Wild Boar Bourguignon
Wild boar slowly braised in red wine and herbs until tender, with a glossy, full-bodied sauce and no mushrooms.
RecipeDessertDutch
Dutch Apple Pie with Hidden Vanilla Custard
A rustic Dutch apple pie with speculaas-spiced apples, a buttery crumble crust and a hidden ribbon of vanilla and brown sugar custard.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 hr
- Total
- 1 hr 30 min
- Serves
- 8
- Per serving
- 420 kcal
In short
A rustic Dutch apple pie with speculaas-spiced apples, a buttery crumble crust and a hidden ribbon of vanilla and brown sugar custard. Ready in about 1 hr 30 min (30 min prep, 1 hr cooking), serves 8, around 420 kcal per serving.
Ingredients
For 8 servings
Method
Make the pastry dough by mixing flour, sugar, and cold butter until crumbly. Add egg and cold water gradually until dough forms. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Prepare custard by whisking egg yolks, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Heat milk, then slowly whisk into egg mixture. Cook over medium heat until thick. Stir in vanilla and butter. Cool completely.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out two-thirds of dough and line a 9-inch springform pan, bringing sides up about 2 inches.
Toss sliced apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, speculaas spice, and cornstarch. Layer half the apples in the crust.
Spread the cooled custard over the first layer of apples, then top with remaining apples.
Roll remaining dough into strips and create a lattice pattern over the top. Brush with beaten egg for golden color.
Bake for 60-70 minutes until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Cool completely before removing from pan.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420kcal
- Protein
- 6g
- Carbohydrates
- 65g
- Fat
- 16g
- Fibre
- 4g
- Sugar
- 45g
Estimated values per serving. AI estimate, not medical advice.
Tips & variations
Perfect Custard
Make sure to cook the custard until it coats the back of a spoon, and let it cool completely before adding to prevent the apples from getting soggy.
Apple Selection
Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor balance. Granny Smith holds its shape well while Golden Delicious adds natural sweetness.
Lattice Made Easy
If lattice feels intimidating, simply roll out the remaining dough and cut decorative shapes or make a rustic top crust with steam vents.
Traditional Dutch Style
Skip the hidden custard and add raisins and almond paste for the classic Dutch appeltaart experience.
Spiced Cream Version
Replace custard with whipped cream mixed with mascarpone and a touch of cardamom for a lighter, spiced surprise layer.
Questions about this recipe
How long does Dutch Apple Pie with Hidden Vanilla Custard take?
About 1 hr 30 min in total: 30 min of prep and 1 hr of cooking.
How many people does it serve?
This recipe makes 8 servings. The interactive recipe card on our homepage scales the ingredients up or down.
How many calories does it have?
Roughly 420 kcal per serving, with about 6 g protein, 65 g carbohydrates and 16 g fat. These are AI estimates, not lab values.
From our Instagram post
The moment this Dutch apple pie comes out of the oven, the air fills with warm cinnamon, caramelized edges, and that buttery crumble that shatters softly under your fork—and yes, there's a little surprise tucked inside.
I layered sweet-tart apples with a pinch of speculaas spice and hid a thin ribbon of vanilla–brown sugar custard that melts into the fruit as it bakes. The crust stays rustic and golden, just the way my Dutch family taught me, while the surprise center adds a creamy warmth that feels like a quiet hug. It's the kind of pie that makes the whole kitchen slow down, just to take in that scent.
What would you hide inside your dream apple pie?
Save this for your next cozy bake—and share it with someone who loves a good twist on a classic.
See the original post on Instagram ↗
The ingredient list, method, nutrition and tips were written out with AI from this post.
