Old Fashioned Apple Pie Recipe You’ll Want to Make Every Fall
An Old Fashioned Apple Pie is the kind of recipe that never goes out of style —warm, comforting, and made with simple, honest ingredients.
If you’re searching for a classic fall dessert recipe that brings everyone to the table and fills your kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and apples, this is it!
There’s just something magical about slicing into a golden, buttery crust to reveal layers of tender apples spiced to perfection.
Whether you’re baking for a holiday, a family gathering, or just craving a nostalgic treat, this pie recipe hits the spot every time.
What are the ingredients for apple pie?
- Apples – The heart of the pie. Use firm, tart-sweet varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix for the best flavor and texture. They hold up well when baked and give that signature apple pie taste.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the filling and helps draw out the juices from the apples as they bake.
- Brown Sugar – Adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness that complements the apples and spices beautifully.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg – These warm, cozy spices are key to that classic pie flavor. Cinnamon brings the familiar sweet spice, while just a pinch of nutmeg adds depth and enhances the cinnamon without overpowering it. Together, they give your pie that irresistible fall aroma and taste.
- Lemon Juice – Keeps the apples from browning too quickly. It also balances the sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour (or cornstarch) – Thickens the filling so your pie isn’t too runny once it’s baked.
- Butter – A few pats on top of the filling before baking melt into the apples and create a rich, silky texture.
- Pie Crust (top and bottom) – You can use a homemade pie crust for that authentic, flaky bite or a good-quality store-bought one for convenience.
- Egg Wash (optional) – A mix of egg and milk brushed over the crust gives your pie a golden, glossy finish straight from the oven.
Recipe for an Old Fashioned Apple Pie
- Make a double pie crust or use store-bought dough for ease.
- Combine the filling with the sliced apples, sugars, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
- Layer the filling in the crust, dot with butter, and top with the second crust.
- Trim and crimp the edges. Cut slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
- Shield the edges of your pie with foil or a pie crust shield if they’re browning too quickly before the center is done.
- Brush with egg wash if desired, then bake at 400°F for 45–55 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Place your pie plate on a baking sheet to catch any drips and keep your oven clean.
- Let your pie recipe cool before slicing and serving with ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
The secret is balance—a mix of tart and sweet apples, the right amount of spice, and a flaky, buttery crust. Letting the filling sit before baking helps draw out juices and prevents sogginess. And don’t forget: chilling your dough and cooling your baked pie completely before slicing both make a big difference in texture and flavor.
It’s optional, but partially cooking the apples can help control moisture and prevent a gap between the crust and filling after baking. If you like a firmer apple texture, skip pre-cooking. But if you want a more consistent, jammy filling, cooking the apples briefly on the stove with the sugars and spices first is a great trick.
To keep the bottom crust of an apple pie from getting soggy, drain excess juice from the filling before adding it to the crust, bake on a lower oven rack, and consider adding a layer of crushed graham crackers or breadcrumbs to absorb moisture.
Absolutely! Freeze the unbaked pie (wrapped well) and bake straight from frozen—just add about 15–20 extra minutes to the baking time.
If you’re loving the flavors of this fall pie recipe, don’t miss these delicious apple-inspired recipes too!
- Creamy and tangy, this no-bake caramel apple dip is the ultimate sweet treat for parties or cozy nights in.
- This moist, cinnamon-spiced apple pie coffee cake gets an upgrade with swirls of sweet apple pie filling in every bite.
- Make your own warm, gooey apple pie filling right in the slow cooker—it’s perfect for topping pancakes, ice cream, or using in desserts.
- These crowd-pleasing apple pie variations are perfect for your holiday dessert table and guaranteed to impress your guests.
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Old Fashioned Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Ready made Pie Crusts at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- dash of salt
- 8 medium apples thinly sliced and peeled
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk or water
Instructions
- Preheat to an oven temperature of 400 degrees, lower your oven rack and place a baking sheet on it.
- In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with both sugars, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Let sit for 10–15 minutes so the juices start to release.
- Roll out one dough disk and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate.
- Fill with the apple mixture and dot the top with pieces of butter.
- Roll out the second disk and place it over the filling. Trim and crimp the edges. Cut slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
- If using, brush the top crust with egg wash. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling. Cover the edges with foil if they begin to brown too quickly.
- Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
I love this recipe and I use my Betty Crocker Cookbook that I got from my dad when I graduated high school.
I absolutely love apple pie. I love going to the Farmer’s Market and getting apples in the fall. This is my favorite time of year.
McIntosh apples are my favorite!
I love the way baking apple pies fill your home with the most amazing scent. When I was younger I used to bake pies using my moms ancient Betty Crocker recipe book, the pie crust page was almost falling out by the time I moved out!
Stopping by from the Thanksgiving Hop
I love everything apple, especially pie! I wish there were apple orchards close to us to take the kids to, it looks like fun! Thanks for sharing, Monika
I have always meant to take the kids apple picking & never have. Your apple pie looks SO good! Great job, Reesa!
@Tara, hope you finally took you kids apple picking. Enjoy what days you have with them little
Nothing better than a yummy pie with vanilla ice cream! Beautiful
Nothing says “Fall” like apple pie. It’s part of the season for sure. I am glad to have stopped by via the SCBlogHop!
I love apple pie, but I’ve never made the crust and everything from scratch, so thanks for sharing!
Your lattice is beautiful! I made a delicious panini the other night with apples we picked last week. Yum!
Looks delish! Best thing about apple picking is all the fabulous things you can make.
Yum!! Now I want to go apple picking asap!
Looks delish, Reesa! I always love the look of lattice on a pie.
Right? It’s so traditional looking!
I add one 1 large granny smith to my other apples making my pie filling. It gives me that touch of flavor.