Made with a Biscoff (Speculoos) cookie crust, this apple butter pie has a creamy, spiced apple filling. The finished pie is topped off with brown-sugar-and-spice whipped cream and a sprinkling of cookie crumbs. 

If you're looking for an alternative to pumpkin pie this year, you've found it!

Here are Bridget's Rules for Thanksgiving:

1. Stuffing. Yes, it's technically "dressing," but we call it stuffing, and there is no Thanksgiving without it.

2. Sweet potato casserole should not include marshmallows. I suggest this recipe. 

3. The only acceptable turkey is a SMOKED TURKEY. I order ours from Greenberg's every year. It's impeccable. 

4. The Thanksgiving Day parade is on TV...whether anyone is watching it or not.

5. Post-lunch/dinner walk is non-negotiable.

6. Desserts: there must be several.

I want to introduce you to the Apple Butter Pie. This is your new easy pie recipe to add to your Thanksgiving dessert menu.

The crust takes 5 minutes (or less) to whip up. The filling takes 5 minutes to create. The hardest part about making this pie? Waiting for it to chill before slicing into it.

What's the difference between speculoos cookies and Biscoff cookies?

The cookie crust is made with Biscoff, or Speculoos, cookies. Biscoff is a brand name but very widely available. If you're shopping at Trader Joe's, you'll look for Speculoos Cookies. 

Speculoos cookies are crunchy cinnamon cookies that have a nice spicy flavor. (Cinnamon spicy, not jalapeno spicy.) You know those addictive little cookies that are sometimes served on airplanes? Those. 

Fun fact. When I graduated from college and was hired as a flight attendant, those cookies might have been my favorite part of the job! 

While we're on the topic, you might want to try these other Biscoff recipes:

• biscoff coffee cake with biscoff crumb topping
• speculoos and chocolate button cookies
• biscoff cut-out cookies
• biscoff-glazed soft oatmeal cookies
• biscoff brownies

Apple Butter Pie is very similar in texture to a pumpkin pie...without the pumpkin. See, I can make recipes without pumpkin (sometimes). ;)

What is apple butter?

Apple butter is made by slow-cooking apples with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. The apples become caramelized, concentrating their flavor, and the resulting apple butter is thick and spreadable. You'll find apple butter near the jelly in the grocery store and at farmers' markets.

Add this pie to your Thanksgiving repertoire. You'll be glad you did.

Apple Butter Pie with Biscoff Speculoos Cookie Crust

YIELD: one 9" pie

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

BAKE TIME: 48 minutes total

For the crust:

1 3/4 cups crushed Speculoos cookies, such as Biscoff

2 TBSP Imperial Sugar Granulated Sugar

Pinch kosher salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

2 eggs

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup apple butter

For the whipped cream:

1 cup heavy cream

2 TBSP packed Imperial Sugar Light Brown Sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch ground cloves

Speculoos cookie crumbs

Preheat oven to 350.  

Stir the cookie crumbs, sugar, and salt together. Add the melted butter and stir until well combined. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9" pie pan.  

Bake for 8 minutes, then remove to a wire cooling rack. Cool for at least 10 minutes before filling.

Raise oven temperature to 425. 

Whisk the eggs lightly. Add in the milk, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla, whisking until combined. Whisk or stir in the apple butter until incorporated. Pour the filling into the baked crust. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 and bake for 30 minutes more until the center is set. 

Cool the pie on a wire rack, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. 

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, whip the cream, brown sugar, and spices until stiff peaks form. Serve each slice with the spiced whipped cream and cookie crumbs. 

I'm also sharing the recipe at Imperial Sugar. Come and get it!