Sugar Cookie Apple Crumble Cheesecake Pie

Apple Cream Cheese Pie — A buttery sugar cookie crust, tangy cream cheese filling, tender juicy apples, and a crumble topping make this pie a total SHOWSTOPPER!! EASY and THE BEST apple pie!!

Unique Apple Pie … with Cream Cheese! 

I don’t usually make cheesecakes or pies because they’re too much work. I don’t care how good a dessert is, it should’t take me all day to make.

Because this pie uses some shortcuts, the workload is as minimal as possible for all of my fellow non-pie (and cheesecake) makers. The pie reminds me of a beloved happy accident called Caramel Apple Crumble Pie, circa 2012, which has become a reader favorite over the years.

The sugar cookie pie crust is perfectly buttery and has enough saltiness to balance the sweetness from the other ingredients. The tart cream cheese is a wonderful contrast to the sweet, tender, juicy, apples.

Not just because I’m a huge crumble topping aficionado, but the crumbly top with jumbo crumbles also adds so much fabulousness to this already decadent cheesecake pie that’s overflowing with flavors and textures galore!

Even though I was tempted to add caramel sauce, ice cream, or whipped topping for the photo shoot, this pie truly doesn’t need it. There is already enough going on and it’s rich and decadent enough as is.

Ingredients for Apple Cream Cheese Pie

What makes this recipe unique is that the apple pie crumble topping is made without oats. I know oat-based crumble toppings aren’t for everyone, but I think a sugar cookie crumble will be universally loved. 

Here’s what you’ll need to make the cream cheese apple pie and the sugar cookie pie crust: 

• Sugar cookie mix
• Spices
• Unsalted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Cream cheese
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Canned apple pie filling 

How to Make Apple Cream Cheese Pie

This cheesecake-meets-pie kind of pie is going to be a huge hit at any fall or winter holiday party or event. I promise.

You’ll be hailed as Baker of the Year. It’s tied with this apple pie as my favorite apple pie of all time.

Here’s a very broad overview of how the apple cheesecake pie is made: 

Step 1: The crust and crumble topping start off as one in the same. They begin with a pouch of sugar cookie mix with butter and cinnamon added. We’re off to a great start!

Step 2: The crust is topped with tangy cream cheese and canned apple pie filling. 

Step 3: Reserved crumble topping from the crust-making process is added before baking it all off. Your house will smell so divine as this baby bakes. I could hardly stand it.

Can the Sugar Cookie Mix Be Substituted? 

If you don’t have sugar cookie mix in your area, check Amazon or you can always make your own scratch pie crust and scratch crumble topping.

Can I Make My Own Apple Pie Filling?

Of course! I used store-bought canned apple pie filling that I spiked with extra spices to ensure there’s plenty of robust fall flavor. However, if you have a favorite scratch apple pie filling, go for it.

Recipe Variations 

This easy recipe for apple cheesecake pie is super simple, but you can customize it a few different ways: 

• Make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free sugar cookie mix. Also check that your canned apple pie filling is GF! 
• Use another cookie mix, such as snickerdoodle or spice cookie mix. Anything spiced, sugary, and warming will work. 
• Use another canned pie filling. I realize this is a recipe for cream cheese apple pie, but the spices would also work well with canned pie filling. You could even used canned cherry or blueberry pie filling — just omit or significantly reduce the spices in that case. 
• Use lite cream cheese instead of full-fat. Just be sure to buy the kind that’s sold in a brick. 
• Add chopped nuts to the crumble topping (but not to the crust mixture!). Finely chopped pecans or walnuts would add great texture! 
• Use homemade apple pie filling. I’m not a huge pie maker so store-bought shortcuts like canned apple pie filling are a-okay by me. However, use your favorite scratch recipe if preferred. 

Tips for Making Apple Cream Cheese Pie

Tip #1: Greasing the pie plate 

Make sure your pie dish is extremely well-greased. I used cooking spray that I literally spayed on until it was dripping. If you want to use shortening, go for it.

