Fall baking just got even better with this Chai Apple Pie. It’s filled with warm chai spices, tender apples, and wrapped in a perfectly flaky crust.
It’s no secret that we are obsessed with chai in my half-Indian home (proof: see my chai tea recipe, chai concentrate, chai coffee, karak chai, iced chai latte AND Chai Apple Cake 🤓)
The lush chai spice combination of cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves just begs to be paired with apple pie to bring out that cozy autumn flavor.
If you love apple pie as much as I do, you’ll also love my
Here’s What You Need for Chai Apple Pie
To make this Chai Apple Pie, you’ll need a handful of basic ingredients, plus a few spices for that chai flavor. I’ll also share some variations and the tools you’ll need to get started.
Chai Apple Pie Ingredients
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to make this pie. Each ingredient has a role in building flavor, texture, or structure.
Crust Ingredients:
- Pie Dough – The flaky foundation of the pie. A homemade or store-bought double-crust dough works.
- Egg Wash – Brushing the top with a beaten egg gives a beautiful golden finish.
- Coarse Sugar – Optional, but adds a sweet, crunchy texture to the crust.
Filling Ingredients:
- Apples – Choose firm, tart apples to hold up to baking without turning mushy. I love Granny Smith apples here.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the filling and helps draw out the apple juices.
- Flour – Thickens the filling by absorbing excess moisture from the apples.
- Lemon Juice – Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of the spices.
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Salt – Just a pinch helps balance all the sweetness and spice.
Variations and Substitutions
There are plenty of ways to switch up this pie while keeping it delicious. Here are a few options:
- Different apples – Try mixing sweet and tart apples, like Fuji, Gala, Ambrosia or Honeycrisp.
- Refrigerated crust – I personally love my no-food processor pie dough but you could swap in a store-bought crust or go for a gluten-free version.
- Vegan version – Use a plant-based crust and swap the egg wash for a non-dairy milk wash.
Grab these Tools
Make sure you have these kitchen tools on hand to bake your perfect Chai Apple Pie:
- Rolling Pin – Essential for rolling out the pie dough evenly.
- 9” Pie Plate – A standard-size pie plate for shaping and baking the pie.
- Baking Sheet – Preheating this helps ensure a crisp bottom crust.
- Paring Knife – Handy for peeling, coring, and slicing apples.
- Pastry Brush – Use this to apply the egg wash evenly across the crust.
You’ll be ready to bake in no time with these tools by your side!
How to Make Chai Apple Pie: An Easy Guide
Making a perfect Chai Apple Pie at home is easier than it sounds. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a warm, fragrant pie ready to enjoy.
Prepare the Apples
Start by prepping the apples so they’re ready for the filling:
- Peel, core, and slice the apples into ¼” thick pieces.
- Toss the apple slices with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Set aside to let the flavors meld.
Roll Out the Pie Dough
Next, prepare the pie crust:
- Roll out half of your pie dough into a 12” circle on a floured surface.
- Gently drape the dough over a 9” pie plate, pressing it into the corners.
- Add the spiced apple mixture into the pie shell, spreading it out evenly.
Top and Seal the Pie
Now, it’s time to cover the pie:
- Roll out the remaining pie dough into another 12” circle.
- Lay the dough over the apples and pinch the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to seal.
- Crimp the edges with your fingers or a fork for a decorative finish.
Add Egg Wash and Chill
To get that gorgeous golden crust:
- Brush the top of the pie with beaten egg for a shiny finish.
- Sprinkle with coarse sugar if you like a bit of extra texture and sweetness.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a few small steam vents in the top crust.
- Place the pie in the freezer to firm up while you preheat the oven.
Bake the Pie
Baking the pie requires a couple of temperature adjustments:
- Preheat a baking sheet in the oven at 500ºF for 30 minutes.
- Once preheated, lower the oven temperature to 425ºF and place the pie on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature again to 350ºF and bake for another 30-40 minutes, until the filling bubbles through the vents.
Tip: Cover the pie with foil if the crust starts to brown too quickly.
Cool and Serve
Once the pie is baked:
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 2 hours before slicing.
- Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy the cozy chai-spiced goodness!
Other Pie Recipes You’ll Love
Favourite Sweet Pies:
Favorite Savory pies:
Related: No Roll Pie Crust
Chai Apple Pie
Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples about 10, peeled, cored and sliced about ¼” thick
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- Dough for double-crust pie (See notes for
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar optional
Instructions
- Toss apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, spices and salt.
- Make pie crust bottom by rolling out half the pie dough into a 12” circle. Gently drape the dough into a 9” pie plate. Transfer apples into the bottom pie crust. Roll out the remaining dough and lay it on top of the apples. Seal and crimp the edges.
- Brush the top crust with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired. Use a sharp knife to slice a few small incisions for steam vents in the top of the pie. Transfer pie to freezer until firm.
- Meanwhile, preheat a baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven at 500ºF for 30 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 425ºF and bake the pie on top of the preheated baking sheet for 25 minute. Reduce temperature again to 350ºF and bake for 30-40 minutes more, until the filling is bubbling in the centre vents.
- *Cover the pie with aluminum foil or parchment paper if at any point during baking the crust is getting too dark.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely love this chai apple pie recipe, Jennifer! I’ve been on the lookout for something different to try for our family gatherings, and this was perfect twist on a classic. Thanks for sharing!