Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

Apple pies are wonderful, but they can have a few too many calories for some diets. If you still want to enjoy this classic dessert, you can make it a little healthier by cutting out some of the sugar. It's not hard to do because after all, apples add a fair amount of sweetness themselves, so the pie really doesn't need a lot of sugar to make it delicious.

This apple pie recipe uses a combination of easily found apples at the grocery store: Gala and Granny Smith. The pie is on the tart side because of the Granny Smith apples, but there are many apple varieties you can choose from. You may notice this pie is missing a top crust; leaving it off is another way to cut back on both sugar and fat that you might otherwise get with a traditional pie crust or a crumb topped pie.

To add a healthy dose of sweetness, try serving this pie warm with a scoop of low-fat, low-sugar frozen yogurt or low-fat, low-sugar ice cream. If you are just getting used to enjoying your desserts with less sugar, you might find the transition a little challenging at first. But soon you will savor the natural flavors of the apples and find it quite satisfying; you probably won't miss the sugar at all.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, chilled

  • 3 tablespoons water, ice cold

  • Cooking spray

For the Filling:

  • 2 cups peeled, cored, and sliced Granny Smith apples

  • 2 cups peeled, cored, and sliced Gala apples

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Steps to Make It

Note: There are multiple steps to this recipe, which are broken down into workable categories to better plan for preparation and baking.

Make the Pie Crust

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (1)

  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (2)

  3. Cut in the chilled butter, using 2 knives or a pastry blender.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (3)

  4. Sprinkle in the ice water into the mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork after each addition.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (4)

  5. Using your hands, form the dough into a ball.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (5)

  6. Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle between 2 sheets of plastic wrap coated with cooking sprayto reduce sticking.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (6)

  7. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so it becomes slightly firm and uniform.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (7)

  8. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap from the pie dough. Turn the dough over into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray, and remove the remaining layer of plastic wrap.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (8)

  9. Using your fingers, press the dough into the pie plate and flute the edges.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (9)

Make the Apple Filling

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (10)

  2. In a large bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (11)

  3. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining sugars and flour.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (12)

  4. Combine the sugar mixture with the apples and toss the mixture lightly with a fork.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (13)

  5. Pour the apples into the pie crust.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (14)

  6. Use a knife to cut the remaining butter into small pieces, and distribute the butter pieces over the top of the pie.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (15)

  7. Bake at 425 F for 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to 350 F and bake an additional 30 minutes.

    Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (16)

Tip

  • If the crust starts to become too brown while baking, gently create a foil ring around the edges of the pie and put it back into the oven.

Variations

  • If you are following a gluten-free diet, feel free to use a gluten-free pie crust recipe with this recipe. It will work.
  • Consider adding other spices to the mixture, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom. Or apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
  • Feel free to use other apples in this pie, but keep in mind you want ones that are firm and that will hold their shape when baked, and not fall apart. Consider Pink Lady, Fuji, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.

How to Store Low Sugar Apple Pie

This pie is best kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to four days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
163Calories
7g Fat
23g Carbs
2g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories163
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 4g22%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 163mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 23g9%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 74mg2%
*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.)

Recipe Tags:

  • apple
  • dessert
  • american
  • christmas

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Low Sugar Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of pie has the least sugar? ›

Pumpkin, unlike pecan, only has 15 grams of added sugar, only half of pecan's added 30! The pie with the next least amount of sugar is apple pie.

Can a diabetic eat a slice of apple pie? ›

Whether enjoyed as a simple homemade treat or a slice from a bakery, apple pie is a comforting and timeless dessert cherished by many. But the question arises- Can you enjoy an apple pie being a person with diabetes? The answer is, yes!

Are apple pies high in sugar? ›

Apple pie contains 450 calories per 136 g serving. This serving contains 24 g of fat, 4 g of protein and 55 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 26 g sugar and 2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Apple pie contains 10 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.

