• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • The story behind the name
    • My Journey to Veganism
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Sponsor

Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes

Kid tested, family friendly, allergy safe vegan recipes!

  • Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Beverage
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Entree
    • Kid-Friendly
    • Lunch
    • Salad
    • Side Dish
    • Snack
  • Food Allergies
  • Shop
    • Fried Dandelions’ Favorites
    • Veganize Me
    • Let It Snow E-Book
  • Articles
    • Vegan Resource Articles
    • Guest Posts & Press

Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie

October 28, 2016 By Sarah 33 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Vegan Apple Pie is the quintessential all American comfort food.  It’s hard to beat a buttery, flakey crust, soft cinnamon flavored apples, and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!  (PIN it now!)

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

Fall brings an abundance of apples…which in turn has me cooking up all kinds of delicious apple treats!  In the past month I’ve made Applesauce, Hard Apple Cider Bread, Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding with Apples, and Apple Streusel Muffins!  But my very favorite thing to make is my Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie.  It has a perfect buttery, flakey crust, warm apples swimming in cinnamon, and an amazing sugary crumb topping.  Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and I’m pretty sure that this is what Heaven will be like.

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

My Aunt Betty was actually not a true blood relative, but she was, for all intents and purposes, a surrogate Grandma to me.  She and my Uncle George took my newlywed parents under their wings when they first moved to Boston.  They hosted big dinners each week for all of the young 20 somethings from their church, my parents included.  I’d like to think that my Aunt Betty might be partly responsible for my mom’s gift of hospitality—my mom can throw quite a party!  My Aunt Betty and Uncle George were the very first people to meet me when I was born—they actually drove my mom to the hospital!  Each year we would go to their house in Boston for holidays—I have such good memories of driving through the snow at Christmas, seeing the lights of oncoming traffic as my Dad drove through dark back roads in the Boston suburbs, overhearing NPR on the radio, and singing in my head “over the river and through the woods….to Aunt Betty’s house we go!”

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

My Aunt Betty was an incredible cook.  She was Greek, loved garlic, and didn’t believe in “light” anything.  Everything she made was the real deal.  Including this pie.  She first taught me to make this pie one summer when I was maybe 11 or 12?  My sister Hannah and I (at the time our family was living in Philadelphia) had flown up to visit Aunt Betty for the week.  I still have the recipe card, transcribed in my scribbly junior high writing, more than 25 years later!

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

^^^ My original copy of her recipe, complete with notes from my mom, who still uses this recipe herself!

It’s true that her original recipe called for lard rather than shortening, but really, who wants lard in a pie? Vegan shortening stands in perfectly well.  This pie bakes up in just under an hour, with pretty minimal hands on time.  This is a French style apple pie, which I happen to think is a whole lot easier to make.  Because the crumb topping is loose, rather than structured like a traditional lattice top, it sits right on top of the apples. As they cook down and shrink, the crumb top goes right down with them, so there’s no ugly gap when you cut into it.  However, if you are like Irving, and really prefer a crust on top as well, feel free to double up the crust recipe.

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

My Aunt Betty passed away nearly 6 years ago now.  I think of her often, especially when I’m cooking.  I’d like to think that she would be so proud of me and the hobby chef that I’ve become.  And I think she’d be really happy that I’m still making her pie all these years later.

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

Will you join me in making Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie?  While there’s no need for a special occasion to make a pie, this is my go-to for Thanksgiving each year.  A little bit less traditional than a pumpkin pie, but even more delicious.  Be sure to post a picture to social media so that I can see your gorgeous version of Aunt Betty’s pie!  #frieddandelions // @frieddandelions

fried dandelions

Print Recipe

Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie

{Vegan} Apple Pie is the quintessential all American comfort food. It's hard to beat a buttery, flakey crust, soft cinnamon flavored apples, and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Course: Pie
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 -12 slices
Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

Crust

  • 2 1/4 cups flour I use all purpose
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons shortening I use Earth Balance, cut into small cubes
  • 1/3 cup cold water

Filling

  • 6 cups peeled and diced cooking apples I like Fuji or Gala
  • 1/4 cup flour I use all purpose
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice apple cider vinegar works too

French Crumb Topping

  • 1 cup flour I use all purpose
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegan butter cubed (I use Earth Balance)

Instructions

For the crust:

  • In the food processor, fitted with the pastry blade, mix flour, salt, and sugar in a bowl (alternately, this can be done by hand).
  • Add the shortening. Pulse until in becomes crumbly.
  • Add the water and pulse until it becomes a cohesive dough (you want to do this as quickly as you can, with minimal processing).
  • Cover with plastic and put in the fridge while you work on the filling.

