All Things Apple Pie

There's nothing quite as satisfying as warm apple pie, which is why the flavor of apple pie is just as delicious when infused into sundaes, moonshine, or with any variations of pies you can imagine. From tiny tarts, to hand pies, to robust pies that can serve a crowd, these apple pie desserts are where iconic fall flavor is found. Apple pies also do really well with one shining ingredient: cheddar cheese! You'll find some fantastic cheddar cheese and apple combinations right here to satisfy any apple pie craving that comes along.

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Double-Crust Apple Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis

Double-Crust Apple Pie Recipe

A double crust seals in the apples' natural juices as the pie bakes for full-on apple flavor. Tossing the apples with apple juice keeps them from browning as you peel and slice them, and it adds a boost of apple flavor.

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Brown Butter Apple Pie

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Brown Butter Apple Pie Recipe

Browned butter adds a subtle nutty flavor to the crust, and the filling gets a sweet makeover from two types of apples, rich brown sugar, and just the right amount of warming spices. For the best flavor and texture, mix it up: we chose Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp for sweetness. Serve warm with cold vanilla or butter pecan ice cream for the ultimate Southern dessert. Don't be afraid of trying the lattice crust; in just four easy steps you will have the braided look completed.

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Apple Pie Moonshine

Photo: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Cat Steele; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower

Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe

A delicious apple cider cocktail just so happens to be the perfect autumn drink.

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Apple Pie Sundaes with Cheddar Crust Shards

Photo: Con Poulos

Apple Pie Sundaes with Cheddar Crust Shards Recipe

Using a slightly tart apple, like a Granny Smith or Pink Lady, is key to this frozen-yogurt sundae; sautéing brings out the fruit's sweetness. The crispy, salty cheddar crisps that accompany the sundaes are as good with cocktails as they are with desserts.

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Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Caramel Apple Blondie Pie Recipe

Buttery rich layers of tender cake and caramelized apples add up to one sweet combo. The secret to the crisp, flaky crust? Baking in a cast-iron skillet on a lower oven rack.

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Bacon-Apple Pie

Oxmoor House

Bacon-Apple Pie Recipe

To my eye, this apple pie has an almost medieval look, with its meaty lattice top. To my stomach, it's a modern-day marvel.

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Cheddar-Apple Pie

Photo: Oxmoor House

Cheddar-Apple Pie Recipe
Tart and tangy, sweet and spiced, this intensely flavored homemade apple pie is thickly layered into a sharp cheddar cheese-enhanced crust. It's a gluten-free remake of an American classic!

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Fried Apple Pies

Photo: Melina Hammer; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Fried Apple Pies Recipe

There's enough filling to make a second batch of these delicious pies, or you can freeze it for later. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Caramel Apple Pie with Pastry Cutouts

Caramel Apple Pie with Pastry Cutouts Recipe

Zoe Nathan of Santa Monica's Huckleberry Bakery tops her pies with a variety of cutout shapes; for this one, you'll need a 2 1/2-in. apple-shaped cookie cutter*.

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Sour Cream Apple Pie

Photo: Charles Schiller; Styling: Tracey Seaman

Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe
"Great pie, everyone at the holiday party I took it to was blown away." -laebrown

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Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie

Photo: Oxmoor House

Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie Recipe
This recipe was inspired by the version that won Pam Brunet a blue ribbon at the LaFayette Apple Festival in New York. She layers a flour-and-cinnamon-sugar mixture with apples to create a dense, rich layer of fruit. Pam credits this recipe to her mother-in-law, Grandma Brunet.

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Apple Hand Pies

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Amy Stone

Apple Hand Pies Recipe

Use small cookie or pastry cutters to create little steam vents in the tops of these pies for the filling to peek through. You can make these pies as festive or as simple as you want, but however you style them, they're sure to be absolutely delicious.

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Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts

Photo: Andrew Purcell; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Spiced Apple Two-Bite Tarts Recipe

The nutty pastry is absolutely delicious, like pecan shortbread. You can make the tart shells and filling the day before and assemble just before serving: Place the shells in an airtight container and chill the filling, bringing it to room temperature before placing it in the shells so it's not ice-cold. The crème fraîche dollop is more than just a pretty garnish; its rich, tangy flavor makes these sublime.

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Walnut-Crusted Apple Pie

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr

Walnut-Crusted Apple Pie Recipe
The walnuts in the crust give this pie a decadently nutty flavor that really carries this classic apple pie to new heights.

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Open-Face Apple Pie with Salted Pecan Crumble

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Open-Face Apple Pie with Salted Pecan Crumble Recipe
This luscious pie omits the top layer of crust for a heavenly crumble topping instead, resulting in a velvety smooth apple pie experience with sprinkles of great texture to finish off each bite.

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Apple-Toffee Hand Pies

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Apple-Toffee Hand Pies Recipe
Look for toffee chips near the chocolate chips on the baking aisle. Be sure to chill the butter well beforehand to make it easier to cut into small cubes.

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Three-Spice Apple Pie

Photo: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Jeffrey Larsen

Three-Spice Apple Pie Recipe

An early version of this pie once won Sunset reader Elaine E. Johnson of McKinleyville, California, an apple tree in a local contest. She's still baking for her pie-loving husband, and this version, with cardamom and candied ginger as well as the usual cinnamon, is one of their favorites.

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Caramel-Apple Crumb Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Caramel-Apple Crumb Pie Recipe
This Caramel-Apple Crumb Pie is a variation on the classic apple pie; it has a rich caramel syrup drizzled over the apples and is topped with a crunchy streusel.

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Rhubarb-Apple Pie

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Rhubarb-Apple Pie Recipe
Pair fresh sliced rhubarb with sliced Granny Smith apples and add a little cinnamon and sugar for this delicious rhubarb-apple pie.

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Cranberry Apple Pie