Can apple pie be frozen? - The complete guide

There is something to be said for a freshly baked apple pie. Only the smell reminds us of grandma’s kitchen when we visit her in summer. Do you eat your apple pie a la mode? Maybe you’d rather eat a plain, hot piece of cake.

No matter how you prefer to eat apple pie, we’re sure you know how delicious it is. You can’t go wrong with apple pie, as long as it has apples and a crust, right?

The fun thing is that you can make apple pie in many different ways and the crust can vary as well.

Can apple pie be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze apple pie. It is best to freeze apple pie before baking, but you can also freeze it after baking. Both baked and no-bake apple pie keep up to 6 months in the freezer. If you freeze the apple pie filling plain, it will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 12 months.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about freezing apple pie.

This also includes working with different shapes of apple pie. It is important that you know the differences between baked and unbaked, as well as chunks, etc.

Read on to learn how to freeze apple pie and much more.

The Complete Guide to Freezing Apple Pie

Apple pie is a delicious dessert that can be made in many ways and served in many different ways.

Some people prefer to add cinnamon and sugar to the pie filling and make it themselves from scratch, while others use canned apple pie filling.

Then there is the crust. You may prefer to use a ready-made crust or use a homemade crust recipe that has been passed down in your family.

And the top of the crust? Do you use crumbs or a full crust with the star indentations? Or maybe you dare with a lattice crust?

You can’t go wrong with any of these options. You can serve your cake hot or cold and you can accompany it with ice cream or a whipped topping.

Ultimately, the choice is entirely up to you! One thing that remains the same is the need to know how to preserve the cake in different ways and shapes.

That’s why we’re here! 

Let’s start with basic instructions on how to freeze baked apple pie and then expand from there.

How to Freeze Baked Apple Pie

You have made a delicious apple pie for your guests and you have leftovers. You’re not sure if you’re going to get to eat that cake before it goes bad. What are you doing? 

Fast! Freeze that apple pie!

Okay, you don’t have to be super fast, but you should know that freezing your cake is always an option.

Did you know that you can store baked apple pies at room temperature for 2 days? 

You just have to make sure that it is covered and that it is not in direct heat or sunlight. The trick to successfully freezing baked apple pie is to wrap it very well.

You want to protect it from freezer burn and other freezer maladies that could harm it.

These are the steps to freeze baked apple pie. We consider this to be more than one serving. It can be a whole cake or a slice of cake.

1. Allow the tart to cool completely before freezing it. This will help prevent excess moisture from making the crust soggy in the freezer. We recommend allowing 8 hours for the cake to really cool down to the center.
2. Wrap the cake in two layers of aluminum foil or plastic wrap. We recommend two layers as this will be the best way to sufficiently protect the cake and to ensure that it is not subjected to that dry air from the freezer which could have adverse effects on the cake.
3. If you used aluminum foil to wrap the cake, you can freeze it as is. If you have used plastic wrap, we recommend that you also put it in a freezer bag (I personally use these reusable ones from Amazon).
4. Label and date all containers. Keep in mind that when you place the cake in the freezer, it will most likely take about 24 hours to fully freeze.
5. Freeze apple pie baked this way for up to 6 months. It will most likely last longer, but this is the recommended time frame to maintain the best quality.

Freezing baked apple pie is not a difficult task. Things to watch out for the most either let the cake really cool all the way (8+ hours) and make sure it is fully wrapped, preferably in a double layer.

How to Freeze No Bake Apple Pie

If you make several apple pies ahead of time and know you won’t be baking or serving them right away, you can freeze the no-bake apple pie.

In fact, we think this is the best way to freeze apple pie , because you don’t have to worry about baking and cooling it, and you can take it straight from the freezer to the oven when you’re ready to use it.

However, the good thing is that there are many valid options. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

The best thing to do when freezing a no-bake pie is to leave it completely uncut. We recommend that you do not even make the cuts at the top of the crust. This can be done just before baking the tart.

If you’ve made a pie with a lattice top crust, you can try wrapping the top with a plastic wrap, keeping in mind to place the pie right side up in the freezer.

Until the pie has frozen, the pie filling could easily go astray. It takes about 24 hours for it to freeze completely.

Here are the instructions for freezing a no-bake apple pie. 

1. Remember to leave it uncut (even on the top crust) if possible until you’re ready to bake it. If it is a lattice crust, then you should wrap the top crust with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
2. Wrap with a double layer of aluminum foil or plastic wrap. We prefer aluminum foil for this process as it seems to be better. You can also wrap in a single layer and then place the cake in a freezer bag.
3. Make sure the wrap completely covers the cake in 2 layers.
4. Label and date the entire pie crust.
5. Put it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Freezing no-bake apple pie is so easy! 

When you’re ready to use it, don’t forget to make the slits in the top crust. If you prefer, you can defrost it, but the easiest and best method is to take the cake directly from the freezer to the oven to warm it up. 