For the filling:

  • Preheat oven to 450°.
  • Combine the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
  • Roll out the now chilled dough. I use a baking mat with flour to prevent it from sticking. Roll out the dough to be about the size of your pie plate, with about 1" overlap.
  • Carefully lift the rolled out crust into the pie plate.
  • Fold over the excess dough and pinch around the outside of the dough to make a crimped decorative crust.
  • Fill the crust with the apple filling

For the crumb topping:

  • Combine flour, sugars, and salt into a bowl.
  • Add the cubed butter and mix with your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  • Sprinkle over the apples. There will be plenty of crumb topping—use your hands to lightly pack it down.
  • Bake in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes
  • Reduce the temperature to 400°.
  • Bake for 40 minutes more.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool and let the juices from the apples set before cutting.
  • Serve with vanilla ice cream!

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

^^^ I love my notes at the end of the recipe, complete with smiley face exclamation marks.  Desserts have always been very important to me!

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

fried dandelions // vegan apple piefried dandelions // vegan apple pie

fried dandelions // vegan apple pie

 

Filed Under: Dessert, Recipe Tagged With: apple pie, apples, fall, Thanksgiving

Previous Post: « Interview with Tom Thanu—Owner of Spice Route
Next Post: Tostadas with Hearts of Palm Ceviche—Vegan! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Riya says

    April 30, 2020 at 7:37 am

    icecream on top of apple pie.. just a lovely combination

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      April 30, 2020 at 7:50 pm

      It’s the best, isn’t it!!!

      Reply
  2. Kelsey says

    November 23, 2016 at 5:40 am

    Do you know about how many apples you needed for this?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 24, 2016 at 10:30 pm

      I’m sorry, just seeing this message now. I use about 6-7. It depends on the size of the apples!

      Reply
  3. Mel | avirtualvegan.com says

    November 4, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    What a lovely tribute to your Aunt Betty! Fab recipe :O)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 4, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Thank you! I miss her, but I’m still glad that we can remember her with fabulous dishes like her famous pie!

      Reply
  4. Cadry says

    November 3, 2016 at 11:06 am

    Your notes at the bottom of the recipe card are so cute! You REALLY don’t want to forget to serve the apple pie with ice cream or whipped cream. 🙂 I didn’t realize that Earth Balance made shortening. I will have to remember that the next time I’m making a pie!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 3, 2016 at 7:58 pm

      Ha, yes, I have always taken dessert very seriously! The Earth Balance shortening is in a green box. I think Spectrum also makes a good one?

      Reply
  5. Becky Striepe says

    November 2, 2016 at 5:19 am

    This pie looks amazing, and I am in awe of your Aunt Betty!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      Aw, thank you! She was the best! I miss cooking with her—I feel like I would appreciate it so much more now than I did when I was a kid! And yes, the pie is amazing!!! I wish I could send you one!

      Reply
  6. Jenn says

    November 1, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    What sweet memories! Food always tastes best when it’s accompanied by love and family traditions. And I LOVE that crumbly topping – my favorite way to top a pie.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      Yes! I love it too, and it’s so much easier than a lattice top! And I agree, family memories make food taste so much better!

      Reply
  7. Mary Ellen @ VNutrition says

    November 1, 2016 at 9:28 am

    That is such a nice story! I love hearing how recipes come about especially if they’re passed down. This pie looks so good! Perfect for fall!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:02 pm

      Thank you! It is delicious—you’re right—perfect for this time of year!!!

      Reply
  8. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says

    October 31, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    I love this story! Aunt Betty would be so proud of you.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:03 pm

      Thank you! That makes me teary eyed just reading that!