Tip #2: Pie plate size 

Place the pie dish on a baking sheet as insurance against oven overflow, because my pie was very full going into the oven. Since all baking dishes vary slightly in depth, I would reach for the deepest one you own.

Thankfully the pie doesn’t rise much and there was no overflow to worry about, but better safe than cleaning the bottom of your oven.

Tip #3: Baking times 

Because all ovens, climates, ingredients, etc. vary, start checking the pie at 40 minutes and bake as long as necessary. I can envision this pie taking 60+ minutes in some ovens and climates or as little as 45 minutes in others.

Baking times are always just an estimate. Simple take it out of the oven at the proper time so it’s not raw or burnt.

Tip #4: Chilling the pie 

You must chill it for hours before you slice into it or it’ll fall apart. No way around that but it’s so worth it.

On the bright side, it’s a great make-ahead dessert. I’d feel comfortable making this 2-3 days before an event and leaving it in the fridge until you serve it.

Tip #5: Cutting into the pie 

Don’t be afraid if getting the first piece out is a beast of a job. It tends to be with pie, but this one is especially bad, and the crust stuck to the pie dish.

I was worried about the whole pie sticking. But after I semi-mutilated the first piece and had some leverage and room to work, getting my pie spatula underneath the crust for the remaining pieces was a breeze.

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4.50 from 6 votes

Sugar Cookie Apple Cream Cheese Pie

By Averie Sunshine

A buttery sugar cookie crust, tangy cream cheese filling, tender juicy apples, and a crumble topping make this pie a total SHOWSTOPPER!! EASY and THE BEST apple pie!!

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 7 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 5 hours hours 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

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Ingredients  

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Crust and Crumble Topping

• ▢ one 17.5-ounce pouch sugar cookie mix
• ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ▢ 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ▢ about 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as necessary

Cream Cheese Filling

• ▢ one 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened (I used lite)
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apple Filling

• ▢ 1 ¼ cups apple pie filling, with more fruit
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ½ teaspoon allspice
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ▢ whipped topping or ice cream, optional for serving

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Instructions 

Crust and Crumble Topping:

• Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9-inch pie plate very well with cooking spray; set aside.
• To a large bowl, add the sugar cookie mix, cinnamon, 1/2 cup softened butter, and mix with a pastry cutter or two forks until large crumbly bits form.
• Turn just over half (about 60%) of the mixture out into prepared pie plate and press it over the base and up the sides to create an even, smooth crust.
• Bake for about 11 to 12 minutes, or until just set. When done, remove from oven and set aside.
• While the crust bakes, to the remaining sugar cookie mixture, add 3 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 to 2 tablespoons flour, and toss with a fork to combine until larger crumbly bits form. Depending on how wet your mixture is, add additional flour until the crumbs dry out somewhat. They don't need to be overly dry, but you don't want them to wet so add flour as necessary (I added 3 tablespoons total). Reserve and set aside the crumble (to be used in step 10).

Cream Cheese Filling:

• To a separate large bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and beat with a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 45 seconds.
• Add the egg, vanilla, and beat until smooth.
• Turn the cream cheese mixture out into the baked pie crust and smooth the top lightly with a spatula; set aside.

Apple Filling:

• To a large bowl (the same one you used for the cream cheese is fine), add all the ingredients, stir gently to combine, and slowly and evenly turn out over the cream cheese layer, and smooth the top lightly with a spatula.
• Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumble topping (from step 5), place pie plate on a baking sheet (for insurance against overflow in your oven because the pie is very full; although it doesn't rise much during baking) and bake for about 55 minutes, or until top of the pie is lightly golden brown and crumble is set. Because all ovens, climates, ingredients, etc. vary, start checking pie at 40 minutes and bake as long as necessary; I can envision this pie taking 60+ minutes in some ovens and climates.
• Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour and refrigerate at least 3 to 4 additional hours (overnight is best) or until chilled before optionally serving with whipped topping or ice cream. If you don't chill it properly, the pie will likely break upon slicing.

Notes

Storage: Extra pie will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Adapted from Betty Crocker.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 737kcal, Carbohydrates: 71g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 48g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 101mg, Sodium: 455mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 38g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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