Looking for a new apple pie recipe? This Swedish apple oatmeal pie is anything but traditional. The crust is on the top, the main spice is cardamom instead of cinnamon, but it's mellow and comforting.
Topped with the vanilla sauce it's sure to be your family's new favorite.
📋Why Make This Recipe
Do you associate the aroma of freshly baked pie with your childhood? Do you remember sitting in front of the window watching golden leaves fall from the trees while mom is baking a pie?
Didn't it make you feel happy and protected? Ah, the memories...
This Swedish apple pie doesn't use traditional pie crust and the oatmeal crust is on the top, but it has the same magic.
Moreover, the filling is spiced with cardamom, as Scandinavians love cardamom and vanilla sauce with their äppelpaj.
So go ahead, first grab a spoon and then find a nearby window where you can watch fall take over your yard. Finally, forget all worries. I promise you'll be more content with each bite you take.
🛒Ingredients and Notes
🔪Step by Step Instructions
Make the pie
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9" inch pie.
- Mix together the apple chunks, cardamom, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- In another bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined.
- Spread the apples evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the topping over the apples.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the topping is firm and apples are bubbly.
- Serve warm or cold, topped with vanilla sauce
Make the vanilla sauce
- Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools (Best when used cold. It was still warm when I took the photos so it wasn't as thick).
- Spoon the sauce over apple pie and even cakes, waffles, pancakes, and bread pudding. Keep the sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.
💡Recipe Tips
- This pie is exceptional without cinnamon, but feel free to add a teaspoon or two to the filling.
- Serve the pie warm with vanilla ice cream instead of the sauce, but I highly recommend the sauce.
- For the gluten-free version, substitute ½ cup flour with a ¾ cup oat flour.
💗More Related Recipes to Try
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Swedish Apple Oatmeal Pie with Vanilla Sauce
Equipment
- Pie baking pan
Ingredients
Apple filling
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples about 1 lb, peeled and chopped into ¼" chunks
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Topping
- 9 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 ¼ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Vanilla Sauce
- 1 pint 16 oz. heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Pie
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9" inch pie.
- Mix together the apple chunks, cardamom, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- In another bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined.
- Spread the apples evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the topping over the apples.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the topping is firm and apples are bubbly.
- Serve warm or cold, topped with vanilla sauce
Vanilla Sauce
- Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools (Best when used cold. It was still warm when I took the photos so it wasn't as thick).
- Spoon the sauce over apple pie and even cakes, waffles, pancakes, and bread pudding. Keep the sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Expert Tips
- This pie is exceptional without cinnamon, but feel free to add a teaspoon or two to the filling.
- Serve the pie warm with vanilla ice cream instead of the sauce, but I highly recommend the sauce.
- For the gluten-free version, substitute ½ cup flour with a ¾ cup oat flour.
Nutrition
Just made it, it’s absolutely amazing. Didn’t add sugar though, and surprisingly it was sweet enough
Yay! Thanks for trying it out. Glad you liked it 😀
Congratulations!
Your post is featured on The Thanksgiving Edition of Full Plate Thursday! Thanks so much for sharing with us, enjoy your new Red Plate and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen! I saw it was your pick for the lunch 😀
Is the 1.5 tablespoons of vanilla in the oatmeal topping a misprint? We thought it may be...so we tried it with 1.5 tsp, and it came out fine.
Hi, Gina! No, it's not a typo but I don't think using less is a mistake as it wouldn't make a huge difference, as you have found out. 🙂 Thanks for trying and commenting! Glad you liked it 😀
Looks yummy! Thanks for sharing at Friday Frenzy Link Party! PINNED!
Thanks, Kelly!
Jas I have a great big jar of oatmeal that my kids won't eat. This is going to be the perfect solution. Hide it in the pie! 😉 Thank you!
That's what moms do! 😉 XO
Oh so Swedish! It made me smile mentioning the cardamon as well! A great very Swedish äppelpaj! 🙂
Ohh if I used gluten-free outs I could make this for my girls and it sounds lovely Jas
Yes, you could definitely use GF oats, Amber! 🙂
Ahhhhhhh another mouthwatering, Jastacular creation. The hubby's favorite pudding has always been apple pie and I'd love to try make him this one or maybe I'll get our daughter to make it instead. It might be safer 😉
Haha, let the kid bake - better safe than sorry 😉 Thanks for stopping in, Michelle!
