Dutch apple pie is a delicious baked dessert that originated in the Netherlands. It consists of apples covered in a sweet crumb topping and baked inside a buttery, flaky pie crust. While Dutch apple pie tastes heavenly, many people wonder just how many calories are contained in a single slice.
In this comprehensive guide, we will examine the typical calorie count of a small slice of Dutch apple pie. We will look at the calories in each component – the pie crust, apple filling, and crumb topping. We will also explore how factors like portion size, recipe variations, and add-ons like ice cream or whipped cream impact the total calorie count.
Understanding the calorie content is important for managing your diet and making informed food choices. While enjoying an occasional slice of decadent Dutch apple pie is perfectly fine for most people, it’s helpful to know the numbers so you can account for the indulgence.
Calories in Pie Crust
The classic Dutch apple pie begins with a tender, flaky pie crust enveloping the sweet apple filling. The pie crust provides structure and that satisfying crisp texture in each bite. But pie crust is essentially pastry dough made from ingredients like flour, butter, shortening, water, and sometimes sugar and eggs. So while delicious, it does contain a considerable number of calories.
According to the USDA, one ounce of a standard pie crust contains about 129 calories. Pie crust recipes can vary, but a typical recipe for a 9-inch double crust apple pie will use about 10 ounces of pie crust dough.
So for the entire double crust pie shell of a 9-inch pie, you would expect around 1,290 calories total just for the pie crust itself.
For a pie cut into 6 slices, each slice would contain roughly 215 calories from just the pie crust alone.
And for a smaller slice, say 1/8th of the pie, the pie crust would contribute approximately 161 calories.
Typical Pie Crust Ingredients and Calories
To understand why pie crust contains so many calories, let’s look at the common ingredients that make up the dough:
- Flour – Typically all-purpose flour, provides calories and carbohydrates
- Butter – Adds flavor along with calories and fat
- Shortening – Used for flakiness, high in fat and calories
- Water – Hydrates the dough, no calories
- Sugar – Some recipes add sugar for sweetness and browning
- Eggs – Can provide protein, fat and calories
- Salt – For flavor, minimal calories
As you can see, the main sources of calories in pie crust are the flour, butter, and shortening. Standard pie crust gets a majority of its calories from fat. So if you’re trying to lighten your pie, you could experiment with recipe adjustments like using reduced-fat butter or oil instead of shortening.
But overall, expect your standard buttery pie crust to contribute a significant amount of calories and fat to the pie – around 150-200 calories in a smaller slice.
Calories in Apple Pie Filling
The tender apples baked inside are what give Dutch apple pie its comforting flavor. Apples are a nutritious fruit, providing fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. A medium apple contains around 95 calories.
For a 9-inch double crust pie, you’ll typically need 5-6 cups of sliced apples. With about 2 cups per medium apple, that equals roughly 3 average sized apples.
So the apple filling for the entire 9-inch pie would contain approximately 285-342 calories total.
Again, if we divide our pie into 6 slices, the apple filling would add roughly 47-57 calories per slice.
And for a smaller 1/8 slice, you’d get about 36-43 calories just from the apples themselves.
Factors that Impact Calories in Apple Filling
A few factors impact the calorie content of the apple filling, including:
- Type of Apple – Sweeter varieties like Fuji may be slightly higher in calories than tart Granny Smith
- Added Sugar – Some recipes include sugar, corn syrup, or other sweeteners
- Spices and Flavorings – Cinnamon and vanilla are common in apple pie
- Thickeners – Cornstarch or tapioca flour help thicken the filling
Overall though, the apple filling itself is typically one of the lower calorie components. The biggest impact comes from added sugars or other flavor enhancers.
So you can expect around 35-55 calories per smaller slice from a standard apple pie filling.
Calories in Crumb Topping
What sets Dutch apple pie apart is that deliciously crisp, sweet crumb topping. The streusel is made by mixing flour, sugar, butter, spices, and sometimes oats or nuts, and then scattering it over the filled pie crust before baking.
Like the buttery pie crust, the crumb topping does add a hefty dose of calories and fat due to its main ingredients of butter and flour.
A standard streusel topping for a 9-inch pie generally uses around 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 3-4 tablespoons butter.
