5 juicy sweet red apples
- 8 sheets filo pastry
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter plus more for buttering filo sheets
- handful crushed walnuts
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon plus a little more for dressing
- icing sugar to decorate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 390 F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Clean and peel the apples then grate them.
- Brown the grated apple in a non stick pan with the butter and sugar for 10 minutes, or until caramelized. If your apples are not very juicy, add some water when cooking to help the apples soften.
- Add the cinnamon and mix until completely incorporated. Add the crushed walnuts and mix.
- Stack 2 sheets of filo pastry, buttering each, then spread the caramelized apples.
- Top with 2 other filo pastry sheets and continue in this manner until you finish the apples. Finish with a layer of 2 filo pastry sheets.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the top filo pastry sheets get slightly golden (keep a little more if you want them crispy).
- Sprinkle cinnamon and icing sugar once cooled.
Gloria says
What is not to love about this delicious apple recipe? I like working with filo pastry. This is the perfect dessert for any dinner party.
Tracy says
You had me at effortless! I love an easy to make dessert that’s still delicious! So yummy, and love those walnuts!
Marta says
I love how simple and delicious these apple pies were. The phyllo dough was extra flaky, which made the apple pie more unique and fun to eat.
Bernice says
I love anything wrapped in filo pastry! It’s so easy to work with and it’s tasty too. This is a great recipe to have when you need an impressive dessert in a pinch.
Liz says
I love a delicious apple pie! I have never worked with filo pastry before. I will have to give this recipe a try! Apple pie is a family favorite!
Amanda Mason says
Oh my goodness….so delish! These were pretty easy to make and I absolutely love this dessert! I’ve never really had much success with filo pastry before but this was easy!!
Kathryn says
I love any dessert with filo dough and this apple pie was delicious! I love how easy it was and it was a huge hit at our house! It was perfect with ice cream 🙂
Jessica says
Ok… I didn’t know I’d love this as much as I did!! I mean, I knew I’d like… or I wouldn’t have made it. But it was super easy to make and I fell in love with the first bite!! SO good!
Debbie says
This is the perfect apple recipe without a ton of work. I love filo dough anything so when I found this recipe I knew I would love it. The apples bake perfectly with the crisp dough . Thanks for the perfect recipe .
Loreto and Nicoletta says
This is a great dessert. When you are craving apple pie, but don’t have the time to do one from scratch! I love that you used phyllo pastry. Those layers would be crispy and light. Such a compliment to the apples! I am so craving this with a dollop of creamy vanilla icecream! Thanjs for sharing! Easy breezy for sure!😁🥰😋👍
JoAnn Serre says
This recipe is so easy to make and so delicious to eat served with vanilla frozen yogurt. A real keeper
petro says
So happy you enjoyed my recipe, JoAnn! Thanks for letting me know! 🤗
Neb says
What am i missing? The pastry was dry as paper! Where is the softness going to come from. How much butter do i need to actually use? I feel like i missed covering it in eggs and milk or something!
petro says
The pastry gets soft from the apple filling, it’s very strange that yours was dry. Did you use single filo sheets per layer? Was it fresh?