• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Southern Soul

A Southern Soul

Easy Recipes & Entertaining Ideas For Everyday Life

Search
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Comfort Food
    • Crockpot/Slow Cooker
    • Desserts
    • Grilling
    • Main Dish
    • Party Food
    • Salads
    • Side Dish
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Stews
    • Southern Classics
  • Midweek Menu
  • eBook
  • About
  • Shop
Home » Blog » Recipes » Desserts

Best Homemade Apple Crostata

by Donya Mullins 4 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

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.

Golden and beautifully baked Apple Crostata served with homemade whipped cream, served on a place with a gold fork.

Pin This Recipe Here

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 You’ll Find In This Post

  • Pin This Recipe Here
  • What Is A Crostata?
  • What’s The Difference Between A Crostata, A Galette, And A Pie?
  • Ingredients Needed To Make This Recipe
    • Scroll Down For Measurements And Instructions
  • Helpful Tips To Make Homemade Crostata
  • How To Make The Best Apple Crostata
  • Topping Ideas
  • Often Asked Questions And Answers
  • More Apple Recipes

Every time I make this dessert, people go crazy for it. And I get lots of questions about its name. So, let’s clear things up right from the start.

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 a variety of 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.

Apple, pie dough, apple butter, sugar, cinnamon and other ingredients gathered for apple crostata recipe.

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.

Scroll Down For Measurements And Instructions

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.
Golden and beautifully baked Apple Crostata served with homemade whipped cream, being cooled on parchment paper.

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.

Topping Ideas

This is where things get fun! Just like with apple pie, there are so many creative toppings for apple crostata. Here are a few ideas:

  • Fresh whipped cream, powdered sugar, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
  • Toasted pecans or walnuts, chocolate chip or dried cranberries.
Golden and beautifully baked Apple Crostata served with homemade whipped cream, being cooled on parchment paper.

Often Asked Questions And Answers

What are the best apples to use for this recipe?

You can use any type of apple you like. Just make sure to use apples that are firm and crisp, so they don’t fall apart when you cook them.

Can I make this apple crostata recipe ahead of time?

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.

Can I freeze homemade crostata?

You can! 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.

Sliced Apple Crostata sliced and being served with a pie server and homemade whipped cream.

More Apple Recipes

  • Skillet Cinnamon Apples
  • Apple Pull Apart Bread
  • Carrot Apple Salad
  • Apple Cider Mimosas
  • Grandma’s Apple Crisp
  • Broccoli Apple Salad
Sliced Apple Crostata sliced and being served with a pie server and homemade whipped cream.
No ratings yet

Best Homemade Apple Crostata

Author: Donya Mullins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 223kcal
Print Pin Rate
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
Sliced Apple Crostata sliced and being served with a pie server and homemade whipped cream.
Did you make my Best Homemade Apple Crostata?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @asouthernsoul, and use the hashtag #asouthernsoul!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

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

Want more?

Then grab my Ebook!

1 Week of Family Favorite Menus

 7 menus, 29 recipes, 41 pages, tons of tips!

Ideas, recipes, and strategies to make easy meals loaded with flavor. Each of these recipes is affordable and simple to prepare using common ingredients.

Buy Now
More Info
Arrow icon in teal blue for email opt-in.

Ultimate Spring Recipe Guide

FREE Email Bonus: Spring into flavor with delicious seasonal recipes!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




  1. Pam Cook

    May 20, 2023 at 12:00 am

    Made it tastes amazing. How long can it
    Be kept in fridge?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Donya Mullins

      May 29, 2023 at 1:37 pm

      About 2 days, stored in an airtight container.

      Reply
  2. Bonnie

    June 7, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Can you make this without the apple butter?

    Reply
    • Donya

      June 26, 2018 at 2:34 pm

      Hey Bonnie. Yes, you can leave out the apple butter but will loose a bit of flavor. Let me know how it turns out.
      XO,
      ~Donya

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Donya with A Southern Soul

Meet A Southern Soul

Hey, there! I’m Donya and welcome to A Southern Soul. I love to cook and entertain with easy to make recipes and simple ideas that make people feel special. Read More

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

My New eBook!

1 Week of Family Favorite Menus

Buy Now
More Info

Ultimate Spring Recipe Guide

FREE Email Bonus: Spring into flavor with delicious seasonal recipes!

Trending Now

  • Crock Pot Chicken Thighs in bowl of pot with serving fork.Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
  • Baked Potatoes made in the Air Fryer are tender and fully on the outside with a crispy skin that makes them irresistible. Easy to make, just add your favorite toppings like butter, chives, sour cream, salt and pepper.Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
  • Hot Dogs in buns cooked in the air fryerEasy Air Fryer Hot Dogs
  • Celery stuffed with cream cheese, bacon, herbs and cheddar cheese are outrageously good! Served as an appetizer or snack, this is a recipe that's sure to become a favorite at parties, BBQs and family gatherings.Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery
  • Warm dip made with spinach and artichokes.Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip
  • Ripe tomatoes and mozzarella pearls make the Best Caprese Pasta Salad.Best Caprese Pasta Salad (Fresh and Easy)
Donya with A Southern Soul

Meet A Southern Soul

Hey, there! I’m Donya and welcome to A Southern Soul. I love to cook and entertain with easy to make recipes and simple ideas that make people feel special. Read More

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recipes by Category

  • Air Fryer
  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Bread
  • Breakfast
  • Comfort Food
  • Crockpot/Slow Cooker
  • Desserts
  • Grilling
  • How To
  • Main Dish
  • Meal Planning
  • Party Food
  • Round Ups
  • Salads
  • Side Dish
  • Snacks
  • Soups & Stews
  • Southern Classics
  • All Recipes

© 2023 · A Southern Soul · Cookie Policy · Privacy Policy