Grilled Apple Pie Recipe

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/2/22
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
grilled apple pie

The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Cooling Time: 2 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 pie

You don't have to wait for cooler weather to enjoy a fabulous apple pie—you can bake it right on your grill. This grilled apple pie features a fabulous crumb topping, making it a snap to prepare while adding extra texture, flavor, and crunch. Enjoy a slice of this delicious apple pie with a big scoop of ice cream for a memorable summer dessert.

Since there's nothing more American than apple pie, this crumb-topped grilled pie is an excellent dessert to make for the Fourth of July. If you want to really wow your friends at an all-American barbecue, try this recipe. Yes, you can cook a homemade apple pie right on your barbecue!

"This grilled apple pie was excellent. The pie was easy to make with just one crust. The crumb topping added terrific crunch and texture. Check the grill temperature occasionally and tent the pie loosely with foil if it begins to brown too much. I liked not having to use the oven for baking a pie." —Diana Rattray

grilled apple pie/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

  • 1 pinch fine salt

  • 1/2 cup shortening, chilled

  • 3 to 6 tablespoons ice water

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 6 large apples (8 cups, sliced)

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup (2-ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

  • Vanilla ice cream, optional

  • Extra-sharp cheddar cheese slices, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients to make grilled apple pie

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour and salt. Add shortening and cut into flour and salt with a pastry blender until coarse and crumbly.

    flour in a bowl with a pastry cutter

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir in ice water, a little at a time until dough forms in a ball (you may not need all the water). Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes.

    pie crust in a ball covered with plastic

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  4. Roll out dough into a circle, about 11-inches in diameter and fit into a 9-inch metal pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges of the pie crust, if desired. Preheat charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking at 400 F.

    crust lined pie pan

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  5. Combine 2 tablespoons flour, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves in a small bowl.

    sugar spice mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  6. Toss apple slices with lemon juice (to prevent the apples from turning brown) in a large bowl.

    sliced apples in a bowl

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  7. Add the flour-sugar mixture to the apples, tossing to coat.

    spiced apples tossed with spices

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  8. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup flour with the brown sugar in a medium bowl.

    spice mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  9. Add the pieces of butter, and cut in with a pastry cutter, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

    brown sugar in a bowl with a pastry cutter

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  10. Sprinkle butter mixture evenly over the apples.

    apple pie covered with crumb topping

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

  11. Place the pie on a cookie sheet, and bake over indirect heat until the apples are tender and bubbly about 50 to 60 minutes. Remove the pie from the grill and cool completely before serving, about 2 hours.

    apple pie cooking on a grill

    The Spruce/Julia Hartbeck

Tips

Try to keep the grill temperature at 400 F, and check on the pie occasionally for charring. Tent the pie loosely with foil if you notice the topping or crust edge is browning too quickly.

Recipe Variations

  • Need this grilled pie recipe to be vegan? Use a non-animal based shortening and use vegan margarine in place of the butter.
  • For a slightly sweet crust, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar to the flour and salt before cutting in the shortening.
  • Replace the individual spices with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of apple pie spice.

How to Store Apple Pie

  • An apple pie may be stored, covered loosely with foil or plastic wrap, at room temperature for 1 to 2 days or up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
  • To freeze a baked or grilled apple pie, let it cool completely, and then place it in the freezer. When the pie is frozen solid, wrap it in plastic wrap or heavy-duty foil and freeze it for up to 4 months. Defrost the pie in the refrigerator overnight. 

Do you have to peel apples for apple pie?

Whether you peel or not is a matter of preference. Peeled sliced apples meld together better in the pie filling, while unpeeled slices add color and texture.

Can I use a glass pie plate on the grill?

A metal pie plate is recommended for this recipe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
437 Calories
19g Fat
65g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 437
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 24mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 65g 24%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 35g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 30mg 2%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 236mg 5%
*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.)

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