What is the healthiest pie option? ›

"A slice of pumpkin pie is about 300 calories, which is 100-200 calories less than the alternatives," Gray says. In addition, she notes that pumpkin pie is full of Vitamin A, which helps support healthy skin and nails.

What can I substitute for sugar in a pie? ›

7 Natural Sugar Substitutes to Try in Your Cooking & Baking
  • Honey. Honey is not only sweet, but it's packed with an array of health benefits! ...
  • Maple Syrup. Maple syrup contains a fair bit of sugar, so consume it rather minimally. ...
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Molasses. ...
  • Cane Sugar. ...
  • Coconut Palm Sugar.

Which has less sugar pumpkin or apple pie? ›

The pumpkin pie wins on calories, saturated fat, protein and calcium. But the apple pie takes the cake when it comes to fiber, sugar (both total and added) and sodium. So what's a pie aficionado to do? Well, if you're watching calories go for the pumpkin-it almost always has fewer because of the single crust.

What dessert won't spike my blood sugar? ›

"Dark chocolate covered berries and nuts [are a great choice] for both [types of diabetes] because the nuts have omega-3s. The dark chocolate has antioxidants and the berries are lower glycemic types of foods. They have more fiber, so they're friendly for both [types of diabetes]," she says.

What two fruits should a diabetic avoid? ›

Avoid processed fruits, limit dried fruits

‌People with diabetes should avoid canned fruits and processed fruits such as applesauce. These can lead to a rapid increase in blood sugar.

What fruit has the lowest sugar? ›

15 lowest sugar fruits
  • Tomatoes. (2.6 grams sugars and 3.9 grams total carbs per 100 grams)
  • Watermelons. (6 grams sugars and 7.5 grams total carbs per 100 grams)
  • Cantaloupe. (8 grams sugars and 8 grams total carbs per 100 grams)
  • Peaches. ...
  • Strawberries. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Blueberries. ...
  • Honeydew.

Do baked apples spike blood sugar? ›

Apples score relatively low on both the glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) scales, meaning that they should cause a minimal rise in blood sugar levels (10). Apples have a minimal effect on blood sugar levels and are unlikely to cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, even in those with diabetes.

Is Cherry Pie bad for diabetics? ›

Cherries

Have a sweet tooth to satisfy? You can bake a diabetes-safe cherry pie. Just make sure to use a sugar substitute and choose unsweetened cherries.

Is sweet Potato pie bad for diabetes? ›

Sweet potatoes are known to be high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, which results in a less immediate impact on blood glucose levels. This can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in check.

Which pie is the unhealthiest? ›

Marie Callender's Chocolate Satin Pie

This pie is the winner for the highest calorie, sugar, and fat content of all the pies we reviewed. While we are sure it's delicious, we're not so sure it's good for your health.

Which is healthier, pecan pie or apple pie? ›

At around 300 calories per slice, pumpkin pie is a good bet for an indulgent dessert. It's a calorie bargain compared with other fall pies —apple pie weighs in at around 400 calories, and pecan pie at about 500 calories per slice. The type of crust used can make a big calorie difference.

Why is pumpkin pie better than apple pie? ›

"Pumpkin is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, which is essential for eye health and immune function. It's also lower in calories and fat compared to apple pie.

Can a diabetic eat a piece of pie? ›

Sweet treats -- like candies, pies, cakes -- were once off-limits for people with diabetes. Not anymore. In fact, research has shown that starches like potatoes and white bread affect blood glucose levels much like sugar -- causing sometimes dangerous spikes in blood sugar.

What has less sugar cake or pie? ›

Matt: Pie has an average of 3.4 grams of sugar where as cake has an average of 15 grams of sugar according to USDA. And if you do not want a sweet pie, then make a savory one, because there are many options for the kinds of pie you can make.

Which is healthier sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie? ›

However, if you place the two in a side-by-side comparison, sweet potato generally outpaces pumpkin in its nutritional makeup from vitamin A to fiber to protein. While pumpkin is a light, low sugar option, sweet potatoes do more heavy lifting and will ultimately feed your body more essential nutrients.

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