best apple pie recipe

many of us find it challenging to make the perfect apple pie, and you’re not alone in that. even with the best apple pie recipe, we know how tricky it is to get that flawless flaky crust that perfectly encases the apple filling.

however, it’s not as hard as it may seem, especially when you’ve good guidance. that’s what we’re here for – to guide you every step of the way. from selecting the finest apples to creating a flaky, golden crust, we'll share all that you need to know to create the perfect classic dessert. join us and learn how to make apple pie successfully.

what is apple pie?

Before we discuss our apple pie recipe and explain how to make apple pie – let’s explore what this pie is made of. An apple pie is made up of two main components: the filling and the crust. The filling is typically made by combining thinly sliced apples with cinnamon. The apples are then coated with sauce typically made of butter, sugar and flour. 

The crust dough is usually made with flour, butter, sugar, salt and water. Once the crust is ready with the filling, it’s baked until golden brown. If that’s something you want to try, let’s get to our apple pie recipe.

how to make apple pie?

our guide includes all the details on how to make apple pie at home. from making the crusts to arranging the lattice lid, the apple pie recipe has everything you’ll need to make this dessert.

Total Servings:-

8-10

Preparation Time:-

45 Minutes

Cooking Times:-

1 hour 45 minutes

Nutritional Value:-

475 calories, 25g fat, 61g carbs, 4g protein

Recipe Category:-

dessert

Cuisine:-

western

equipment:

• peeler
• mixing bowl
• rolling pin
• skillet
• pie dish

ingredients

• 1½ kg apples (best apples mentioned later)
• 1 pie crust recipe (details below)
• 8 tbsp (~110gm) unsalted butter
• ¾ cup (~160g) brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (~75 ml) water
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
• ¼ tsp ginger powder
• 3½ tbsp plain flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 egg

instructions

pie pastry

dough discs: get started with the apple pie recipe by preparing the pie crust. you can use our pie crust recipe that’s provided below and make 2 dough discs. as directed in the recipe, place the discs in the refrigerator to chill before you start working on the pie filling. work on the pie filling while they’re chilling.

preheat the oven: preheat the oven to 200°c to ensure it's ready for baking. do this after the dough discs have chilled as per the instructions in the pie crust recipe.

roll the dough discs: begin by bringing the dough discs out of the refrigerator and sprinkle a bit of flour on a clean, flat surface. get hold of a rolling pin and flatten one of the dough discs into a circular shape. since this one is the base, keep it a bit thicker for strength and aim for around 12 inches in diameter – slightly bigger than our 9 inch (23 cm) pie dish – to ensure a perfect fit.

tips for rolling: if the dough gets sticky during the rolling step, sprinkle some more flour to ensure smooth rolling. by the way, roll from the centre of the dough disc towards the opposite direction and keep rotating it a little after a few rolls, to get a decent circular shape.

line the pie dish: once rolled, wrap it around your rolling pin and carefully place it into the pie dish you’re using for your apple pie recipe. press it down, lining the pie dish with the base of your pie.

second dough disc: now, onto the second dough disc. roll it into a slightly smaller circle, about 11 inches this time. cut it into 10-14 strips with an even thickness of about an inch – getting ready to weave the lattice lid. continue to the process of assembling the pie.

pie filling

prepare the apples: give those apples a peel and slice them up – aim for around one-fourth of an inch.

apple mix: grab a big bowl and mix those apple slices, sugar, salt, flour, cinnamon powder, ginger powder and nutmeg powder. give it a good stir until the apple slices are properly coated with the ingredients.

pre-cook apples: now, use a skillet to melt some butter over medium heat and stir in the apple mix from your bowl, then add water to it. cover it up and let it cook for about 5 minutes. keep an eye on it – we just want that the apples begin to soften – make sure they don’t get mushy. pre-cooking the apples before baking is important to the success of an apple pie recipe.

thickening the syrup: reduce the heat and let it bubble for an extra minute, letting that syrup thicken. take it off the heat and set the filling aside. continue with the rest of the apple pie recipe – go to the pie pastry process above.

assembling the pie

fill and seal: carefully spoon the pie filling into the pastry-lined dish, ensuring a slight mound at the centre. be mindful to keep the edges free of filling so that you can seal the crust properly. arrange the strips from the second dough disc in a beautiful woven lattice pattern over the top of the pie filling. then, seal the top and bottom crusts together.

egg wash: gently apply an egg wash on the surface of the lattice lid and then sprinkle some sugar on the top. with this, most of your apple pie recipe is complete – only the baking stage remains.

bake: place the pie in the centre of the oven and bake at 200°c for 25 minutes. then continue baking at a reduced temperature of 190°c until for an additional 45 minutes or until the filling bubbles around the lattice lid and the pie crust is golden. let the pie cool completely for at least 2 hours before serving.

apple pie crust recipe

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Chilling: 1 hour

Nutritional Value: Mentioned above in apple pie calories

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (~185gm) all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• ½ cup (~115gm) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• ½ cup ice water

Instructions:

1. Add sugar, salt and flour to a bowl, whisk well to combine.

2. Mix the butter pieces also with the rest. Using your fingers, make pea size crumbs of the butter.

3. Gradually add the ice water and as you continue to mix it. Pinch the dough to check if it’s sticky enough. Don’t add too much water.

