Name: Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 vegan pie crusts (double recipe); 7-8 medium sized apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are best); 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 3 tablespoons all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons vegan butter; few tablespoons non-dairy milk for brushing pie crust; coarse sugar for sprinkling, optional

Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 54 reviews

If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s completely plant-based and bursting with cozy fall flavors, let me introduce you to this Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe. Trust me, whether you’re a longtime vegan or just experimenting, this pie nails that classic apple pie feeling—flaky crust, tender spiced filling, and just the right balance of sweetness. Stick with me and I’ll walk you through every step so you end up with a slice worth savoring.

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Sweetness and Spice: The combination of cinnamon, vanilla, and just the right sugar amount keeps the filling perfectly warm and comforting without being overpowering.
Flaky Vegan Crust: Making the crust from scratch might sound intimidating, but chilling the dough and using vegan butter gives you that golden, tender crust every time.
Perfect Apple Selection: Using crisp apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp ensures the filling holds up well while softening nicely during cooking.
Simple Yet Effective Techniques: Cooking the filling before baking seals in flavor and helps to avoid a soggy bottom crust.

Vegan Apple Pie, Vegan Apple Pie Recipe, Plant-Based Apple Pie, Fall Vegan Desserts, Vegan Pie Crust - A white pie dish holds an apple pie with a golden brown, slightly rough textured crust sprinkled with coarse sugar on top, cut open to reveal a layer of soft, thinly sliced apples inside, surrounded by thick apple juice creating a glossy, light brown pool at the bottom. The white marbled surface under the dish has two red and yellow apples resting beside it, adding a fresh look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This pie is all about harmony — ingredients that individually shine but marry perfectly to give you that quintessential apple pie experience, without any animal products. Also, if you want to up your game, choosing good-quality apples and vegan butter really makes a noticeable difference.

Vegan Apple Pie, Vegan Apple Pie Recipe, Plant-Based Apple Pie, Fall Vegan Desserts, Vegan Pie Crust - Flat lay of a variety of fresh apples including bright green Granny Smiths and warm red Honeycrisps, some whole and some sliced to show their crisp texture, beside a small pile of golden vegan butter with a smooth, creamy look, a heap of ground cinnamon in rich brown powder form, scattered vanilla beans and a small glass jar of pure vanilla extract with a dark amber liquid inside, fresh lemon halves with bright yellow flesh and glossy green leaves, a neat mound of white granulated sugar sparkling softly in natural light, and a small pile of all-purpose flour with its fine, powdery texture, all beautifully arranged and contrasting on a clean white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Vegan Pie Crusts: Using homemade or good-quality vegan crusts adds that flaky texture; chill the dough well to avoid shrinkage during baking.
Apples: Granny Smith and Honeycrisp offer a nice tartness and hold their shape, which balances sweetness and prevents mushiness.
Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and prevents the apples from browning while layering a subtle tang.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens without overpowering; you can adjust depending on how tart your apples are.
All-Purpose Flour: Works as the thickening agent for the filling, ensuring it isn’t runny.
Ground Cinnamon: Classic spice that warms up the flavor profile.
Vanilla Extract: Brings depth and rounds out the spices and fruit.
Vegan Butter: Adds richness and helps with that golden brown finish on top.
Non-Dairy Milk: For brushing the crust to get that beautiful shine and optionally sprinkling coarse sugar for crunch.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

One of the best things about this Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe is how easily you can make it your own. I often swap spices or mix different apples, and every time it’s magic. Don’t be afraid to tailor it a little—pie is all about comfort and personal touches!

Try Adding Nutmeg or Allspice: I’ve added a pinch of nutmeg occasionally when I feel like layering the spice even more—it gives the pie a cozy complexity.
Use a Mix of Apples: Combining tart Granny Smiths with sweeter Honeycrisps or Pink Ladies offers a nice balance of flavors and textures I’ve come to love.
Make it Gluten-Free: When I’ve had gluten-sensitive guests, I’ve switched to a gluten-free crust and used cornstarch instead of flour for thickening—the pie held up beautifully.
Add Chopped Nuts: For a bit of crunch, try folding in some toasted walnuts or pecans into the filling; it’s a delightful surprise.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe

Step 1: Chill Your Pie Dough

After making or unwrapping your two vegan pie crusts, don’t just dive right into rolling them. I like to roll them into balls and chill them well in the fridge while prepping the filling. This resting period relaxes the gluten, making the dough much easier to roll out and preventing shrinkage when baking.