That works out to around 740 total calories for the entire crumb topping.
Dividing that into 6 slices, you get about 120 calories per slice from just the streusel topping.
And for our smaller 1/8 pie slice, the streusel would provide approximately 90 calories.
Lighter Crumb Topping Options
You can definitely lighten up the crumb topping if you’re concerned about calories. Some easy substitutions include:
- Use brown sugar instead of white to add more flavor with less sugar
- Substitute rolled oats for some of the flour
- Use oil instead of butter
- Sprinkle with chopped nuts for crunch and nutrients
Modifying the crumb topping can help lower the calorie count while still providing that satisfying crunch. But for traditional Dutch apple pie streusel, expect around 80-120 crumb topping calories in a smaller slice.
Putting It All Together
Now that we’ve looked at the calorie breakdown of each component – crust, apples, and topping – we can put it all together to estimate the total calories in a small slice of Dutch apple pie:
Calories in 1/8 Slice of Dutch Apple Pie
| Component | Calories |
|---|---|
| Pie crust (1/8th of 9-inch pie) | 161 |
| Apple filling (approx. 3 cups) | 36 |
| Crumb topping (1/8th of topping) | 90 |
| Total Calories | 287 |
As you can see, even a smaller 1/8 slice of Dutch apple pie contains around 287 calories, based on average ingredient amounts and nutrition data.
This calorie count will vary somewhat based on your specific recipe, ingredient quantities, and baking methods. But you can expect a modest slice of traditional Dutch apple pie to contain around 275-300 calories or more.
Serving Size Impact
Portion size has a significant impact on the calorie content. If you eat a larger slice, you’ll increase the calories accordingly:
- 1/6 of 9-inch pie: approx. 345 calories
- 1/5 of 9-inch pie: approx. 410 calories
- 1/4 of 9-inch pie: approx. 575 calories
As you can see, the more pie you eat, the greater the calorie count. So pay close attention to serving sizes, especially if you’re tracking calories. Sticking with a smaller slice will keep the calorie cost more reasonable.
Add-ons and Variations
There are also several popular ways to enjoy Dutch apple pie that will increase the calorie count:
Mode and Ice Cream
Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream can easily tack on another 100-150 calories or more. The creamy cold ice cream melts down into the warm pie, creating an irresistible flavor combination. Just be mindful of portion size, as the calories can add up quickly.
Whipped Cream
Topping your pie with whipped cream adds additional calories from the heavy cream and sugar. A couple tablespoons can add around 50 calories.
Cheddar Cheese
Melting sharp cheddar over top of the pie brings out delicious salty and savory flavors. But cheese does come with additional fat and calories, so use a light sprinkling.
Streusel Bottom Crust
For extra streusel flavor, some recipes add the crumb mixture to the bottom crust too. But this doubles the amount of topping and calories.
Double Crust Pie
Covering the entire pie with a top crust provides more buttery flaky layers. But a double crust pie shell will have closer to 400 calories per smaller slice.
So while these additions all taste amazing, just know that they come along with a higher calorie price tag.
Healthier Pie Options
If you’re looking for ways to lighten up your Dutch apple pie, there are a few simple alternatives:
- Use a whole wheat or almond flour crust
- Substitute coconut oil for butter in the crust and topping
- Leave the top crust off for a crumble pie
- Add oats, nuts or seeds to the crumb for more fiber
- Use less sugar in the filling and crumb topping
- Bake with mixed apples like Granny Smith and Fuji for more fiber
- Sprinkle with cinnamon instead of heavy cream or ice cream
With some simple ingredient swaps and recipe tweaks, you can still enjoy the classic flavor of Dutch apple pie in a lighter calorie package.
Conclusion
Dutch apple pie is a cherished treat for good reason – the tender apples, flaky crust, and sweet crumb topping create pie perfection. While each slice does contain a significant amount of calories, mostly from the buttery crust and topping, you can still incorporate this classic dessert into your diet in moderation.
A smaller 1/8 slice of traditional Dutch apple pie made with average ingredients contains around 275-300 calories. Pay close attention to your portion size, and avoid excessive add-ons like ice cream or extra streusel to keep the calorie count reasonable. With mindful moderation, you can satisfy your apple pie cravings while sticking to your nutritional needs.
