Award-winning apple pie is a classic dessert with simple ingredients you have on hand like apples, sugar, flour and butter. This homemade recipe is easy to make with lots of delicious ingredients that can never go wrong making it an easy favorite!
The smell of freshly picked apples in the air is one that I always associated with fall. There’s just something about apple pies, fried apples and homemade applesauce that makes me feel warm inside!
Making an old fashioned apple pie recipe for my family has been a tradition since before my kids were born!
This delicious apple pie recipe is the perfect fall dessert recipe for your next fall gathering or dinner party! I love the smell of homemade apple pie in autumn, it’s nostalgic and brings back sweet memories.
It’s a classic dessert that is easy to make from scratch with a few simple ingredients you have on hand like apples, sugar, cinnamon or pumpkin spice mix (adds an extra dimension!), flour & butter.
Be sure to check out these apple dessert recipes!
The perfect apple pie recipe is just sweet enough, but not too sweet; with the best flaky pie crust and a filling made from apples so juicy they practically ooze out of their skin.
It’s perfect for those cozy winter days spent curled up by the fire or sitting around the dinner table with loved ones.
This recipe for the best apple pie is super easy to follow and will have your house smelling like Fall in no time.
Homemade pies are always a good idea. They’re simple to make with lots of delicious ingredients – it’s one classic recipe that never gets old.
You’ll never go back to store-bought after tasting homemade pie!
How to Make an Award Winning Apple Pie Recipe
If you scroll down, I have created a printable recipe for you, which includes ingredients and instructions and affiliate links for recommended products.
Here’s what you need to have on hand to make my favorite apple pie recipe
- Ready to bake pie dough at room temperature, you want a nice buttery pie crust – Whether you choose store bought or a homemade pie crust is up to you.
- white sugar
- a little flour (all purpose flour)
- cinnamon, nutmeg, salt
- Apple slices of 8 apples or Homemade Apple Pie Filling
- cold butter (unsalted butter)
- lemon juice
- a large mixing bowl
- 9-inch pie plate
- rolling pin
Preheat a 425 degree oven, lower your oven rack and place a baking sheet on it.
In a small bowl, prepare the flour mixture: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
To make your apple filling, toss apples in the flour, mix in the lemon juice in a large bowl.
On a clean lightly floured work surface, roll out your piece of dough and divide dough.
Lay your bottom crust in your pie dish. Pour in your apple mixture. Cut your butter into small pieces and scatter around the top of the apples. Add the top crust on top of the filling.
Seal your edges by crimping them together with a fork, don’t forget to add a few slits in the center of the pie with a sharp knife to act as steam vents. (The first time I ever made a pie, we did not do this and let’s just say it was a mess).
Brush the top of the crust with an egg wash of 1 egg yolk + a tablespoon of milk or ice water. We like to sprinkle the top with a mixture of a tablespoon of each: coarse sugar and brown sugar.
Place pie in the oven for a total bake time of about 40-50 minutes, until your crust is golden brown and the apple juices are bubbling.
Let pie cool on a wire rack for a minimum of 2 hours.
Of course, when it is time to enjoy, you will want to enjoy some delicious vanilla ice cream or whipped cream right on the top of your pie.
How to make a lattice crust:
- To make the lattice top, roll out the second pie crust.
- With a pastry cutter, cut half inch strips of pie crust, cutting from top to bottom.
- Weave the crusts alternating horizontally and then vertically.
- You can roll out any excess dough and cut out shapes or designs with a small cookie cutter for a decorative look to your pie.
How to Keep your Buttery Crust from Burning While your Pie Bakes
Using aluminum foil or parchment paper, cut a circle the same size as your pie plate, with the center cut out of it. Loosely place it over the top of the pie to cover edges, removing the last 15-20 minutes of baking and give your pie a quarter turn. You can also purchase a pie shield which covers the edges of the pie pan.
How to Store Apple Pie:
Cover your pie with plastic wrap and keep it on the counter or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
When preparing my apple pie filling, I always have a mixture of tart apples and sweet apples on hand. My favorite choices are Granny Smith Apples for the sour taste in contrast to Golden Delicious that provides an additional sweetness to your pies or tarts.
1. Slice the apple into thin slices, about a quarter inch thick—this will make it easier to cut and fit in your pie crust.
2. Cut out any big chunks that you find with an apple corer or by rolling them on a cutting board until they break apart
3. Place each slice of sliced apples evenly around the dish edge-to-edge so there is no space left between
The only difference between a classic apple pie and a Dutch Apple Pie is the crust. A traditional American-style pastry dough is used for the bottom of most pies, including both types. The key differences are in what you use to top your dessert and how they’re baked!
