Sour Cream Apple Pie

Brown sugar creates a crunchy streusel topping on the top of this absolutely delicious, easy-to-make sour cream apple pie.

Sour Cream Apple Pie Surrounded by Coffee, Plates, and Forks

Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

You know that when your friend's smile fills the room as he speaks of his wife's "sour cream apple pie with a brown sugar crumb topping" that it has to be good. My father and I couldn't wait to try it!

My oh my this one really is good, and easy to make too.

In this recipe you toss apple slices with a mixture of sour cream, sugar, and egg, then pack it in a pie shell. About half way through baking you top with a brown sugar flour butter streusel topping.

The brown sugar helps make a crunchy crust on the top, balancing the creamy tart apples below!

Big thanks to our friends Jean and George for sharing this one with us.

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

Portion Size of Sour Cream Apple Pie on Plate

Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

Love Apple Pie? Check Out These Apple Pie Recipes

Sour Cream Apple Pie

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 70 mins
Servings 8 servings

As you slice the apples, put them in a bowl and toss them with a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. The acidity of the lemon juice or vinegar will help keep the apples from discoloring while you work and will intensify the apple flavor in the pie.

Ingredients

Streusel Topping:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), chilled, cut into cubes

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Filling:

  • 3 cups peeled, sliced tart apples (about 1 1/4 pounds of slices, cut 1/4-inch to a 1/2-inch thick)

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 2/3 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 1/2 cup if you like your apple pies a little less sweet)

  • 2 tablespoons flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell, frozen or chilled in the freezer for at least 30 minutes (see sour cream pie crust recipe, use a single crust recipe)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the middle and another rack below it. Place a large rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any of the drippings from the pie.

  2. Make the streusel topping:

    Place the streusel topping ingredients in a medium bowl and mix with a fork or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

    Chill in the refrigerator until the topping is needed half-way through the baking.

    Graham Cracker Crumble for Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

  3. Toss the apples with lemon juice or vinegar:

    As you slice the apples, put them in a bowl and toss them with a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. The acidity of the lemon juice or vinegar will help keep the apples from discoloring while you work and will intensify the apple flavor in the pie.

  4. Mix the sour cream with sugar, flour, salt, vanilla, egg, and coat apple slices:

    In a large bowl put the sour cream, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla, and egg. Use a wooden spoon and beat by hand until smooth. Fold in the apples and stir until all of the apples are coated with the sour cream filling mixture.

    Mix Apples and Wet Ingredients for Apple Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

  5. Put the filling into a frozen pie shell:

    For the first stage of baking, bake the pie for 25 minutes at 400°F.

    Fill Sour Cream Apple Pie with Filling

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

    Baked Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

  6. Add the brown sugar topping and continue baking:

    Remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle the top with the brown sugar topping. You may also want to put a pie protector or foil around the outer crust edges to keep them from getting too browned. Bake for another 20 minutes at 400°F.

    Add Brown Sugar Topping on Sour Cream Apple Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

    How to Make Sour Cream Apple Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

  7. Cool:

    Let the pie cool on a rack for one hour before cutting and serving.

    Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe Surrounded by Portion Size on Plate and Coffee

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panniker

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
482 Calories
23g Fat
64g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 482
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 10g 52%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 314mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 64g 23%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 34g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 57mg 4%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 169mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.