Publix Apple Pie Review
Author’s Note: This is a completely unbiased and unpaid review. I have no affiliation with Publix. Or Aldi. Or Costco. Nada.
Time heals all pie wounds.
I wasn’t planning to buy this mini pie. But it was $3.49. So, what choice did I have?
It’s been years since I’ve had a Publix Apple Pie. And, either something has changed in the recipe, or my memory is malfunctioning. Because this is tastier than I remember.
I enjoyed the chunkiness of the fruit filling, and the small amount of slippery goo that holds it together is “just right.” However, the apples were wildly inconsistent in texture & size. There were enormous chunks half the size of my palm, and tiny fragment. Stiff, crunchy pieces, and super mushy pieces. Nearly raw, and “almost applesauce” consistency.
It kept me guessing. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s a thing. According to the Publix Bakery website, there’s a combination of Crispin and Greening apples, which might account for the difference in textures.
I do like the light sweetness. It’s not as sugary as I expected. In fact, “sugar” is the FIFTH ingredient. Which is borderline amazing for desserts these days! Some of the sweetness is from concentrated apple juice. There’s a whisper of tanginess, but mostly mellow apple flavor. No where near as tart as Aldi’s Apple Pie, but not bland either.
Spices and flavors
There’s sparse spice in Publix’ Apple Pie. It has a pleasant, fruity flavor (like apple juice), but not the punch of cinnamon, or caress of nutmeg I was hoping for. I am sort of a spice junky, however. If you eat apple pie mainly to taste “apple,” you will probably love this. It’s a very different flavor from Costco’s Apple Pie, which is full of sultry nutmeg.
The crustage
This is a pie for crust-lovers. In fact, this is the thickest crust I’ve ever seen on an apple pie. Or maybe it just seems that way because the pie is so hobbity. My opinion of the mini pies is that you are getting more crust-to-filling ratio than a full-size pie.
This is a super sturdy crust, too. I like the contrast of the crisp exterior to the softer inner layers. It has a tender-flakey quality that is satisfying. It’s crisper than Costco’s apple pie crust, but not as flakey as Aldi’s version. The flavor is more savory than sweet, but it has a thin, glossy glaze of sweet syrup on top. This crust is mainly a sponge for the applelicious flavors of the pie filling.
Serving the itty-bitty pie
I cut mine into 4 quarters, which is 3 ounces per serving. This makes stubby little wedges. Yes, they look a bit silly. I wouldn’t serve them to guests this way. But for a quick dessert after a family meal, it’s great. For a single person, this is a perfect pie size — who wants more than 4 servings in a row of the same thing, anyway?
This pie tastes best at room temperature, or warm. Microwaving a cold slice was not very effective, since the crust stays cold and hard, while the filling becomes molten. I preferred to toast mine on a plate in my countertop toaster oven. Just a few minutes at 350 does the trick. Or, my favorite method is to cook my dinner in the toaster oven, take the dinner out, turn the oven off, then put in the pie. The leftover heat is just enough to slowly warm up the pie while I eat my meal.
Ingredients in Publix Apple Pie
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Apples (Apples, Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid)
- Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Water
- Shortening (Palm Oil, Canola Oil)
- Sugar
- Food Starch Modified
- Apple Juice Concentrate
- Whey
- Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavorings [Lactic Acid, Starter Distillate])
- Salt
- Cane Syrup
- Yeast Blend (Yeast, Enzymes)
- Cinnamon
- Pectin (Pectin, Dextrose)
- Citric Acid Anhydros
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Dimethyl Polysiloxane
- Egg Wash (Egg)
It’s nice to see no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. The bummer is that there are preservatives.
Other varieties of these mini Publix pies include:
- Peach
- Wild Blueberry
- Dutch Apple
- Guava
- Cherry
There are also mini Key Lime and Mango Key Lime Pies, although they are priced a bit higher. Check out my reviews for more deets. And, of course, Publix also sells a full-size (34 ounce) version of their apple pie for $7.49.
Price and Servings
The 12 ounce pie regular price is $4.99, but I got mine on sale for $3.49. If you get 4 servings per pie, each 3 ounce slice would cost $1.25.
Shelf Life
The “sell by” date on my pie was dated for 3 days after purchase. I kept mine in the refrigerator and ate it over 6 days without seeing any significant loss of quality. But, re-baking/warming it definitely helps!
Dramatic Conclusion
This is a good pie for folks who love thick crusts and big chunks of textural apples. It’s not ideal for spice-lovers. The small size is a perfect option for singles or couples. On my high-tech “Awesome-o-Meter,” it scores a “Maybe.”
The End.
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