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    $5 Dinners | Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals

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    Apple Pie Filling for the Freezer

    September 19, 2011 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 23 Comments

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    So over Labor Day weekend, we picked almost 30 pounds of apples. There remain about 5 apples in the fridge, that we will snack on this week. But our surplus is not gone!

    Much of it is packed away nicely in the freezer.

    After making 3 big batches of slow cooker applesauce (2 of which are in the freezer, and the other long gone!), I also made 2 pies worth of filling for the holidays.

    I mixed, tossed and then froze it all together.

    When it comes time to bake the pies, I plan to thaw the filling before making the pie. Two reasons.

    1. I did not freeze the apples in the shape of a pie pan. So it might bake funny if I try to cook it from frozen.
    2. I do not want to ruin my crust by having the frozen pie bake twice as long as normal. Crusts are very sensitive and I have no had luck in the past baking them from frozen (even with adjusting temperatures, baking with foil over them and with pie crust shield).

    Once thaw, I can bake the pie as I would if I’d just made the filling. Add filling to shell, add a few teaspoons of butter, add crust to top of pie, add vents and decorations. Bake!

    Apple Pie Filling for the Freezer on $5 Dinners

    apple pie filling
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    Apple Pie Filling - Freezer Friendly!

    Make your pie baking easier with this make ahead recipe!
    Prep Time10 minutes
    Cook Time0 minutes
    Servings - 1 batch

    Ingredients 

    • 8 medium apples I used Golden delicious
    • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
    • 3 Tbsp flour
    • 3/4 cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
    • Dash of allspice
    • Dash of cardamom

    Instructions

    • Peel, core and thinly slice all the apples.
    • In a large mixing bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice, brown sugar and spices.
    • Place in a freezer baggie and then press as much air out of the bag and seal.
    • Freeze, up to 3 months.

    Apple Pie Filling for the Freezer on $5 Dinners

    And I love that I can cross one thing off my holiday prep list! I’ve got the pies taken care of…

    Now, if only I could get my Christmas cards out before March!!!!

    (I really did send them in March this year. Eeks!)

    See more $5 Dinners Cooking Tutorials here

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    Filed Under: Batch Cooking, Dessert Recipes, Freezer Recipes and Freezer Meal Plans, Healthy Holiday Recipes Tagged With: Cooking Tutorial Freezing

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    Comments

    1. Debbie says

      September 19, 2011 at 7:22 am

      This looks great — think that might be on our menu tonight. And don’t feel bad, one year I just could not get cards done so I did New Years cards — they just thought it was planned and it didn’t get lost among all the other Christmas cards.

      Reply
    2. Christie says

      September 19, 2011 at 8:18 am

      Nice! Definitely doing this one! Thx for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    3. Michelle says

      September 19, 2011 at 9:23 am

      Fantastic idea! I have a apple pie recipe that calls for Ida Red and Granny Smith apples. Ida Reds don’t last too long, so this would be great for closer to Christmas! Thanks!!!

      Reply
    4. Kelly Hess says

      September 19, 2011 at 9:56 am

      Love it! We picked 27# of apples this weekend. I made one batch of crock pot applesauce and one pie and I barely made a dent in my apples, I will definitely try this! Anyone have a good recipe for just cinnamon apples, like the ones you can buy from Stouffer’s that I can freeze for the holidays??
      http://spendless2savemore.blogspot.com/2011/09/27-of-apples-and-applesauce.html

      Reply
    5. Tiffany says

      September 19, 2011 at 10:19 am

      This is great! I simply love apple’s especially the Granny Smith apples and my husband and son love applesauce and apple pies. I have never actually made homemade applesauce is there anyway you can put that up. The filling sounds like it will be great!!

      Reply
      • Lora Dugan says

        September 11, 2012 at 10:31 pm

        Place applesauce in clean Jars, place flats and lids on jars and hot water bath 5 min for pints 10 min for quarts.

        Reply
      • Shara says

        November 22, 2016 at 6:27 pm

        Peep and decore apples, put in a pot and add 2 cinnamon sticks and 1″ of liquid. If you like a little sweeter apple sauce, 1/4 brown sugar and 1/4 regular sugar. Most recipes call for water but I use apple cider. Bring to boil then cover and reduce heat to med-low for about 30 minutes. Then remove cinnamon sticks and blend and you have apple sauce.