It may take a little longer to heat up because the pie is frozen, but it also won’t get soggy or anything during the thawing process.

How to Freeze Apple Pie Slices

We’ve talked about baked and no-bake pies, but what do you do if you only need to freeze a single serving? Or what if you have multiple servings but want to freeze them individually so you can take them out and use them whenever you want?

Freezing slices of apple pie is as easy as… well… pie (pun intended).

When freezing the pieces, we recommend that you pre-freeze them to keep the filling inside the crust. This is the hardest part of freezing individual servings of apple pie.

Here are the steps to freeze the apple pie pieces: 

1. Make sure the portions have cooled. This can sometimes take several hours after cooking.
2. Start with a pre-freeze. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and carefully place the slices on the tray.
3. Pop them uncovered in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours so they are mostly frozen.
4. Take the sheet out of the freezer and wrap each slice in aluminum foil or plastic wrap individually.
5. Then use a double-layer wrapping method or place the wrapped pie slices in freezer bags for additional storage and preservation.
6. Label and date all packaging.
7. Store the apple pie pieces in the freezer this way for up to 6 months.

When you’re ready to eat that individual slice or use it for a friend, just take it out and warm it slightly. With an individual slice, you can heat it up in the microwave or pop it in the oven for a few minutes. 

A slice of apple pie is very easy to work with. Of course, the extra step of pre-freezing is necessary for it to freeze well, because it is easy for the filling to get dirty.

Other than that, the overall process is actually very similar and easy to do.

Can the apple pie filling be frozen?

If you have some apples that need some but you’re not ready to turn them into a pie or you just have a lot more than you need at the moment, you can freeze the apple pie filling!

Freezing the apple pie filling is very simple. It does not require a lot of work or effort and you can freeze it in simple freezer bags. Another alternative is to can the apple pie filling.

It is recommended to put the apples in lime or lemon juice before making the apple pie filling, as a preservation measure for the apples. From there, you will proceed to make the pie filling as normal.

Here are the instructions for freezing the apple pie filling:

• Once you have prepared the apple pie filling, allow it to cool. It will likely only need to be chilled for about 30 minutes to bag, but it will need to be chilled completely before freezing.
• Separate it into portions using gallon-sized freezer bags (like these). We recommend filling each freezer bag almost to the top, leaving approximately 2.5cm of headroom at the top.
• If you haven’t allowed the filling to cool completely before bagging it, now is the time to let it cool. No need to leave it out for more than 1-2 hours max.
• Close the freezer bags tightly, releasing excess air if necessary.
• Label the bags and date them.
• Freeze the apple pie filling this way for up to 12 months.

There are many options when it comes to preserving apple pie and its filling. You can take care of it whatever process you have to work with.

Storing apple pie out of the freezer

While we’re focusing on freezer options in this guide, we wanted to take a quick moment to talk about how to store your apple pie before freezing it or if you think it’s going to be eaten and doesn’t need to be frozen.

Some of us certainly need long-term solutions, while others just need something to keep the cake going for a few days.

Remember how we told you earlier that your baked apple pie can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days? It’s still true!

If this makes you nervous or you need a couple more days, here are the steps to store baked apple pie in the fridge. 

1. Cover the cake with aluminum foil or plastic.
2. Put it in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Yes, it really is that easy!

How to defrost a frozen baked apple pie

Did you know that if you’re going to reheat a baked apple pie that’s been frozen, you can take it straight from the freezer to the oven? This eliminates the possibility of accumulated moisture causing the crust to become soggy.

However, not everyone likes to take the frozen stuff straight into the oven, and that’s just fine.

Here’s the best process for both defrosting and reheating that baked apple pie when you take it out of the freezer. 

1. Take the tart out of the freezer the night before or several hours before reheating or serving it.
2. If you plan to serve it thawed without reheating it, you can leave it out at room temperature for 5-6 hours to thaw. Leave the cake covered during the defrosting time.
3. If you plan to reheat it, you can thaw it overnight or in the fridge for several hours.
4. To heat it up, preheat an oven to 300 degrees and reheat the pie for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Be sure to remove the plastic wrap or cover before heating.

It is not necessary to reheat an apple pie to serve it after it has been frozen. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you want it hot, cold, or at room temperature. The only time an apple pie is required to be baked after freezing is if it has not been baked before being frozen.

Related questions

We hope you found this guide to freezing apple pie an informative and valuable resource for freezing apple pie in any form.

We invite you to review the following question and answer section for additional information.

Can canned apple pie filling be frozen?

If the can is unopened, there is no need to freeze the filling. You just have to keep the can without opening properly. If it has opened, you can use the freezing instructions provided.

Does the apple pie go bad?

It is always possible for food to go bad, including apple pie. If you notice mold growing, throw it away.

If you notice excess water, it may be time to throw it out. You can also use your sense of smell to see if something smells bad or is broken.