Step 2: Cook the Apple Filling

Peel and slice your apples evenly—that’s key to cooking them uniformly. Toss them in a large saucepan with lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir frequently over medium heat until they just start to soften, about 10-15 minutes. This pre-cooking step thickens the filling and concentrates the flavors, so no surprises when your pie bakes!

Step 3: Assemble the Pie

Roll out the bottom crust on a floured surface to about 12 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan—my trick is to gently wrap it around the rolling pin and unroll it over the pan. Trim any excess dough hanging over the edges. Pour your filling in, mound it slightly, and dot vegan butter on top to get that luscious, golden finish in the oven.

Roll out the second dough ball for your top crust, and position it gently over your filling. Seal the edges by pinching them together and create those classic fluted edges for that homemade touch. Don’t forget to cut a few slits on top so steam can escape while baking—this keeps your crust from getting soggy!

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Bake at 425°F for about 40 minutes until the crust is beautifully golden and bubbly. If you see the edges browning too quickly, pop on a pie shield or loosely wrap foil just around the rim to prevent burning. Then, I let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes—this step helps the filling set nicely, so your slices come out clean and gorgeous.

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Pro Tips for Making Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe

Pre-Cook the Filling: This little extra step ensures your filling isn’t watery and flavors are well-developed; I always do it, and it makes a huge difference.
Chill Your Dough Thoroughly: I learned the hard way—warm dough tears easily and shrinks in the oven; resting it is your best friend.
Use a Mix of Apples: Combining tart and sweet apples gives the filling complexity—it’s a trick I swear by for perfect texture and flavor.
Don’t Skip the Ventilation Slits: Without them, steam gets trapped and can make the crust soggy or cause the filling to overflow.

How to Serve Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe

Vegan Apple Pie, Vegan Apple Pie Recipe, Plant-Based Apple Pie, Fall Vegan Desserts, Vegan Pie Crust - A slice of apple pie sits on a white plate with a white marbled background. The pie has two layers of golden-brown crust, one on the bottom and one on top, with the top crust slightly cracked and sprinkled with sugar. Between the crust layers are thin slices of light yellow apples mixed with a brown cinnamon spice, visible in the thick filling. On top of the pie slice is a smooth, round scoop of white vanilla ice cream that starts to melt slightly around the edges. In the background, part of the full apple pie in a white dish and a red apple are faintly seen. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love topping my slices with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or a scoop of non-dairy vanilla ice cream—the chilled creaminess cuts through the warm pie and adds indulgence. A light dusting of cinnamon on top brings it all home perfectly.

Side Dishes

Pair the pie with a warm cup of spiced chai or a mug of rich coffee for the ultimate cozy combo. If you’re serving it at a meal, try light salads or roasted veggie platters to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I sometimes bake mini hand pies using the same filling and dough—it’s fun and portable! Another idea is weaving a lattice crust on top or dusting with powdered sugar for a classy look that impresses guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to cover leftover pie loosely with foil or plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. It actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors mingle more—just bring it back to room temp or warm slightly before serving.

Freezing

I’ve frozen fully baked pie wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. When I’m ready to enjoy it, I thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat it in the oven for a bit—still tastes fresh and delicious!

Reheating

To keep the crust crisp, I reheat slices in a toaster oven or conventional oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes instead of the microwave. It’s worth the extra time to keep that perfect texture.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought vegan pie crusts for this recipe?

Absolutely! Just check the ingredients to confirm they’re vegan since some store-bought crusts include butter or lard. While homemade crusts elevate the flavor and texture, store-bought options are a great shortcut and still yield delicious results.
What apples work best for the Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe?

I recommend tart varieties like Granny Smith combined with sweeter ones like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. This mix delivers the right balance between tanginess and sweetness plus a nice firm texture that bakes beautifully without turning mushy.
Can I make this apple pie gluten-free?

Yes! Use a gluten-free pie crust recipe and swap the all-purpose flour in the filling with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend. It might slightly alter texture, but I’ve had great success with this swap.
How do I prevent the pie crust from getting soggy?

Pre-cooking the filling as in this recipe helps. Also, chilling the dough well, using a thickener like flour, venting the top crust, and baking at the right temperature all prevent sogginess. Crimping the edges tightly also seals in moisture where you want it.
What’s the best way to serve leftover pie?

Bring leftover pie to room temperature or gently reheat it in an oven to refresh the crust’s crispness. Serving with plant-based whipped cream or a scoop of vegan ice cream is always a hit.

Final Thoughts

This Perfect Vegan Apple Pie Recipe is truly close to my heart—not only because it’s delicious but because it brings people together around the table without any compromise on classic flavors. I hope you enjoy making (and devouring) it as much as I do. Remember, pie making is as much about love as precision, so have fun with it and share generously!