Apple Slab Pie with Streusel Topping

Apple Slab Pie with Streusel Topping. A crowd-pleasing dessert featuring a buttery crust, tender spiced apples and a crunchy oat streusel perfect for Thanksgiving or fall gatherings.

Apple Slab Pie with Streusel Topping

Looking Forward to Thanksgiving: Pie Night Tradition

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Every year as Thanksgiving approaches, I get so excited about the traditions that make this season so special. One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is our “Pie Night.” My kids look forward to it every year!! And it is a really awesome tradition to start, especially if you have teens or adult kids.

The BEST Fall Pie Recipes

I am sharing this Pie Night Apple Pie recipe today and I am joining some friends who are also sharing their favorite Fall Pie recipes, perfect for Pie Night, Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post and HOP over and PIN these amazing pie recipes!!

What is “Pie Night”?

The night before Thanksgiving, friends and family gather at our house for a fun-filled evening of pie-making. We always kick off the night with pizza (another type of “pie”!), and then we all dive into creating a variety of delicious pies to enjoy the next day. I keep my pantry stocked with pie-making essentials—fillings, pre-made pie crusts, and all the ingredients for those who prefer homemade crusts. Everyone lets me know in advance what pies they’d like to make, so we’re fully prepared for the night.

Today, I’m excited to share one of my all-time favorite pies to make—Apple Slab Pie with Streusel Topping. This pie is perfect for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering because it’s big enough to feed a crowd, and the flavor is simply irresistible. Let’s get started!

Why Apple Slab Pie Is Perfect for a Crowd

A slab pie is essentially a larger, flatter version of a regular pie, making it the ideal dessert to serve at a big Thanksgiving feast or any fall party. It offers the same comforting flavors of a classic apple pie but in a size that’s perfect for serving lots of people. Plus, the streusel topping adds a delicious, buttery crunch that elevates the whole dessert. You can also serve it with a sweet glaze or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special touch.

Apple Slab Pie Ingredients

For this apple slab pie, you can either make your own pie crust or use store-bought crusts for convenience. I personally like to have both options available, especially on Pie Night when things can get busy!

Crust:

• 5 pie crusts (store-bought or homemade; here’s a link to my favorite homemade pie crust recipe – Martha Stewart has a great Homemade Pie Crust Recipe)

Streusel Topping:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced

Apple Filling:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp Apple Pie Spice (or substitute with 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 4 lbs peeled, cored, and thinly sliced crisp apples (I like to use a mix of varieties for a richer flavor)

Egg Wash

• 1 egg

Streusel Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp whipping cream or half and half

Our favorite way to ear this pie is warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream – yummmmmmmmm!

Preparing the Pie Crust

Let’s start by preheating your oven to 425°F. While the oven is heating, get your pie crusts ready. If you’re using store-bought crusts, remove them from the packaging and lightly dust your work surface with flour. Stack the crusts on top of each other and roll them out into a 17 by 12-inch rectangle. This will fit perfectly into a 15 by 10 by 1-inch sheet pan.

Fold the crust in half, and then fold it in half again to make it easier to transfer to your pan. Unfold it carefully and press the crust into the pan, making sure to fit it along the edges. You can fold the edges under and decorate as you like—using a fork to crimp the edges is a simple yet elegant option. Once your crust is in place, pop the pan into the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the filling and topping.

Making the Streusel Topping

Now let’s move on to that cinnamon streusel topping. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, quick oats, flour, and salt. Add the chilled butter cubes and mix until the mixture becomes crumbly. Once it’s well combined, place the topping in the refrigerator to keep it cold while you work on the filling.

Preparing the Apple Filling

In a large bowl, toss your peeled and sliced apples with fresh lemon juice to keep them from browning and to add a little zing to the flavor. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, Apple Pie Spice (or your cinnamon-nutmeg substitute), and salt. Pour this sugar mixture over the apples and toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated.