The classic apple pie is a double crust pie and the Dutch uses a streusel topping of coarse crumbs made out of sugar, flour and melted butter.
Depends on the size of your pie, but in general, you’ll want to bake an apple pie at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. You can check on it after the first 20 minutes or so to make sure it’s not browning too quickly. And then once it’s out of the oven, let it cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing into it
Pie is done when the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown. You can test the apples by piercing them with a fork. If they offer resistance, the pie isn’t done yet. The color of the crust should be a golden brown.
Apple pie will last in the fridge for up to four days. Cover it tightly with foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh
There are many ways to freeze apple pie. One way is to slice the apple pie into individual pieces and then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze the slices for about two hours, or until they are firm. Then, place the frozen slices in a heavy-duty freezer bag and return them to the freezer. They will keep for about six months.
Another way to freeze apple pie is by wrapping it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Make sure that the entire pie is wrapped tightly so that no air can escape. Then, place the wrapped pie in a heavy-duty freezer bag and return it to the freezer. It will keep for about six months.
The best method is to leave the pie in the fridge overnight so it can thaw slowly and evenly. If you’re in a hurry, you can place the pie on a countertop at room temperature for several hours, or if you’re really short on time, microwave the pie on defrost mode for a minute or two.
The best way to reheat apple pie is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and put the apple pie on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes.
One is to pre-cook the apples before putting them in the pie crust. Another is to add a thickener such as cornstarch or flour to the filling. Finally, you can bake the pie at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time.
A little bit of acidity is important in apple pie to help balance the sweetness of the fruit and the dough. Lemon juice is a common choice because it adds a pleasant tartness without overpowering the other flavors. If you don’t have any lemon juice on hand, though, you can use another type of acid like vinegar or lime juice. Just add a teaspoon or so until you get the flavor you’re looking for.
Award Winning Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- Ready made Pie Crusts - 2 at room temperature
- 1/3-2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 c all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- dash of salt
- 8 cups thinly sliced & peeled apples, 8 medium apples -
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk or water
Instructions
Preheat to an oven temperature of 425 degrees, lower your oven rack and place a baking sheet on it.
In a small bowl, prepare the flour mixture: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
To make your apple filling, toss the apples in the flour, mix in the lemon juice in a large bowl.
On a clean lightly floured work surface, roll out your piece of dough and divide dough.
Lay your bottom crust in your pie dish. Pour in your apple mixture. Cut your butter into small pieces and scatter around the top of the apples. Add the top crust.
Seal your edges by crimping them together with a fork, don't forget to add a few slits in the center of the pie with a sharp knife for venting. (The first time I ever made a pie, we did not do this and let's just say it was a mess).
Brush the top of the crust with an egg wash of 1 egg + a tablespoon of milk or cold water. We like to sprinkle the top with a mixture of a tablespoon of each: coarse sugar and brown sugar.
Place pie in the oven for a total bake time of about 40-50 minutes, until your crust is golden brown and the apple juices are bubbling.
Let pie cool on a wire rack for a minimum of 2 hours.
Notes
How to make the lattice crust:
- To make the lattice top, roll out the second pie crust.
- With a pastry cutter, cut half inch strips of pie crust, cutting from top to bottom.
- Weave the crusts alternating horizontally and then vertically.
- You can roll out any excess dough and cut out shapes or designs with a small cookie cutter for a decorative look to your pie.
How to Keep your buttery crust from burning while your pie bakes
Using aluminum foil or parchment paper, cut a circle the same size as your pie plate, with the center cut out of it. Loosely place it over the top of the pie to cover edges, removing the last 15-20 minutes of baking and give your pie a quarter turn.
What Are the Best Apples to Make an Apple Pie with?
When preparing my apple pie filling, I always have a mixture of tart apples and sweet apples on hand. My favorite choices are Granny Smith Apples for the sour taste in contrast to Golden Delicious that provides an additional sweetness to your pies or tarts.
How to cut apples for apple pie
1. Slice the apple into thin slices, about a quarter inch thick—this will make it easier to cut and fit in your pie crust.
2. Cut out any big chunks that you find with an apple corer or by rolling them on a cutting board until they break apart
3. Place each slice of sliced apples evenly around the dish edge-to-edge so there is no space left between
How to store your Apple Pie:
Cover your pie with plastic wrap and keep it on the counter or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How long does apple pie last?
The best way to preserve apple pie is by keeping it in the fridge and consuming within a few days.
Recommended Products
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Rose Sexton
Friday 12th of August 2022
I add one 1 large granny smith to my other apples making my pie filling. It gives me that touch of flavor.
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