This recipe for healthy Dutch apple pie is made with a honey sweetened apple filling that’s paired with a delicious buttery crumble topping. This delicious recipe is one you don’t want to miss!

This version is not only tasty and perfect for any gathering, but also uses wholesome ingredients that make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to enjoy dessert without over processed sugar.

In this post, discover an easy way to make a fantastic healthier Dutch apple pie that your family will love.

Get ready to enjoy a slice of comfort that’s both nutritious and satisfying.

Jump to Recipe – Print Recipe

What you’ll love about this Dutch apple pie

Naturally sweetened: Forget over processed granulated sugar, this delicious pie is naturally sweetened with honey!
Loaded with apples: When you cut into this pie, you’ll be amazed by all the layers of apples in the filling.
Delicious crumble topping: Unlike traditional double crust apple pies, Dutch apple pies have a delicious crumble topping that you’re going to love!

Ingredients you’ll need

To make a healthy Dutch apple pie, you’ll need a few key things. For the crust, make your favorite recipe or use a premade one. For everything else, see what you’ll need below.

For the apple filling you’ll need:

Apples – Start with about two and a half pounds of apples. Once peeled and cored, you’ll be left with the needed two pounds of prepared apples. You can do a mix of tart apples (like Granny Smith) and sweet varieties (like Fuji) or use just one variety to keep it simple. Cosmic crisp works well on its own.
Honey – Skipping the granulated sugar, this pie is sweetened with honey.
Cornstarch – Helps thicken the apple filling while the pie bakes.
Cinnamon – Apple pie and cinnamon go hand in hand. It wouldn’t be apple pie without it! You’ll also love the smell of the cinnamon while this pie bakes.
Lemon juice – Adding lemon juice enhances the apples brightness while also keeping them from browning.
Salt – Don’t forget to add some salt to round out the flavors.

For the crumble topping, use these ingredients:

Oats – When oats are baked, their naturally sweet, nutty flavor gets heightened. It’s hard not to snack on the baked topping while the pie is cooling.
Flour – You can use all purpose or whole wheat flour for the crumble topping.
Honey – Adds sweetness and helps hold the topping together.
Cinnamon – Gives the topping some warming flavor which complements the cinnamon in the apple filling.
Butter – Lends moisture and flavor.

How to make a healthy Dutch apple pie

Dutch apple pie is fun to make and so tasty to eat. Here’s how to make your very own healthy crumble topped apple pie:

Blind bake the pie crust. Place your pie dough into a 9” pie plate. Put a piece of parchment on top of the raw dough and fill the pie plate with pie weights (you can use dry beans or rice). Bake in a 375° F for 8 minutes. Remove the pie weights by lifting them out with the parchment paper, then return the empty crust to the oven and bake for 2 more minutes. For a more details on blind baking, check out my post on how to blind bake pie crust.
Prepare the apple filling. Peel, core, and slice apples until you have 2 pounds of prepared apples. Coat the apple slices with honey, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice. Let sit for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the apples to a large skillet and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the apples start to soften and juices slightly thicken.
Make the crumble topping. In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, honey, butter, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until combined and crumbly.
Bake the pie. Scoop the slightly cooled filling into the pie crust. Crumble the topping into an even layer over the top of the pie. Put the pie on a cookie sheet and bake in a 425° F oven for 10 minutes, then lower to 350° F, tent with foil, and bake for 45 – 50 minutes.
Let cool and enjoy! Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before serving.

Tips

The following tips will help make your pie making experience a success.

Use large apples. Using large apples makes prep time faster! If you use small apples you’ll need more apples to get the needed 2 pound of prepped apples. Smalls apples equals more peeling and coring. Large apples equals less peeling and coring. So, if you want to cut down on prep, find large apples for this pie.
Cut apples into 1/4” slices. Try to cut your apples into even 1/4” thick slices. I like cutting the apples into slices instead of cubes because slices stack into layers that hold together better than cubes do.
Tent with foil. You’ll need to tent this pie with tin foil so the crumble topping doesn’t burn. Honey, which is the sweetener in this crumble topping, browns more easily than regular can sugar or other sugars, so it’s especially important to tent this particular recipe with foil during baking.
How to easily make a tin foil “tent”: Get about an 18” length of aluminum foil. Turn over a large bowl and loosely shape the foil around the bottom of the bowl. Now you’ve got a foil “tent” to place on top of your pie.
Bake on a baking tray. To protect the bottom of your oven from the juices that may boil over the edges of the pie during baking, bake your pie on a rimmed baking tray. That way the tray will catch the juices and keep your oven clean!

Storing

Once the pie is completely cool, cover it with plastic wrap and keep on the kitchen counter for up to two days.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this healthy Dutch apple pie is a delicious way to enjoy a classic dessert.

Try making this delightful pie today and share it with family and friends for a tasty treat that everyone will love. Embrace the joy of baking and make your kitchen a hub for enjoying dessert together!