        Reply
      • kimmy says

        August 27, 2018 at 7:37 am

        I freeze applesauce in qt bags…

        Reply
    6. kate says

      September 19, 2011 at 10:43 am

      @Kelly: http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/07/fake-stouffers-harvest-apples.html I have made those int he past and my family loves them!!! They are so delicious. I do make changes to it though I actually peel the apples because we have discovered we dont’ care much for the skin on them & I substitute sucanat instead of brown sugar. 🙂 Those are also good if you take them out of the freezer & let them sit for like half an hour then eat them kind of frozen lol my daughter loves them like that when it’s hot out hehe 🙂

      Reply
    7. karen says

      September 20, 2011 at 10:21 pm

      wha? you sent your christmas cards in march? goodness! I have mine ready to go(stamped, addressed, labeled) so now I just wait until around december 1st. still hunting up x-mas presents for the ppl. I know what to get my mom at least.

      Reply
    8. Peggy says

      October 1, 2011 at 3:28 pm

      Home made applesauce is extremely easy to make . I don’t do it in a crock pot. Just a pan on the stoe. I made it with my 4 year old pre-k class and the vote was unanimous that they loved it!
      Becasuse I use a food processor I don’t even always peeol the apples. Once it goes through the food processor you can’t even tell there were any peels in it, except that the color is a little different.

      Core d(and peel if desired) apples. Cut into quarters or sliced like you would for apple pie. The samller the pieces the quicker it cooks. I usually use 6 large ones per batch
      1/4 cup sugar (if desired–more or less to suit your taste)
      1/2 cup water
      cinnamon (optional)

      put prepared apples in a pan and add the water to prevent them from sticking or burning before they cook. Bring to a boil. Add usgar and cinnamon to taste. Turn down heat a little and let cook until apples are mushy. Remove form stove and dump into food processor. Run food processor on high for 3-5 minutes or until sauce is the consistency you like. Transfer to bowl and cool in fridge. Eat! (or put in freezer bags and freeze for fresh applesauce in the winter)

      Reply
      • Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says

        October 3, 2011 at 7:41 am

        Thanks for sharing Peggy! Sounds easy enough!!!

        Erin

        Reply
    9. Lora Dugan says

      September 11, 2012 at 10:33 pm

      Have mad this pie filling before, its delicous. For a twist add a couple of tblspons quick oats, in place of some of the flour.

      Reply
      • Angela Ponder says

        September 18, 2017 at 11:37 am

        Nice thanks for the reply! I think I will keep this handy… we go apple picking in October.

        Reply
    10. Linda says

      September 27, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      Don’t feel bad about sending your cards in March. We had a rough holiday this year, so I opted to send my cards out in July! Who says we can’t have Christmas in July! It was very liberating! 🙂

      Reply
    11. Diane West says

      September 16, 2016 at 2:51 pm

      I’ve got spy’s. Do I use more sugar?

      Reply
    12. Leslie says

      September 18, 2016 at 9:41 am

      Thank you so much for sharing! I just went to the apple orchard Friday and am processing them today after church.

      Reply
    13. Angela Ponder says

      September 18, 2017 at 11:35 am

      I thought I was the only one that sent out Christmas Cards late! Oh my I think I was a month late. I sent them anyhow. I thought hey if they can’t appreciate them it’s there loss not mine. Right?

      Reply
    14. Sjk says

      November 16, 2017 at 7:50 pm

      I just followed this it is thanksgiving now I plan to have this fresh apple pie for Xmas yum

      Reply

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    3. Apple Pie Filling (To make now and freeze for later!) | Somethin' Yummy says:
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      […] found this recipe on line and adjusted the spices a bit.  Here’s what you’ll need to make filling for […]

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    I’m Erin Chase…

    Also known as the
    $5 Dinner Mom.

    I have a little problem. I cannot make a meal that costs more than $5.
    It’s a fun challenge,
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    Want to join me?

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