How to Make Canned Apple Pie Filling Taste Better

Eye level view of piece of apple pie with a bite taken out of it.

5 from 1 vote

How to Make Canned Apple Pie Filling Taste Better

See how easy it is to doctor up canned apple pie filling into a delicious filling for pies and cakes and decadent topping for pancakes and ice cream. All you need are a few easy tips and simple ingredients you might already have!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 92kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

20 oz. apple pie filling
½ teaspoon cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
1 pinch allspice (or 1/16 teaspoon)
⅛ teaspoon cardamom
⅛ teaspoon ginger
1 pinch cayenne pepper start small and taste
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ cup fresh apple slices ¼" thick
½ tablespoon butter

Instructions

Place the apple pie filling in a mixing bowl. Stir in the spices, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla.
In a small bowl, stir the brown sugar and cornstarch together. Add the mixture to the pie filling and stir until well combined.
For baked desserts: Stir in the fresh apples. Place the filling in the baking dish and top it with dabs of butter. Bake. The apples will soften and the cornstarch will thicken the filling as it bakes.
For toppings and no-bake desserts: Sautee the apples in the butter until soft and add to the filling. Activate (and cook) the cornstarch by warming the filling over medium heat until bubbly and translucent.

Notes

When adding the spices, start small and taste as you go to ensure the flavor is to your liking.

To use this filling as a topping and in no-bake desserts, warm it over medium heat until bubbly and translucent to activate and cook the cornstarch.

For a 9-10" apple pie, double all of the above ingredients.

Click here for a full recipe to make an apple pie with canned apple pie filling.

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