Cooking Time:
90 minutesServings:
8
Ingredients
One prepared pie crust Filling: 5 large apples (I like gala) 2 T flour 1 1/4 c. sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 c. half & half Topping: 1 stick of margarine 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. flour
This really is the Best Ever Apple Pie! It’s actually baked in a paper bag – not crocked but since it’s Thanksgiving, and I am thankful for this Crocking community, I wanted to share this wonderful recipe. My Mother-in-Law is known for this recipe and even non-apple pie lovers rave about it! I only make this for special occasions. If you want to impress your dinner guests this holiday, make this pie! 🙂
- Set the margarine out to soften a bit.
- Peel the apples and slice into thin pieces
- Toss with the “filling” ingredients (flour, sugar, cinnamon, half & half)
- Place in prepared pie crust (I make a semi-homemade one like this one from Betty Crocker. )
- Place “topping” ingredients (softened margarine, flour, sugar) in a bowl and knead with your (clean) hands until crumbly. (This is messy – your hands will be full of the topping but it’s worth the finished product!)
- Crumble the topping over the apple pie. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get it as evenly as possible.
- Place pie in a brown paper grocery sack and close with a paper clip, staple, or tape.
- Place sack directly on oven rack.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes then reduce oven temp to 350 and bake another 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
I hope you love this as much as my family! Happy Thanksgiving!
XOXO,
Jenn
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Which type of apples do you recommend?
I have used different apples, but always a red apple, and tend to buy what is on sale…. Don’t really like Red Delicious, as they don’t seem to bake too well for me. Hope this helps!
Granny Smith and Reds combine are real good.
Macintosh (a Michigan apple grown for their sweetness and are AWESOME baked in any way!) Honey Crisp and Gala are the best [in this order] for baking, ENJOY!
Hi, just found the blog…and I look forward to trying some of these.
Anyways, my husband LOVES apple pie, so I will have to try this one, but I was just wondering, what does the paper bag do to the baking process? Just wondering 🙂
Hi Catherine, this is my mother-in-laws recipe that was shared with her many many years ago, and my husbands favorite. You will love it. The paper bag gives the pie a woodsy taste, and adds so much flavor, besides the fact it keeps your oven clean, by catching any just that flows over the side. I know it is not a slow cooker meal, but one I wanted to share! ENJOY!
Why doesn’t the paper bag catch fire on an oven rack??
Kim it will catch on fire if you open the oven before it is done baking…. trust me I have done that, so don’t open the oven until it is done. This recipe was passed to me by my mother-in-law, and my hubby’s favorite! Enjoy! I promise you will love this pie.
You mean I have to practice self control and not open the oven to “check” on the pie?! Yikes! lol
Yes Becky, you will have to practice self control, and it really smells delicious too!
Wouldn’t the paper bag catch on fire?
Amber, only if you open the oven while it is baking.. Do not open until your pie is done! 🙂
Do you have to use Margarine? Can we use butter instead?
Use what you would prefer… Enjoy! Delicious, and it will be the talk of your guests…
I am not going to set the paper bag on fire right? I am a foreigner to this whole baking/crockpot/kitchen thing and I am kinda worried 😀
Ina the key is not to open the oven until it is done! If you do the air and the heat can catch it on fire, trust me, as it did happen to my mother-in-law once a long time ago… Don’t worry!
Crock pot girl…..sure hope you’ve utilized copy & paste. Cannot believe how many times you’ve had to answer the question about the paper bag. Much more patient than I am. 🙂
Thnx for sharing all the recipes. I’m actually going to try this. Never made a pie in my life.
Thank you Cindy… Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!
And the paper bag does not catch on fire in the oven?
I know it is a mystery, but please read the other posts, as it will not catch on fire as long as you do not open the oven during the baking period! 🙂
Can I use a homemade pie crust? Do I just put the pie in the baking dish then place it in the bag, do you fold it closed?
Thanks for clarifying.
Yes you can use homemade pie crust, in fact that is the only way I make it. Then slide your pie dish in the paper bag, and you can scotch tap it shut, staple it shut, or paper clip it shut.
I too am nervous about the whole paper bag and fire thing but I will trust you BUT one quick question???
Does it make a difference if it is an electric or gas stove?
It does not, my mother-in-law has electric and I have gas.. You are good to go! Just do not open the oven during the baking time!
Paper burns at 451 degrees. Since the oven is set for 400 there should be no problem.
this may sound dumb, but how does the oven know if the pie is done?…meaning if you open the oven during the baking process vs. opening the oven when it’s done. i want to try, but i’m scared.
Krissie I have baked several of these pies, and they are always done following the directions. Also when it is done, the pie is totally removed from the heat and the bag is not subject to the air and the heat, like it would be if you opened the door on the oven to peek. Also there is nothing to peek at, as you are unable to see the pie! 🙂
golden delicious apples are the best to make pies with!
Golden Delicious us good!
Can you bake it minus the paper bag? I don’t have any but the recipe sounds really good.
Hi Katie, I have never made it without the paper bag, and I’m sure it would be fine. I know the grocery stores still have them on hand, maybe you could ask them for a paper bag. That is what we do in our family.
Do you have to cook it in the paper bag? Will it turn out if you don’t?
I’ve never baked it any other way Billie, but you are welcome to see how it turns out? Enjoy!
Love this! I thinking of making it with maple sugar instead of refined. Do you have any thoughts?
