Apple Pandowdy

It’s the retro fall dessert you need to make.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated February 11, 2025
Laurel Randolph
A white bowl with a serving of Apple Pandowdy topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel

Where does the phrase “easy as apple pie” come from, anyway? Because while baking up a really good from-scratch apple pie is rewarding, it is not easy. Apple pandowdy is another classic dessert with all of the flavors and textures of apple pie without the hard work.

The filling is nicely spiced and is super juicy, with warm tender apple slices that still retain their shape and some texture. The crust is nice and crisp on top, while the bottom side of the crust soaks up some of those sweet apple juices. While it’s not classically beautiful like an apple pie, it has rustic charm, and it’s a quick and easy way to get your apple pie fix.

Serve scoops warm from the pan with vanilla ice cream for a classically American treat.

What Is a Pandowdy?

The pandowdy originated during the Colonial era, making it over 250 years old. It’s made up of a juicy fruit filling—usually apples—sweetened and spiced before being topped with pie crust and baked. Many old-fashioned versions call for a solid top crust that is cracked after baking (or “dowdied”), allowing some of the juice to seep to the top.

This slightly more modern version is topped with pieces of store-bought pie crust, creating a patchwork top that’s an ideal topping for the saucy filling.

Simple Tip!

We recommend a sweet baking apple for this dish, such as Honeycrisp or Gala, but feel free to experiment, especially if you like a more tart taste. Avoid a potentially mealy apple, like Red Delicious, as it won't hold up as well in pandowdy.

A crispy baked Apple Pandowdy in a black skillet, with a serving spoon scooping some of the caramel sauce at the bottom

Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel

Apple Pandowdy

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 65 mins
Servings 6 servings

This recipe was developed by Nicole Hopper.

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (107g) packed dark brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup apple cider or apple juice

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice

  • 5 (2 1/2 pounds) crisp baking apples (such as Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2-inch thick (about 8 cups) 

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter, cubed, plus more for greasing skillet

  • 1 (7-ounce) prepared pie crust (from a 14.1-ounce package)

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 4 teaspoons turbinado sugar, optional

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet with butter.

  2. Prepare the apple mixture:

    Stir the sugar, apple cider, lemon juice, cornstarch, and apple pie spice together in a large bowl. Add the sliced apples and toss gently until evenly coated. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared skillet, pouring any juices in the bowl over the top. Dot the cubed butter over the apples.

    Sliced apples and cubed butter in a skillet for the Apple Pandowdy Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel
  3. Top the apples with pie crust:

    Unroll the pie crust and, using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the crust into 3 to 4-inch pieces of any shape. Brush the pie crust pieces evenly with the beaten egg. Arrange and overlap the pie crust pieces over the apples in a haphazard fashion, leaving some gaps for steam to escape and juices to bubble up. If desired, sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

    Butter brushed squares of flattened out pie dough for the Apple Pandowdy Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel
    Sliced apples in a skillet topped with squares of pie dough and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar for the Apple Pandowdy Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel
  4. Bake the pandowdy:

    Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is browned, the apples are tender, and the juices are bubbling throughout, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly, about 20 minutes, and serve warm.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    apple pandowdy in a cast iron skillet with a serving on a plate next to it

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
394 Calories
14g Fat
66g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 394
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 19%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 205mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 66g 24%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 15mg 73%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 292mg 6%
*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.