The Best Ever Apple Streusel Pie

This is my family’s favorite Apple Streusel Pie recipe. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best apple pie of all time (not that I’m biased). It’s the kind of pie I love to bake. The scent wraps around you, buttery, cinnamon, and a little toasty. You just have to pause and breathe it in. It makes it taste that much better when you finally get a slice.

Apple Streusel Pie

There’s something magical that happens when you top an apple pie with streusel. It adds a layer of texture and new flavors to the pie, that you’d otherwise miss out on. So, I’ll take a slice of this apple streusel pie over conventional apple pie any day.

If you’ve ever had a soggy pie crust when making apple pie, this apple streusel pie can help! Since there’s no top crust to potentially trap the steam, the filling thickens beautifully and the bottom crust stays flaky. Plus, the topping absorbs a bit of apple juice as it bakes, so it caramelizes slightly instead of getting mushy. I call that a win.

When baking the pie, be sure to keep a close eye on it for the last 15 minutes of baking, and if it starts to brown too fast, cover loosely with a sheet of foil.

Streusel Topping for Apple Pie

One of the best parts about using a streusel topping for apple pie is how forgiving it is. The crust doesn’t have to be perfect. Even if the streusel clumps a bit unevenly, it bakes into something beautiful. It’s the kind of dessert that doesn’t punish imperfection.

You can serve this with a scoop of luscious vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream. If I’m feeling nostalgic, I’ll eat it the way my grandmother did, with a bit of freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese sprinkled on top.

What type of apples should I use to make apple pie?

The good news about this recipe is that it’s a very flexible recipe with regards to the kind of apples you want to use. I’ve made it with loads of different apples. And, even just the leftover mixed apples you happen to have on hand will work just fine.

For those of you who prefer more tartness, granny smith is a great option, perhaps the quintessential tart baking apple. This apple streusel pie recipe is sweet enough that this apple works nicely. But, I also know people who adore the sweetness of Honeycrisp apples, even for baking. They’ll work here, too.

Pie Recipes

If you’re looking for a couple more pie recipes to share at your next gathering or holiday, be sure to check out my pumpkin cheesecake pie and my cranberry apple crumb pie. They both have a delicious streusel topping.

And, for those of us who want an indulgent dessert (because who doesn’t?), allow me to steer you toward this decadent dark chocolate pecan pie. Dark chocolate is the perfect addition to the classic recipe, taking your Thanksgiving pie up a notch.

If you love of pecan pie, you have got to try my pecan pie cobbler. It has all the awesome buttery sweet pecan goodness in a cobbler-style dessert that you can stir together in just a few minutes. This was a HUGE win from the very first bite.

Do you want to know the secret about mock apple pie? There’s no fruit in it, at all! For over a hundred years, this has been a thrifty way to make a sweet treat with nothing but pantry staples, especially when fresh fruit was hard to find.

{originally published 9/30/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/30/25}