      Reply
  9. Ginny says

    October 31, 2016 at 6:37 am

    Love your vintage photos and I am diving into this pie!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:05 pm

      Thank you! It was so much fun to go through all of my old family photos to dig these out!

      Reply
  10. Dianne says

    October 31, 2016 at 5:55 am

    I love that you still have your aunt’s hand-written recipe card, and I love that you were able to veganize her pie recipe!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 2, 2016 at 10:04 pm

      It’s actually my hand written card! I copied it from her when I was in middle school! My mom has hung on to it in her recipe binder for years—like at least 25!

      Reply
  11. Leslie says

    October 29, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Thank you for the recipe, and thank you for correctly writing “for all intents and purposes” instead of for all intensive purposes! I cannot believe how often I see that!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      October 29, 2016 at 11:30 pm

      Ha, yes, it doesn’t make any sense the other way! Those things drive me nuts!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 50 vegan Thanksgiving recipes & resources - Cadry's Kitchen says:
    October 12, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    […] Vegan apple pie – Fried Dandelions […]

    Reply
  2. Best Pie Apples — Practical Self Reliance says:
    September 17, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    […] Vegan Apple Pie (No butter vegan recipe) […]

    Reply
  3. Dairy-Free Pies: Over 75 Recipes for the Holidays | All SlavaS says:
    November 15, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    […] Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie (additionally vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and optionally soy-free) […]

    Reply
  4. 21 Best Vegan Recipes for "I Love Food" Day | Serving Realness says:
    September 9, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    […] Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie from Fried Dandelions […]

    Reply
  5. My Favorite Vegan Holiday Recipes - Fried Dandelions says:
    April 14, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    […] Apple Pie […]

    Reply
  6. Grandpa Joel's Vegan Ham Hocks and Beans - Fried Dandelions says:
    January 11, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    […] Aunt Vegan Betty’s Apple Pie […]

    Reply
  7. 47 of the Most Popular Vegan Recipes of 2016 - Cheftographer says:
    December 30, 2016 at 11:30 am

    […] Vegan Apple Pie by Fried Dandelions  […]

    Reply
  8. Champagne Sangria with Pineapple and Berries - Fried Dandelions says:
    December 29, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    […] this year—with our two wild kiddos.  That means that we’ll likely be carrying on my Aunt Betty and Mom’s traditions of a family game night with some festive appetizers and snacks. […]

    Reply
  9. 20 Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving! - Fried Dandelions says:
    November 20, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    […] show stopping desserts for you!  Pumpkin Chocolate Cake with Ginger for the chocolate fans, and Apple Pie for those who prefer a fruity dessert.  Here’s the secret though—you don’t have to […]

    Reply
  10. Dairy-Free Pies: Over 75 Recipes for the Holidays says:
    November 20, 2016 at 11:40 am

    […] Aunt Betty’s Vegan Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and optionally soy-free) […]

    Reply
  11. Vegan Thanksgiving ~ 15 Recipes to make Thanksgiving Cruelty-Free! says:
    November 20, 2016 at 4:28 am

    […] Vegan Apple Pie […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

FREE DELIVERY!

Sign up to receive new blog posts hand delivered to your inbox! PLUS you'll receive a free downloadable kitchen art print when you subscribe!

Hi! I'm Sarah.

Welcome to my corner of the internet, where I share family friendly vegan recipes with an allergy safe spin. I'm so glad you're here! Read more about Sarah »

Instagram

Are you on Facebook?

Footer

Affiliate Notice

This site contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. I only recommend brands I personally use and trust. Thanks for supporting Fried Dandelions!

Copyright Notice

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sarah De la Cruz and Fried Dandelions with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

PRIVACY POLICY

Please click here to view Privacy Policy.

Copyright © 2023 Fried Dandelions · CONTACT · ABOUT

MENU
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • About Me
    • The story behind the name
    • My Journey to Veganism
  • Contact Me
  • Articles
    • Guest Posts & Press
    • Reviews
    • Vegan Resource Articles
  • Food Allergies
  • Shop
    • Fried Dandelions’ Favorites
    • Veganize Me
    • Let It Snow E-book
  • Sponsor