Unique Apple Pie … with Cream Cheese!
I don’t usually make cheesecakes or pies because they’re too much work. I don’t care how good a dessert is, it should’t take me all day to make. Because this pie uses some shortcuts, the workload is as minimal as possible for all of my fellow non-pie (and cheesecake) makers. The pie reminds me of a beloved happy accident called Caramel Apple Crumble Pie, circa 2012, which has become a reader favorite over the years. The sugar cookie pie crust is perfectly buttery and has enough saltiness to balance the sweetness from the other ingredients. The tart cream cheese is a wonderful contrast to the sweet, tender, juicy, apples. Not just because I’m a huge crumble topping aficionado, but the crumbly top with jumbo crumbles also adds so much fabulousness to this already decadent cheesecake pie that’s overflowing with flavors and textures galore! Even though I was tempted to add caramel sauce, ice cream, or whipped topping for the photo shoot, this pie truly doesn’t need it. There is already enough going on and it’s rich and decadent enough as is.
Ingredients for Apple Cream Cheese Pie
What makes this recipe unique is that the apple pie crumble topping is made without oats. I know oat-based crumble toppings aren’t for everyone, but I think a sugar cookie crumble will be universally loved. Here’s what you’ll need to make the cream cheese apple pie and the sugar cookie pie crust:
Sugar cookie mix Spices Unsalted butter All-purpose flour Cream cheese Granulated sugar Egg Vanilla extract Canned apple pie filling
How to Make Apple Cream Cheese Pie
This cheesecake-meets-pie kind of pie is going to be a huge hit at any fall or winter holiday party or event. I promise. You’ll be hailed as Baker of the Year. It’s tied with this apple pie as my favorite apple pie of all time. Here’s a very broad overview of how the apple cheesecake pie is made: Step 1: The crust and crumble topping start off as one in the same. They begin with a pouch of sugar cookie mix with butter and cinnamon added. We’re off to a great start! Step 2: The crust is topped with tangy cream cheese and canned apple pie filling. Step 3: Reserved crumble topping from the crust-making process is added before baking it all off. Your house will smell so divine as this baby bakes. I could hardly stand it.
Can the Sugar Cookie Mix Be Substituted?
Can I Make My Own Apple Pie Filling?
Of course! I used store-bought canned apple pie filling that I spiked with extra spices to ensure there’s plenty of robust fall flavor. However, if you have a favorite scratch apple pie filling, go for it.
Recipe Variations
This easy recipe for apple cheesecake pie is super simple, but you can customize it a few different ways:
Make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free sugar cookie mix. Also check that your canned apple pie filling is GF! Use another cookie mix, such as snickerdoodle or spice cookie mix. Anything spiced, sugary, and warming will work. Use another canned pie filling. I realize this is a recipe for cream cheese apple pie, but the spices would also work well with canned pie filling. You could even used canned cherry or blueberry pie filling — just omit or significantly reduce the spices in that case. Use lite cream cheese instead of full-fat. Just be sure to buy the kind that’s sold in a brick. Add chopped nuts to the crumble topping (but not to the crust mixture!). Finely chopped pecans or walnuts would add great texture! Use homemade apple pie filling. I’m not a huge pie maker so store-bought shortcuts like canned apple pie filling are a-okay by me. However, use your favorite scratch recipe if preferred.
Tips for Making Apple Cream Cheese Pie
Tip #1: Greasing the pie plate Make sure your pie dish is extremely well-greased. I used cooking spray that I literally spayed on until it was dripping. If you want to use shortening, go for it. Tip #2: Pie plate size Place the pie dish on a baking sheet as insurance against oven overflow, because my pie was very full going into the oven. Since all baking dishes vary slightly in depth, I would reach for the deepest one you own. Thankfully the pie doesn’t rise much and there was no overflow to worry about, but better safe than cleaning the bottom of your oven. Tip #3: Baking times Because all ovens, climates, ingredients, etc. vary, start checking the pie at 40 minutes and bake as long as necessary. I can envision this pie taking 60+ minutes in some ovens and climates or as little as 45 minutes in others. Baking times are always just an estimate. Simple take it out of the oven at the proper time so it’s not raw or burnt.
Tip #4: Chilling the pie You must chill it for hours before you slice into it or it’ll fall apart. No way around that but it’s so worth it. On the bright side, it’s a great make-ahead dessert. I’d feel comfortable making this 2-3 days before an event and leaving it in the fridge until you serve it. Tip #5: Cutting into the pie Don’t be afraid if getting the first piece out is a beast of a job. It tends to be with pie, but this one is especially bad, and the crust stuck to the pie dish. I was worried about the whole pie sticking. But after I semi-mutilated the first piece and had some leverage and room to work, getting my pie spatula underneath the crust for the remaining pieces was a breeze.
More Apple Dessert Recipes:
ALL OF MY APPLE RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Best Apple Pie (From Scratch!) – This fabulous apple pie is a specialty of my grandma’s. The sauce for the apples is slowly poured over the lattice crust until it fills the shell. When it bakes, the top has a nice crispy coating over the flaky crust.
Caramel Apple Crumble Pie — Apple Pie meets Apple Crumble meets plenty of gooey caramel! Easy, fast, 5-minutes to assemble. Goofproof recipe for those of us who aren’t pie-makers!
Apple Cinnamon Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting — An easy, one-bowl, no-mixer apple cake that’s to-die-for! Loaded with juicy apples in every bite, perfectly spiced, and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting!
Apple Fritter Bread – Soft, fluffy bread that’s stuffed AND topped with apples, cinnamon, and sugar! Like apple fritters in bread form!
Carrot Apple Bread – Carrot cake with apples added and baked as a bread so it’s healthier! Super moist, packed with flavor, fast and easy!
Cinnamon Spice Applesauce Bread with Honey Butter – Applesauce keeps this bread so soft & moist! It’s like apple spice cake, disguised as ‘bread’ so you can have extra!
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars – Move over, apple pie! These are an apple pie, apple crumble and cheesecake all in one! YUM!
5-Minute Microwave Apple Cinnamon Crumble For One – 5-minute easy recipe that’s perfect for breakfast or snacks!