4. Split the dough into 2 halves and shape each into a disk.

5. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour before using them in your apple pie recipe.

best apples to choose for your apple pie:

There are numerous tips and tricks on how to make apple pie perfectly and this is one of them. When it comes to selecting the perfect apples for your apple pie recipe, there’s usually no restriction. Even though you can use any apple in your apple pie recipe, you must use those that are comparatively better for baking. Choosing the right type of apple can help ensure your apple pie recipe turns out perfectly.

For an apple pie recipe to be perfect, it’s best to avoid mushy apples. They can turn your delicious dessert into a soggy mix. Some of the best apples for your apple pie recipe are:

• Granny Smiths are the go-to apples for any apple pie recipe. These apples are juicy, crisp and tart. But tartness can be balanced if you add a bit more sugar to the filling.

• Braeburns are also an excellent option for any apple pie recipe. They stay in shape in the oven. The apples have a nice sweet-tart flavour that's perfect for an apple pie recipe.

• Golden Delicious apples are also a good alternative for an apple pie recipe.

If you want to experiment with your apple pie recipe, consider mixing two or three types of apples instead of sticking to just one. This way, you can experience a range of unique flavours and textures that’ll make the best apple pie recipe even more interesting.

tools required to make best apple pie

If you're planning to work on an apple pie recipe from scratch, you'll want to make sure you have the right tools at hand. The following list can be a helpful reference:

• Basic tools: First up, you'll need a measuring cup and spoons to make sure you add the right amount of ingredients as per your apple pie recipe. You'll also need a sharp knife for coring, peeling and slicing the apples. Speaking of slicing, a lattice cutter for pastry is a very useful tool. And so are a spatula and a pastry brush.
• Mixing bowl: Necessary to combine the apples with the sugar and spices.
• Food processor: Using a food processor in your apple pie recipe is a no-fuss way to create perfect pie dough.
• Rolling pin: A wooden rolling pin is a traditional choice but go ahead and use the one you have.
• Pie dish or plate: It’s essential to bake your pie in.

apple pie variations and creative twists

explore the best apple pie recipe variations! some are fruity, some have a crumbly topping, others are healthy and some even have tea. there's a pie for everyone – just learn how to make apple pie recipe variations and try them out.

apple chai pie: immerse yourself in the aromatic appeal of chai tea, infusing warmth and depth into this classic dessert.

dutch pie: enjoy the perfectly crumbly streusel topping – adding an extra layer of texture to the classic.

healthy pie: enjoy guilt-free goodness without compromising on the classic taste by replacing sugar and dairy with appropriate ingredients.

perfecting your apple pie skills

while we might have the best apple pie recipe, missing crucial steps could lead to unexpected results. learning how to make apple pie is complete only after perfecting these skills.

flakiest crust: for a super flaky crust, make sure everything used in your pie crust recipe is cold. for example – when cold butter gets squished inside the mixture of flour and iced water, it creates layers of butter and gluten, giving you a flaky crust on baking.

avoid soggy crust: a common error is leaving the dough discs or crust at room temperature for an extended period during filling preparation. pie crust contains butter, which melts if the dough warms up, leading to a soft and soggy crust after baking – avoid this by keeping your dough discs in the fridge until your filling is ready.

prevent top crust collapse: the crust usually collapses due to the shrinking of raw apples in the pie filling. to avoid this, pre-cook them on a stovetop or bake them in an oven.

conclusion

with that, we complete our detailed apple pie recipe! once you make it, your kitchen will smell amazing with spice-flavoured apples in a golden crust.

there’s no denying that it takes a lot of work to make an apple pie recipe, so a good plan is to prepare things ahead of time, like the dough crust. also, pay attention to the tips detailed in the guide and avoid common mistakes. with careful preparation, you can achieve the same delicious results that you see in others’ kitchens.

after this attempt, try adding your creative touch and making apple pie recipe variations. let this be the beginning of many delicious desserts.

faqs on apple pie:

Q. what is the secret to a good apple pie?

A. The best apple pie recipes recommend choosing the right apples that can hold their shape and not turn mushy when baked. As per them, a flaky and buttery crust is essential. The best apple pie recipes also balance the sweetness and tartness of the apples with the right amount of sugar and spices.

q. can i use premade pie crust for convenience?

A. using a quality premade frozen pie crust serves as a convenient and effective alternative. it can save you some time and effort and can turn out like the homemade version. it ensures a quick and efficient start to your pie preparation.

Q. can i freeze an unbaked apple pie for later use?

A. put the pie together like you're going to bake it now. then place it uncovered in the freezer for about an hour – it’ll be mostly frozen and won’t get spoiled when you wrap it. after that, wrap it tightly, label it with the details (date and other instructions) and freeze. it can stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Q. what is the best thickener for apple pie?

A. Apples are chock-full of pectin, which is a natural thickener. With pectin in the mix, there's no need to add in a lot of thickeners. However, flour is often used in apple pie recipes to thicken the filling.