A super simple apple pie recipe, this French Apple Custard Pie is an elegant fall dessert when you want something a bit different than a traditional apple pie.

French Apple Custard Pie Recipe

Forget apple pie a la mode, this French Apple Custard Pie requires no accompaniment.

A rich and indulgent take on apple pie, this classic recipe has it’s roots firmly planted in the French countryside, though there are several variations found in many European and Middle Eastern cultures.

I used my foolproof, buttery pie crust for this recipe to make it even simpler, and I prefer to blind bake it before filling it with the custard and apple filling to ensure that it is crispy and cooked through. This also prevents the pie from bubbling, shrinking, or buckling with the filling inside.

You don’t need fancy pie weights to blind bake – though these ones are inexpensive and easy to clean- some people like using beans or lentils for blind baking. (I personally find this a bit wasteful, as you cannot use those beans, lentils, rice, etc, over again as baking them dries them out and makes them hard and tough – so unsuitable for other recipes.)

While I stuck to a simple vanilla custard, you can really have a bit of fun with this recipe – what about a chocolate custard? Or Salted Caramel Custard? There are so many delicious options and this version is only the first!

Ingredients for French Apple Custard Pie

For the pie crust:

• All-purpose Flour
• Salt
• White Sugar
• Butter
• Shortening
• Ice Water

For the apples:

• Unsalted Butter
• Baking Apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• White Sugar
• Dark Rum (optional)
• Table salt, divided

For the Custard:

• Milk
• Egg Yolks
• Heavy Whipping Cream
• White Sugar
• Vanilla Extract

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: you can prepare the pie crust in advance and refrigerate up to 48 hours.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Pie plate or tart pan (I used a 11″ tart pan)
• Rolling pin
• Mixing bowls
• Sharp knife (For kids use apple crinkle cutters)
• Wooden spoons <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
• Pastry cutter, if available
• Saute pan

How to Make French Custard Apple Pie

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

For the crust, mix the crust ingredients together with a fork or your hands. You still want the dough to crack easily, this will not be smooth like a play dough.

Roll out the dough and press into a pie plate. Prick along the crust with a fork and then blind bake the pie crust by placing pie weights or beans in the crust (filling it 2/3 of the way full) and bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden. Set aside.

For the filling, melt butter in sauté pan over medium heat. Add apples and sugar; sauté until apples are soft but not mushy, about 8–10 minutes. Stir in (optional) rum and salt. Spread apples over the bottom of the pie crust.

Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, cream, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and remaining salt; pour over apples in pie crust. Bake pie until custard is almost set but still jiggly, about 45-50 minutes.

Cool pie completely before slicing, or chill pie, then bring to room temperature when ready to serve.

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Yield: 8 slices

French Apple Custard Pie

Print

An elegant apple pie recipe inspired by the French classic, with a foolproof pie crust and simple custard filling.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the pie crust:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 6 Tablespoon butter
• 6 Tablespoon lard or shortening
• 6-8 Tablespoon ice water

For the apples:

• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4-6 baking apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoons dark rum (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt, divided

For the custard:

• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
2. For the crust, mix the crust ingredients together with a fork or your hands. You still want the dough to crack easily, this will not be smooth like a play dough.
3. Roll out the dough and press into a pie plate. Prick along the crust with a fork and then blind bake the pie crust by placing pie weights or beans in the crust (filling it 2/3 of the way full) and bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden. Set aside.
4. For the filling, melt butter in sauté pan over medium heat. Add apples and sugar; sauté until apples are soft but not mushy, about 8–10 minutes. Stir in (optional) rum and salt. Spread apples over the bottom of the pie crust.
5. Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, cream, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and remaining salt; pour over apples in pie crust. Bake pie until custard is almost set but still jiggly, about 45-50 minutes.
6. Cool pie completely before slicing, or chill pie, then bring to room temperature when ready to serve.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Spring Chef Dough Blender, Top Professional Pastry Cutter with Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Blades, Medium Size
• 
  French Rolling Pin (17 Inches) –WoodenRoll Pin for Fondant, Pie Crust, Cookie, Pastry, Dough –Tapered Design & Smooth Construction - Essential Kitchen Utensil
• 
  Good Cook Bradshaw International 04412 9′ RED Ceram Pie Plate

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 592Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 167mgSodium: 430mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 4gSugar: 32gProtein: 7g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

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This elegant French Custard Apple Pie recipe is a simple take on a classic and the perfect fall dessert for entertaining.

For more delicious fall recipe ideas, check out our Blueberry Steak with Chimichurri Sauce or our Magical Pumpkin Cake.