Deconstructed Apple Pie a la Mode
One sweet bite of this Deconstructed Apple Pie a la Mode, and your stress will melt away like cold ice cream on a warm slice of pie!
This Deconstructed Apple Pie dessert transforms the iconic American apple pie into a toasty, sugary ice cream sundae that’s incredibly satisfying.
A Deconstructed Dessert that Doesn’t Disappoint!
This Apple Pie a la Mode recipe is irresistible! The simple 4-ingredient apple pie filling – more of a chunky sauce – is so rich and yummy, you’ll never go back to canned filling again. Plus, it fills your home with that amazing cinnamon apple aroma! Vanilla ice cream gives the “a la mode” to this delicious deconstructed apple pie. The cookie-sized bites of sugary pie crust adorning the top of this dessert mean no soggy crust ever!
Other Recipes to Serve with Deconstructed Apple Pie
I love to experiment with recipes. Change them up, try new things, you know? That’s how I originally created the Deconstructed Apple Pie a la Mode! Next time I might:
- Double the apple flavor of this recipe with homemade Apple Pie Ice Cream.
- Drizzle this dessert with Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce for a touch of autumn!
Ingredients
Filling: This apple pie filling uses apples, lemon juice, brown sugar and a stick of cinnamon. It’s so good you’ll want to eat it straight out of the slow cooker!
Crust: One simple unbaked rolled pie crust with a touch of cinnamon, sugar and an egg keeps this recipe super easy!
A la Mode: Top this dessert with your favorite bought or homemade vanilla ice cream!
How to Make Deconstructed Apple Pie a la Mode
STEP ONE: Make the sauce. Peel and chop the apples, then place them in a crock pot with the brown sugar, lemon juice, and a cinnamon stick. Cook on high for 8 hours.
STEP TWO: When the apples are done, remove the cinnamon stick and mash them into a chunky sauce.
STEP THREE: Bake crust pieces. Unroll the pie crust onto a lightly floured surface and cut out cookie-sized pieces using a knife or cookie cutter shape of your choice.
STEP FOUR: Place shapes on a greased baking sheet, brush with an egg wash, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake according to the package directions.
STEP FIVE: Build your deconstructed pie sundaes. Scoop ice cream into bowls, spoon apple topping over the ice cream, and add a piece of the baked pie crust. Then you’re ready to devour!
Tips for Success
- Use apples that don’t get mushy. Granny Smith apples are the most common apple pie type because of their tartness and firmness. Golden Delicious apples are an excellent choice as well for a more balanced sweet/tart taste, and Honeycrisp apples work nicely if you want a delightful version. But you can play around with the apple combinations. I used Braeburn and Pink Lady apples this go-round.
- Serve these in pretty glass bowls with a cinnamon stick and a twig of rosemary for a gorgeous presentation!
What does a la Mode mean?
In French, a la Mode means “according to the fashion.” In cooking, the phrase refers to topping a dessert with ice cream. So, “apple pie a la mode” means “apple pie with ice cream.”
What is a deconstructed dessert?
A deconstructed recipe asks you to separate the ingredients of a dish and present them as a group rather than as a combination. So, for this recipe, rather than serving a slice of pie, the pie filling and crust are served as two separate components. The flavor is the same, but the presentation is more modern and fun!
Other Apple Pie Recipes
- Apple Pie Popsicles
- Apple Pie Scones
- Apple Pie Dip
- Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Pie Cookie Cups
- Apple Pie Bites with Caramel Dipping Sauce
- Apple Pie Stuffed French Toast
*This post originally posted on 09/26/2012.
Deconstructed Apple Pie a la Mode
Ingredients
Apple Pie Topping
- 3 pounds apples peeled, cored & chopped (see note)
- 1 lemon juiced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
Pie Crust
- 1 9-inch pie crust homemade or store-bought
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- Vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
Apple Pie Topping
- Place the chopped apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick in a crock pot.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 8 hours.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and mash with a fork or whisk to make a thick chunky sauce. Set aside.
Pie Crust
- Preheat your oven according to the pie crust package directions. (Or 400 degrees F for homemade pie crust.)
- Unroll the pie crust on a lightly floured work surface. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the pie crust. You can also cut the crust into strips and make mini lattice (#) shapes.
- Place the pie crust shapes on a greased baking sheet.
- Beat the egg and water together in a small bowl to make an egg wash. Brush the pie crust with egg wash.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl until evenly combined. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the pie crust.
- Bake the pie crust for about 10-20 minutes or until golden brown. (These can be made ahead of time, while the apple filling is cooking.
Assembly
- Scoop some vanilla ice cream into a bowl. Then spoon some apple topping over the ice cream and add a pie crust shape or two. Serve immediately.
