PREP TIME
30
MINS
IDLE TIME
N/A
HOURS
COOK TIME
45
MINS
PELLETS
Apple
BLEND
SERVES
6-8
PEOPLE
Can you bake an apple pie on a pellet grill?
Yes. A pellet grill works like a wood-fired convection oven, making it an excellent choice for baking apple pie. The consistent heat helps bake the crust evenly while adding a subtle hardwood flavor that complements apples, caramel, cinnamon, and bourbon. Whether you're baking from scratch or using a prepared crust, a pellet grill can produce a golden, flaky pie with rich, wood-fired flavor that's perfect for holidays, family gatherings, or backyard cookouts.
This recipe comes from Robyn of GrillGirl.com. Check her out for more unique ideas to utilize your grill!
Ingredients
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts
- 5-cups sliced apples OR 6-7 small-medium apples chopped
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 dash each: nutmeg, allspice, ginger
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 2 tbsp dulce de leche
- 1 tbsp maldon smoked sea salt or large flake sea salt
Robyn Lindars’ Bourbon Salted Caramel Apple Pie
All American apple pie paired with bourbon and caramel, smoked in the Green Mountain Grill, makes for a match made in Dessert heaven.
Note, the term caramel is used loosely here as the recipe uses Dulce De Leche, which is a cousin of caramel. Dulce De Leche is a popular heavenly concoction in Latin American countries and is used by itself as well as in desserts like Tres Leches. The core difference between Dulce De Leche and Caramel is that Dulce De Leche is made from sweetened condensed milk and sugar whereas caramel is made from sugar and water. Look for Dulce De Leche in the Latin section of the grocery store, or feel free to substitute an easier to find caramel sauce and use the same method of application below. If you want to make it from scratch, go for it!
The beauty of a pellet smoker is that they are as easy to use as an oven, but also impart smoky flavor you cannot get in your oven. The bourbon, apples, salted caramel and smoke make for an intoxicating flavor combination.
Directions:
First, roughly peel the apples with a vegetable peeler to remove the majority of the peel (doesn’t have to be perfect), then chop them up uniformly and put them in a big bowl. Add the bourbon, spices, brown sugar and butter and stir to combine.
Next, let your refrigerated pie crusts slightly thaw and soften out of the refrigerator. I prefer to bake in a 12 inch cast iron skillet for pies on my smoker, but a pie plate would work as well. Roll out the pie dough into the skillet trying to get the dough to roll up on the sides as far as possible. Next, add your apple mixture.
Here’s the fun part! Put the dulce de leche into a Ziploc sandwich bag and add the maldon sea salt. Run it under hot water in the sink to get it warmed up. This will allow the salt to combine and the caramel to spread easily. Snip the corner of the bag to create a pastry bag.
Next, pipe the dulce de leche onto the top of the apple pie mixture. Take the other pie crust and put it on top of the pie and seal the edges. Cut a few slits to let the steam escape.
Set your Green Mountain Grill or pellet smoker to 300 degrees. Let your pie bake for approximately 45 minutes OR until the crust has browned and the apple mixture is bubbly. It is normal for some of the pie juice to come up on the side of the crust, I believe this is due to the shape of the cast iron skillet.
When serving a slice, drizzle more dulce de leche onto each piece for extra yumminess!
FAQs
Can you bake a pie on a pellet grill?
Yes. Pellet grills maintain steady temperatures like an outdoor convection oven, making them ideal for baking pies, cobblers, crisps, cookies, and other desserts with a hint of wood-fired flavor.
What wood pellets are best for apple pie?
Apple, maple, cherry, and pecan pellets pair beautifully with apple pie because they provide a mild, sweet smoke that complements fruit without overpowering the dessert.
Does bourbon make apple pie taste like alcohol?
Most of the alcohol cooks off during baking, leaving behind subtle caramel, vanilla, and oak notes that enhance the flavor of the apples and salted caramel.
How do you keep pie crust flaky on a pellet grill?
Bake the pie at a consistent temperature, avoid opening the grill too often, and allow the crust to cook until it’s golden brown. Steady heat helps produce an evenly baked, flaky crust.
What should I serve with bourbon salted caramel apple pie?
This pie is delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream, caramel sauce, toasted pecans, or a drizzle of additional salted caramel.
