If you go through fall without making an apple crumble pie, have you really gone through fall? Probably not. Wade’s Brandy Apple Crumble Pie is full of delightful fall flavors, inside warming brandy, and deliciously tart apples. You’ll KNOW fall is being celebrated when you take a bite of this pie!
My daughter’s boyfriend, Wade Hausken, brought over an apple pie last year for us to try. He boldly claimed it to be “the BEST apple pie you’ll ever have”. I totally laughed at him. Because, let’s face it, that is like saying you have the best coffee. Yeah right.
But guys, his pie might be the best. Sooooo good!
I knew, when we started this year’s NellieBellie Pie Challenge (sorry, entry to the challenge is closed until next year), that I would need to have him come and share with you all his recipe.
Wade even agreed to show us how to make the filling for his pie live on Facebook Live. You can watch that video below, if you like.
One of the secrets, besides the brandy, of his great pie is his use of thin apple slices. He says that is so they stack up tightly and give you as much apple flavor as possible in each bite. I totally agree! I mean, look at that slice! Chock full of apples!
This is a kid that got a countertop apple peeler (see above) for highschool graduation. I mean, it’s a cool gift and I totally want one (that apple peeler was soooo fast!) but when was the last time you thought of giving a high-schooler an apple peeler?
By the way, [easyazon_link identifier=”B015GX0GZO” locale=“US“]THIS APPLE PEELER[/easyazon_link] is the one he has. And it works great!
If you watch the FB Live video, you’ll catch me remarking on how perfect those apple slices are. Which, I found out, she sliced. I don’t know about you all but my slices are all over the place for width and height. Definitely not that pretty and uniform!
How do you make a crumb topping for apple pie?
Simply blend flour, butter, and sugar and top the pie. You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe, below.
What apple do you recommend? Granny Smith?
Wade prefers the Jazz apple for his pies (or Pink Lady, in a pinch). I’m a fan of the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Usually, I’ll use a combo of several to get a nice depth of flavor.
Do I need to add the salt, lemon juice, or vinegar my recipe calls for?
Yes! Many of you checking out this pie recipe are currently participating in the NellieBellie Pie Challenge and I want to remind you that having an acid in your fruit pie is really important. Usually, your pie recipe will have salt and lemon juice or a vinegar. Don’t skip those! They are necessary ingredients!
This recipe uses lemon juice AND salt. Sometimes you’ll come across them that use vinegar which sounds really odd. Trust me, even the small amount in the recipe is necessary!
Wade’s Brandy Apple Crumble Pie is a simple recipe to make but packs such yummy, warm you from the inside, fall flavor in every bite. You absolutely need to put it on your fall baking list!!
We put some ice cream on ours and enjoyed it with a bit more brandy :).
A big giant thank-you to Wade for sharing his recipe and time with us. We appreciate it!! And really, really appreciate this yummy apple pie recipe!

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- pinch salt
- 5-6 apples sliced with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice added
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and salt.
- Stir in the sliced apples and brandy.
- Pour into crust.
- Mix flour and sugar together.
- Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour and sugar.
- Spread the topping on the apples.
- Cover the edges with a pie shield or aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour 15 min.Be sure to have a cookie sheet under the pie pan (brandy is flammable!)
- Remove the foil or shield and bake for an additional 15 minutes. The pie is done when the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.