Easy Vegan Apple Pie Recipe – Just Like Grandmas

There’s something incredibly comforting about a slice of warm, homemade apple pie. This vegan apple pie tastes just like the one you grew up with. Is has a flaky, buttery crust, perfectly spiced filling, and is the perfect blend of sweet and tart.

I learned how to make this recipe from my Italian grandmother. She learned to make it from her mother before her. Grandma was far from vegan, but her apple pie recipe was “accidentally” vegan.

I make this every autumn, and it always disappears fast. You don’t need any fancy ingredients or equipment, just fresh apples and a little patience while it bakes.

My Grandma’s Oil Pie Crust uses only 4-ingredients and is super simple to make, even if you are a beginner. If you’ve ever wanted a vegan apple pie recipe that feels classic but approachable, this one’s it.

I also want to assure you that Grandma did not care about what her pie looked like. She was never one for perfect lattice or fancy work. I urge you to do the same.

Afterall it’s the taste that people with remember and this vegan apple pie is so good.

How To Make The Pie Crust

The pie crust for this vegan apple pie recipe is actually a pie crust made with oil, not butter or shortening.

It uses only 4 ingredients and is flaky and simple to make. I put together an entire post about the process and what you need to know.

>>GRANDMA’s OIL PIE CRUST RECIPE

In short, you want to work quickly and you do not want to let the dough sit. As soon as you combine the wet and dry ingredients, you want to prepare the pie. You also want to use your hands to mix the ingredients and form them into a dough ball.

A rolling pin is great but wet hands or a water glass work just as well.

The vegan pie crust recipe is so easy and fail-safe so don’t worry, you can’t go wrong.

Can You Make Vegan Apple Pie Using Store Bought Dough?

Yes, of course, but this is so easy you probably don’t need to. It takes about 5 minutes to put togther.

This vegan apple pie crust uses four household ingredients that I am sure you most likely have on hand and it is really easy.

But if you want to use store-bought dough, I won’t judge you! But I can’t speak for Grandma!

How To Prepare The Apple Pie Filling

All you have to do is slice your apples into thin slices lengthwise. You can see what I mean in the photo below. This is the method Grandma always used.

If you can’t slice thin length-wise slices like me, then go ahead and do small cubes, it won’t make a difference to the taste.

After you cut your apples, you are going to add sugar and spice. I only add sugar and cinnamon, but you can also choose to add an even dash of nutmeg.

You can do what I do and sugar your apples just before you add them to the pie (because I am lazy what can I say) or you can do what Grandma did and sugar her apples in advance so they can sit in the fridge for a little bit.

Personally, I don’t notice a difference. A happy medium is to cut and sugar the apples first so they can sit in their flavors while you make the pie crust.

How To Make Vegan Apple Pie

Vegan apple pie with homemade pie crust is so easy that a young child could literally do it. How do I know? Because I was that young child, tasked by my Grandmother to make the pie crust while she prepared the filling.

First, cut up your apples and leave the skin ON! The skin is filled with nutrients and you know Grandma would want you to be healthy!

Then, cut your apples and add sugar and spices. Set the mixture aside.

Next, all you have to do is put your salt and flour in a bowl and then using a measuring cup, pour your milk and oil into that same bowl. You do not need to whisk or combine in another bowl.

Then, using your hands, you combine the wet and dry ingredients until a ball of dough forms.

Be careful not to over mix. The minute it forms a ball, go ahead and take it out of the pan and began to roll it out of press it into your pie plate.

I personally roll mine between two pieces of parchment paper as I prefer to use this whole recipe for a bottom and top of a pie.

Once you add the pie crust to the bottom of your pie plate, go ahead and add in as many apples as you want. Make the vegan apple pie very full with apples it’s worth it.

Next, you will roll out the excess pie dough, see the Oil Pie Crust recipe if you don’t know what I am talking about, and you will place it over the bottom pie crust and apples.

If you want a crumble topping, check out my Easy Vegan Crumble Topping! I have topped pie recipes with this and it is so good! Use the oil pie crust for the bottom and this for the top!

Finally, you are going to want to “vent” the top of the dough so that it can breathe when cooking. To do this, simply stick a knife or fork in the top of the dough and prick it about 4 times.

Sometimes Grandma would carve my initials into it, so you can do that if you want something fun!

If you loved this recipe, you may also love my Vegan Pecan Pie With No Corn Syrup! and my Best Vegan Apple Crisp Recipe .

Gluten-Free Variation

If you’d like to make this a gluten-free vegan apple pie, it’s surprisingly easy. Use your favourite gluten-free flour blend for the crust. Make sure to chill your dough thoroughly before rolling it out; gluten-free dough can be a bit more delicate, but the end result is still beautifully flaky.

You can also skip homemade dough altogether and use a pre-made gluten-free vegan pie crust (many grocery stores now carry them in the frozen section). The filling is naturally gluten-free, so that part stays the same.

Serving Suggestions

This vegan apple pie is best served slightly warm, when the crust is crisp and the filling is soft and fragrant. I love it with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream melting over the top, or a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce. It’s also lovely the next morning (cold or reheated) with a cup of coffee.

If you’re serving it for the holidays, pair it with a dollop of vegan whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon for that extra bit of magic.

Different Fillings For Your Pie

While classic apple pie will always have my heart, this easy vegan pie recipe works beautifully with other fruits too. Pears, peaches, or even a mix of berries make delicious variations.

Just keep the same basic method and adjust the sugar slightly depending on the fruit’s sweetness. In late summer, try it with nectarines or plums for a rustic twist. You can also combine apples and cranberries for a festive winter pie that looks as good as it tastes.

How To Store The Vegan Apple Pie

It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days, and it reheats beautifully in the oven.

I’ve never personally frozen this vegan apple pie recipe, so I can’t promise how well the crust will hold up , honestly, it never lasts long enough around here to make it to the freezer! If you give freezing a try, let me know how it goes in the comments so we can update the post for others.

If you love this easy vegan apple pie, you’ll also adore my Vegan Apple Turnovers they use similar ingredients and are just as cosy and delicious.