{Make-ahead} Freezer Apple Pies

Freezer pie shells and pie dough saves time in making some Freezer Apple Pies that can be thawed and served or warmed through in a low oven any time you get a craving.

I love crisp apples in the fall. There's nothing like visiting a local orchard and being apple to pick your own apples, surrounded by the beautiful colors that Mother Nature presents. I recently became a brand ambassador for a grower in Pennsylvania and received a case of apples and other delicious stone fruits. My first post is not officially due until later this month and I needed to start using the apples lest they go bad. A request for apple pie came from my husband.

The freezer held some pre-made shells and pre-made crusts that I get on sale so I decided to make some apple pies that I could freeze and any time my husband gets a craving there's one to pull out, thaw and then gently warm in a low oven. Nothing like warm apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream!


The pies may not be fancy looking by any stretch, but they sure are tasty. I love my simple pie filling recipe and come winter when we want a comfort dessert, these already baked pies won't take long to warm through once they thaw. With each top crust costing $1.00 and the bottom deep dish pie crust costing $1.84 each and figuring in actually purchasing apples, each pie cost about $5.00 to make.

Recipe is enough for two pies

• 10-12 apples - cored, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• nutmeg to taste
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 deep dish frozen crusts (or make your own dough)
• 1 box pie dough
• pinch salt

1. Prep your apples and place in a bowl with the lemon juice. Mix as you add apples. You are trying to eliminate the oxidation of the apples (turning brown) and also balance out the sweetness.
2. To the apples add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg to taste and cornstarch and salt. Mix well.
3. Add the filling to the pie shells and top with the pre-made pie dough. Crimp. Make some slits.
4. Bake in a 375° oven for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
5. Remove, cool completely on a wire rack.
6. Serve or take the COMPLETELY cooled pies and wrap the top carefully in aluminum foil. Place that in a zip lock freezer bag, squeezing out excess air. Seal and freeze.
7. When you are ready for a pie, thaw on your counter top. Preheat your oven to 275-300° and warm through. Will probably take about 15-20 minutes. Or, thaw and serve as they are already baked.

When you do go apple picking be sure to give this a try. Whether you use your own pie crust recipe or have the on sale crusts available, plan on making a few to store away in your freezer. You will be genuinely happy you made more than one if you get short notice of guests coming and want to have a dessert offering.

If you like easy pie and dessert recipes, you might like:

Easy Peach Pie with Streusel Topping - for those on a really strict budget, canned peaches are the way to go in this easy and delicious pie recipe.

Easy Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake Tart - this was not only pretty to look at but darn tasty too!

Easy Chocolate, Date and Nut Cookie Bars - I can not tell you enough how from a box cake mix how absolutely delicious these are.