Arranging Store-Bought Pie Crusts on the Baking Sheet

For this apple slab pie, I used four store-bought pie crusts to cover the large sheet pan. To do this, lay each crust on top of the baking sheet so that the edges overhang the sides by about 2 inches. The pie crusts will overlap each other, and that’s perfectly fine! Once you have the crusts arranged and covering the entire pan, use kitchen scissors to trim off any excess crust. Then, use a fork to press down on the overlapping edges to fuse the crusts together, forming one large pie crust that fits the shape of the pan.

For an extra touch, you can lightly brush a little water under the edges where the crusts overlap, helping to bind them more securely. Just be careful not to overwork the dough—handle it as little as possible. Overworking the pie crust can cause it to lose its flakiness, and we all want that light, buttery texture in our pie! Once your crust is assembled and trimmed, use your fingers to fold the overhanging edges into a pretty scalloped design, adding a touch of elegance to the pie.

Assembling the Pie

Take the chilled crust out of the refrigerator and pour the apple filling over it, spreading it out into an even layer. Press the apples down gently to make sure they’re snug in the pan. Next, grab your streusel topping from the fridge and sprinkle it evenly over the apples.

Adding Decorative Elements to Your Slab Pie

One of the fun parts about making a slab pie is getting creative with the decorations! I like to use an extra pie crust just for embellishments. For my Pie Night slab pie, I used letter-shaped cookie cutters to spell out “PIE NIGHT” across the top, giving it a personalized touch. I also hand-cut small leaves from the dough and arranged them around the letters for an extra fall-inspired element. You can use cookie cutters, a knife, or even stencils to create shapes like leaves, pumpkins, or other festive designs. It’s a fun way to make your pie even more special, and it adds a beautiful finishing touch when the pie is baked and golden brown! So get creative and make your pie a centerpiece for the dessert table!

Making and Applying an Egg Wash

Before popping your slab apple pie into the oven, one final step ensures that your crust comes out golden and beautifully browned: applying an egg wash. To make the egg wash, whisk together one large egg with about 1 tablespoon of water until it’s smooth. Once mixed, use a pastry brush to lightly coat the exposed edges of your pie crust with the egg wash. This simple step helps the crust bake up with a rich, golden-brown color and gives it a slight sheen. Be careful not to overdo it—you just want a light, even layer. Once your crust is brushed and ready, your pie is good to go into the oven!

Baking the Slab Apple Pie

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake the pie for about 33 to 38 minutes. You’ll want to keep an eye on it—tent the pie with foil during the last 10 minutes if it starts to brown too much. The pie is done when the apples are tender (you can check by piercing them with a toothpick). Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool until it’s warm.

Optional Glaze or Serve with Ice Cream

If you want to add a little extra sweetness, whisk together powdered sugar and whipping cream or halp-and-half in a small bowl to make a glaze. You can adjust the thickness by adding more half and half, a teaspoon at a time. Once the glaze is smooth, transfer it to a resealable sandwich bag, snip a small corner off the bag, and drizzle the glaze over the warm pie.

If you prefer, you can skip the glaze and serve the pie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream—it’s a classic pairing that everyone loves!

Printable Slab Apple Pie with Streusel Topping Recipe

Choosing the Right Apples for Your Slab Apple Pie

One of the things I love most about making apple pie is experimenting with different varieties of apples. Each variety brings its own unique flavor and texture, which can really elevate your pie. For this slab apple pie, I recommend using a combination of apples to create a more complex flavor profile. For example, Granny Smith apples are tart and firm, which helps balance out the sweetness of the streusel and filling, while Honeycrisp or Fuji apples are sweeter and add a juicy, crisp texture. Mixing these varieties gives the pie a delightful balance of sweet and tart.

However, it’s important to remember that different apple varieties bake at different rates. Some, like Granny Smith, take longer to soften, while others, like Golden Delicious, become tender more quickly. To ensure all the apples bake evenly, you’ll want to slice the slower-cooking varieties a little thinner than the faster-cooking ones. This way, you won’t end up with some apples still firm while others are mushy. This small adjustment makes a big difference and ensures that every bite of your pie has perfectly tender apples!

Serve and Enjoy!

Once the pie has cooled slightly, slice it into squares and serve it warm. The combination of tender apples, buttery crust, and crunchy streusel makes this slab apple pie an absolute crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re making it for Pie Night or your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at the table!

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