I like this idea, a combination of a crisp and a pie. And cinnamon is not a favorite so it is perfect! Thank you for bringing it to FF.
Thank you, Liz. It is really an excellent pie. 🙂
I love to read about new versions of apple pie or any apple dessert. Traditional is something you make all of the time and never change the ingredients. We need to explore like you have adding oats and cardamom - how different. I love that spice too - wish I could taste your pie. Then the vanilla sauce to finish - that's quite a pie! Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday.
Hi, Judith! This one definitely was a pleasant surprise. I was a bit worried because it looks so plain, but I love the mild flavor. Thanks for stopping in!
I WANT this. Printed on the spot! I'm thinking it would make a great Sunday morning breakfast. 🙂 Found you at both #FridayFrivolity and the Blogger's Pit Stop!
My husband has Swedish heritage. This looks and sounds delicious! I am much more a vanilla person than chocolate. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Yum! This looks so good! 🙂 Bookmarking for later! 🙂
Thanks, Mandy!
Everything about this recipe says cozy! Pinning to try later - thanks so much for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
I'm so happy you like it, Lynda! You're right, it is a cozy one 🙂
This looks and sounds so delicious! I love Swedish vanilla sauce. It definitely goes perfect with apple desserts! My step mom is from Sweden and she always has vanilla sauce with desserts. I feel like the vanilla sauce is always in place, instead, of ice cream.
That's so neat, Natalie! I bet she has the real yummy Swedish vanilla sauce recipe. Lucky you!
Oh I really like the sound of this. I love anything apple, it's one of my favourite flavours! #CookBlogShare
Then you'd like my Bavarian Apple Streusel Cheesecake too, Donna, since I know you like fruity cheesecakes 😉
How delicious this would be with my coffee this morning! 🙂
It's perfect with morning coffee, Donna!
Apple Pie definitely takes me back to a time when life was simpler. Blissful memories indeed. I have no doubt that this crust on the top pie will take me back and satisfy my sweet tooth. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story and we hope you will join us again next week.
Thanks, Sandra. Wasn't life much better when it was simpler? Have a great weekend!
Looking at the picture and reading the ingredients I think I smell this. LOL It got chilly down here in Florida and I have been in to Oatmeal, I must share with my friends.
Please do! It tastes better than it looks 😀
This sounds and looks delicious! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!
Thanks, Helen!
YUM! I could eat a large piece of this right now! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you so much, Jess, and thanks for stopping in!
This recipe sounds wonderful! Pinned for later!
Thank you, Kristin!
Jaw-drop! This looks absolutely delicious. Can't wait to make it for our kids.
I'm so happy you like it, Bonnie! The cardamom gives it a different, but subtle taste 🙂
Jas, this was sooooo yummy. And I'm proud to write...I ate it for breakfast too. My defense is that it has oats! :). Awesome recipe!
Yay! Thank you, Donna, for trying and loving my recipe 😀 Apples + Oats = Breakfast in my book, LOL. XOXO
This pie simply looks amazing! Thanks for sharing it on the All Things Apple Celebrate 365 Blog Party!
Thanks so much!
This looks incredible, Jas! I love desserts with oatmeal (like my favorite, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies :)) and I LOVE apple pie. So this just makes sense! I can't wait to try it 😉
So glad this is right up your alley, Leah! I hope you find more apple recipes from our #appleweek you like 😀 Thanks for stopping by!
That vanilla sauce sounds incredible, I'd be pouring it over everything!
I don't know if I can give up my cinnamon, but I'll give it a shot for this lovely dessert.
You can totally add cinnamon, Lauren! I poured my leftover vanilla sauce over bread pudding but it's great for just about anything, lol.
Yummy - this sounds delicious! I always love all the memories you have tied to your recipes.
Aw, thank you, Val! That means a lot!
Yum Yum! This looks absolutely fabulous! What a great fall treat and a perfect way to kick off AppleWeek!
Thanks, Carlee, and thank you for organizing this huge event! You're amazing 😀
I'm laughing here because as I read your title....Swedish Apple Oatmeal Pie....my childish mind finished.....who's not ready holler I. Then I read your first sentence and it talks of childhood memories. Still shaking my head LOL. Nothing childish about this pie though, it sounds amazing Jas.
Wow, Wendy! It's true, food triggers childhood memories 😀 Thanks for stopping in!
This looks SO delicious, Jas. Thanks for sharing it with #AppleWeek. I can't wait to try it.
Thank you, Camilla! It tastes much better than it looks, ha!