Smoked Apple Pie

Smoked Apple Pie is such a flavorful dessert. Who knew that you could make a juicy and delicious pie right in the smoker? The sweetness of the apples paired with the smokiness creates an unforgettable experience that will have you wanting one more slice.

Making a pie is guaranteed to have a ton of flavor, but once you smoke a pie, it's a whole new level.  The best part is adding the ingredients and then letting the smoker take over and do all the work.

The pie crust gets nice and flaky, and the crumb topping adds the perfect texture. Don't forget about the sweet apples that literally melt in your mouth. This is the perfect ending to any grill-out, BBQ, or fun family favorite.

No one will believe your homemade apple pie was actually made in the pellet grill or smoker! Make a smoked pumpkin pie to go with for a fantastic Thanksgiving feast!

Be sure to check out my Smoked Cheesecake for another fun and flavorful dessert. And this Smoked Bread Pudding is incredible.

Ingredients

Unbaked pie crust - You can buy this premade at the store or make your own homemade pie crust to use. 

Gala apples - Gala apples tend to bake up really well and give a great crunch with a balanced sweetness. You can also use fuji apples, pink lady apples, or granny smith apples for a tarter flavor. Just make sure they are prepped and peeled.

Brown sugar - This is used to help sweeten up the apple pie filling. 

White sugar - White sugar is a must when making pies. 

Flour - All-purpose flour is my flour of choice. 

Lemon juice - Helps to keep the apples from turning brown and adds a good balance of citrus flavor. 

Cinnamon - The cinnamon paired with the sugars is delicious. 

Oats - Quick oats are perfect for creating a crumb topping. 

Butter - If possible, use unsalted butter for this pie recipe. 

Heavy cream - Combined with other ingredients in the food processor to season the sliced apples. 

How to Make a Smoked Apple Pie

Prepping and making this smoked apple pie recipe is easy to do. This is great to make any time of year, but I especially love it during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or fun a fun BBQ dessert during the summer months. It's also best when the fresh apples are in season.

Step One: Preheat smoker to 250. Prepare a bottom crust in a deep dish pie plate or pie pan that you don't mind using in the smoker. I prefer to use a glass pan so I can check the color of the bottom crust. A cast-iron skillet can work as well.

Step Two: Combine the apples and the next 5 ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Step Three: Pour the apples into the pie crust.

Step Four: Combine the topping ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Dump on top of the apples and spread evenly.

Step Five: Place the pie into the smoker. Smoke the apple pie for 2.5 hours. For maximum smoke flavor you can turn on the super smoke feature if you have a Traeger pellet smoker with that setting.

Step Six: Preheat the oven to 450. Bake the pie for 5 minutes on the bottom rack to brown the bottom crust and the topping.

Variations

Change the fruit - You can easily make this with fresh peaches or pear as well.

Spices - Add nutmeg, ginger, prepared apple pie spice, cardamon, cloves, or any other sweet spice you like. Vanilla extract is a nice addition to the filling. One of my favorite apple pie varieties included cherries and vanilla beans.

Topping - I always serve smoked apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some fresh whipped cream. Caramel sauce also goes very well with apple pie.

Add a top pie crust - If you don't want to make the crumble, you don't have to. You can cook it with a top crust instead. Just make small slits on the top of the pie crust to let the steam escape before you add it to the smoker. You can add an egg wash if you like. Sometimes we cut out shapes like a star or leaf with a tiny cookie cutter for a decorative crust.

Common Questions

What are other good topping ideas for this simple pie recipe?

You can add whipped cream, drizzle with caramel sauce, or even sprinkle on more cinnamon and sugar. Maple syrup would be yummy to drizzle as well.

Can I use frozen apples for this recipe?

Fresh apples are best. This is because frozen fruit tends to release liquid as it cooks and thaws and that will make your pie crust a big huge mess.

How do I store leftover pie?

If you have leftovers, you need to cover the pie or add it to an airtight container. It should be kept in the refrigerator for the best flavor and taste. (you can even just cover the pie with aluminum foil or plastic wrap while storing)

Do I need to peel the apples for this pie recipe?

Yes, for the best texture, plan on peeling the applies. This is why you want to use crisp apples so that they hold together while cooking. You don't want mushy apples! If you prefer not to peel the apple try this Cast Iron Irish Apple Cake instead. It is cooked in a skillet with skin on apples.

Can I freeze apple pie?

This simple pie recipe is best served fresh. It keeps the crumble and the pie crust texture delicious and makes the apples stay fir as well.

 

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Recipe

Originally Published August 17, 2022. Revised and Republished 2023.