Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Apple pie is the kind of dessert that brings you right back to family dinners, fall afternoons, and the smell of cinnamon wafting through the kitchen. It is even much better when it is a homemade apple pie dish, it is easy to make and would give you the best result that aligns with your taste preference.
This recipe starts with the crust, which might be the most important part. It’s buttery, flaky, and holds everything together without being too heavy. Making the dough is equally easy, the recipe card below would put you through the simple steps.
Now let’s talk about the filling. I use a mix of sweet and tart apples. It gives the pie a nice balance so it’s not too sugary. The apples are tossed in brown sugar, granulated sugar, a bit of flour for thickening, and just enough cinnamon and nutmeg to give it warmth without overpowering the fruit. A splash of lemon juice keeps the flavors bright and keeps the apples from browning as you mix.
Once your filling is ready, pile it into the bottom crust. Don’t be afraid if it looks like a lot. The apples will shrink as they bake, and a tall pie always looks beautiful when sliced. You can go with a lattice top if you’re feeling fancy or just lay the second crust on top and cut a few slits to let steam escape. Either way, brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle it with sugar. It gives you that golden, slightly crisp top that’s impossible to resist.
Apple pie is a beloved dessert in many cultures and is especially popular in North America, where it is often enjoyed during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is also a staple at picnics, potlucks, and family gatherings year-round.
This guided recipe I created below would teach you how to make the best homemade apple pie in your kitchen.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9-inch pie dish
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Pastry cutter or fork
- 1 Knife and cutting board
- 1 Aluminum foil (optional, for covering edges of pie crust)
- 1 Pastry brush (optional, for egg wash)
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
For the Pie Crust:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 6-8 tablespoons ice water
For the Apple Filling:
- 6 cups peeled cored, and thinly sliced apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter cut into small pieces
Instructions
Prepare the Pie Crust:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and granulated sugar.
- Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture.
- Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Gradually add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork or your hands until the dough comes together and holds its shape when pressed.
- Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Prepare the Apple Filling:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Toss until the apples are evenly coated with the sugar mixture.
Assemble the Pie:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of pie dough into a circle large enough to fit your pie dish. Transfer the rolled-out dough to the pie dish and gently press it into the bottom and sides.
- Spoon the prepared apple filling into the pie crust, mounding it slightly in the center. Dot the top of the filling with small pieces of unsalted butter.
- Roll out the second disk of pie dough into a circle large enough to cover the filling. Carefully place it over the filling, then trim and crimp the edges of the dough to seal the pie.
Bake the Pie:
- If desired, brush the top crust with a beaten egg for a shiny finish.
- If the edges of the pie crust are browning too quickly during baking, you can cover them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips, then bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