Julie it sounds good, I just don’t vary from the family recipe… Please post back and let me know how your pie turned out! Thank YOU!
what is half & half ?
Laure, half & half is cream that is half cream and half milk. You can find it in the dairy isle at your grocery store. Enjoy!
You should mention the part about the bag catching on fire if the oven is opened to soon so that people don’t get suprised by that and burn themselves or burn their house down… just a thought.
hi rock pot girl
i live in sweden and you can not fine half and half milk here
Clara, You can substitute a tiny bit less that 1/4 cup milk plus 3/4 tsp. of butter melted into milk and this will equal the 1/4 c. Half ad Half needed for the recipe! Hope this helps! Enjoy and Happy Crocking!
I can’t wait to try this I cook my turkey in a paper bag and has never caught fire and it moist and delicious.
Tara we cook our turkey in a paper bag also, and you are correct is it always moist! Only two more days!
Does it matter which rack you put it on? Just the middle one? I can’t wait to try this for Thanksgiving!
Hi,
I have Fat Free Half and Half at home already since I use it for my coffee. Do you think I could use that instead of regular half and half?
Hello Angela, I have not used Fat Free, but please make this recipe your own, since you already have it on hand, I would definitely use the fat free. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
I have read that baking it in the paper bag allows the pie to bake perfectly without burning the crust. I have my second one in the oven right now – these are being served tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner. The first one looks like it turned out great, and I am thinking it may not last through the night with my family! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks Kelly, the pie is a little work cutting all the apples, but I promise your pies will be a hit! It really is a pretty pie! I alway threaten my husband, as he has a hard time staying away from it when it is warm. In fact I always warm his piece up in the microwave because he loves it warm. Thank you so much for posting, you made my night! Happy Thanksgiving!
Pie is in the oven and the bag thing is scaring me a bit. I’m watching it like a hawk.
Enjoy Kim!
Ok I love to cook being why I sell pampered chef but I HATE to bake. I made the apple pie and all I have to say is I am now required to bring this desert every year.
Hi Tracy! I’m so glad you all loved the apple pie! It’s definitely a favorite in our family too. (and with everyone I’ve shared it with) Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Crocking!
Can you use the bag twice as I only have one and baking two pies?
Hi Gina – You should be able to use the bag twice. I haven’t done this but it should be okay as long as you don’t overfill your pie. If the pie is too full when you bake it it will spillover and cause the bag to stick to the pie pan. (It will come off easily but will rip preventing you from being able to use it again.) I have baked this without the bag and it’s not as good but it will still work in a pinch. Good luck & Happy Crocking!
The pie came out beautiful! I’m glad I read about not opening the oven- I’m one of those peekers. Thanks for the great recipe!
So So glad you enjoyed, ours was very good too!
Took the pie to Thanksgiving dinner today…a real hit. Will definitely do again.
Jenn, Thank you so much for the recipe. It was AMAZING!! My Husband is not an apple pie fan and I am NOT a pumpkin fan. So today I made this and a Pumpkin Pie. He has NOT touched the pumpkin. I had not even had a bite when I saw it was over half gone. Mostly by him. Total hit. Tell your MIL thanks. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
The pie was brought by a friend to our home for Thanksgiving! OMG – it was the BEST apple pie I’ve had in years! Very THANKFUL my friend has shared the recipe!
Have to ask. When you say ‘prepared crust’, I’m assuming that you mean that it has been placed in the pie pan, but NOT baked yet. Is that right???
Correct Kay-M! You do not pre-bake the crust.
I have tried making the topping twice following the instructions and both times is has turned out like a moist dough.. any idea what I’m doing wrong?!
Jen it is a moist, and sticky, you just need to sprinkle it around. When it bakes it makes a very tasty topping! You aren’t doing anything wrong. Enjoy! 🙂
Yes, this pie is delicious, but when baking the bag creates an unusual odor. And be sure you do not too high of temps as the bag can burn. Speaking from experience. The pie is absolutely delicious!
sue
bag really stunk up the kitchen, turned black and caught fire and I didn’t open the oven. VERY disappointed! Hope the pie will turn out baking under foil
I believe I stated this before, but actually this happened to my mother-in-law once, and she found her door was not shutting tight and it was letting air in the oven. She had the door repaired, as it was sprung, and her next pie cooked perfectly. Sorry you had a problem. But I am sure it still tasted great!
HI There,
From someone who is not American, but Australian, and just loves your crockpot site, can you advise what half and half is?
There is a lot of things that come up in recipes, that I have no idea what they are.
Thanks for a great book and a great site
Hi Monique, Half and Half is half cream and half milk, and here in the United States we can buy it in our grocery store. So for you, you can use either use cream or possible mix cream and milk together for your half and half. Thank you so much for your question, and Happy Crocking!
Does the pie need to be refrigerated, or is it ok to be stored at room temperature?
Hi Sarah! It is okay to store at room temperature, but I know my father-in-law likes it chilled, so she puts hers in the refrigerator. You will love this recipe. Hands down, absolutely my hubbys favorite! 🙂
My niece and I took this one at Christmas but it did not turn out well for us. The flavor was great so I have high hopes for the next attempt, however, it was more like an apple soup. There was so much juice!! What did we do wrong and what can we do different next time? We want to attempt again at Easter. 🙂
Hello Lori! This is my mother-in-laws recipe, and I have made it many times, and it is always perfect. I am not sure what you may have happened. The half and half is only 1/4 cup, so maybe that was an issue? If you have more questions, please reach out to me! 🙂