Best Homemade Apple Crostata

This is the Best Homemade Apple Crostata; with a golden brown crust and sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling, it is a beautiful dessert perfect for ending any meal! This rustic pie is simple to make and serves any time of the year.

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This Easy Homemade Apple Crostata is a thing of beauty. It’s also out-of-this-world delicious. I mean, honestly, what’s not to love about sweet, tender apples tossed in cinnamon, then wrapped in buttery pie crust and baked until bubbly and golden brown? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

What Is A Crostata?

Crostata is an Italian word that means “crust.” Crostatas are typically a free-form type of tart or pie, made with a simple, rustic pastry crust and various fillings, such as fruit or jam.

What’s The Difference Between A Crostata, A Galette, And A Pie?

There are differences between these three, and which one you make depends on what you are aiming for.

If you like a simple, rustic pastry with a fruit filling, then a crostata is a good choice. If you prefer a more delicate pastry with a lighter filling, then a galette is for you. And, if you like a pastry with a complex, sturdier crust and a variety of filling options, then a pie is a good choice.

Ingredients Needed To Make This Recipe

• Pie Crust – I use store-bought, but you can also make your own.
• Egg
• Sugar
• Granny Smith Apples and Macintosh Apples – Braeburn, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady and Empire apples are the best apple choices for this recipe.
• All-Purpose Flour
• Lemon Juice
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Apple Butter – store-bought is fine to use, but you can also make your own with this recipe.

Helpful Tips To Make Homemade Crostata

• Don’t overcook the apples. They should be tender but still have a bit of a bite to them.
• For more complex flavor and texture, you can use a mix of apple varieties.
• Don’t hold back with the filling. This is what makes a crostata so delicious!
• Use a good quality pastry crust. This will make all the difference in the final result. I use store-bought pie crust, but you can use homemade as well.

How To Make The Best Apple Crostata

1. Heat oven, then using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about a 13-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
2. Spread apple butter over the bottom of the dough, leaving about a 1 ½ inch border.
3. Peel and slice the apples. Toss apple slices, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Arrange apples over apple butter. Sprinkle the top of the apples with additional cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Gently fold in the edges of the dough around the apples, making a free form pie.. Brush the edges with the egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar.
5. Bake crostata until apples are tender and the crust is golden, about 35-45 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Often Asked Questions And Answers

More Apple Recipes

• Skillet Cinnamon Apples
• Apple Pull Apart Bread
• Carrot Apple Salad
• Apple Cider Mimosas
• Grandma’s Apple Crisp
• Broccoli Apple Salad

Best Homemade Apple Crostata

4.17 from 6 reviews

Author: Donya Mullins

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Calories: 223kcal

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Homemade Apple Crostata, with a golden brown crust and sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple filling, is a beautiful dessert perfect for ending any meal! This rustic pie is simple to make and so good to serve any time of the year.

Ingredients

Crust

• ▢ 1 disk of pie dough I use pre-made dough from the refrigerated section in the grocery store.
• ▢ 1 large egg – beaten
• ▢ Sugar

Filling

• ▢ 2 tart apples – Granny Smith or Gala peeled, cored and sliced
• ▢ 2 sweeter apples – McIntosh peeled, cored and sliced
• ▢ ½ cup sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ pinch nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ cup apple butter

Instructions

• ▢
  Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Set aside.
• ▢
  Roll out dough to about a 13-inch circle, on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• ▢
  Spread apple butter over the bottom of the dough, leaving about a 1 ½ inch border around the edge.
• ▢
  Toss apples, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Arrange apples over apple butter. Sprinkle the top of the apples with additional cinnamon and nutmeg.
• ▢
  Gently fold in the edges of the dough around the apples to form a crust.
• ▢
  In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 2 tablespoons of water. Brush the edges of the dough with egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar.
• ▢
  Bake crostata until apples are tender and crust is golden, about 35 minutes.
• ▢
  Let cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

To Make Ahead:

• This is a great recipe to make ahead of time. You can make the crostata and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature before baking.

How To Freeze:

• Wrap the rustic pie in several layers of plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Before baking, let the crostata thaw in the fridge, then bake per the instructions.

Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal · Carbohydrates: 41g · Protein: 2g · Fat: 6g · Sugar: 25g

Did you make this?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @asouthernsoul, and use the hashtag #asouthernsoul!

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This post was originally published in October, 2012 and updated in May, 2023.

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