If you’re like me the Thanksgiving 2017 countdown is on, and all the planning leading quickly into action. That’s right. It’s Thanksgiving week and the menu is vast and scrumptious.

One of the -must haves- on our Thanksgiving table – well, the dessert table anyway – is apple pie. I use E-Z Gel in this fast apple pie filling, and choose a combination of sweet and tart apples, usually Granny Smiths and goldens, though any fairly solid apple will do nicely. This filling comes together in just a few minutes and because of the combination of the apples being blanched and the E-Z Gel holding everything together and keeping the water under control this filling stays thick through and after baking, and it doesn’t tend to bubble all over the oven. (Unless you really overfill your crust.)

This recipe also makes a great filling for hand pies, apple cookies or apple crisp.

Easy Apple Pie with E-Z Gel

6 cups peeled apples sliced 1/4″ thick

1 pkg. spiced cider mix (makes 1 cup)

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup E-Z Gel

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup water

Blanch apples by placing in microwave safe bowl, covering with waxed paper, and microwaving on high for 10 minutes, stirring once.

Combine sugar, E-Z Gel, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Gradually add water, stirring constantly with wire whisk.  Fold into prepared apples.

For apple cream pie, turn prepared filling into baked 9″ pie crust and chill.  Top with sweetened whipped cream.

For baked apple pie, turn prepared filling into unbaked 9″ pie crust.  Cover with additional 9″ pie crust, pricking as desired.  Bake at 400E for 35-40 minutes.