The Best Apple Pie Recipe
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This is the Best Apple Pie Recipe because it has the perfect, flaky pie crust with a delicious and flavorful apple pie filling.
Why I love this recipe
Table of Contents
Homemade apple pies do take more work and time, but the end result of a freshly baked pie is totally worth it! This homemade apple pie will please anyone’s taste buds.
In addition to this delicious traditional homemade apple pie, you may wish to check out my recipe for caramel apple pie as well. It is extra yummy and decadent.
Chef Tips
You can make the pie dough ahead, or better yet, make a large batch of dough and freeze it in regular size portions so you have a stock of homemade pie crust dough ready to go! If you have an apple peeler, the apple filling does not take a lot of time, it just needs to sit and juice for 30 minutes.
Work on your crust while the apples juice.
Cooking Temperatures
Cook the homemade apple pie in a convection oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees and cook for another 45 minutes until juices are bubbling.
Storing
How to Store:
Cooled homemade apple pie can be stored at room temperature on the countertop in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil for two days.
Homemade apple pie can also be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to four days.
How to Reheat:
Set a slice of pie on a parchment lined baking sheet and place into a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
Apple Pie Filling Recipe
Apple Pie Filling Recipe
The recipe is the best apple pie filling! It produces a buttery apple pie filling with the perfect amount of sweetness, and a surprise ingredient that produces a delightful, flavorful taste!
Ingredients
- 700 g Apples (approximately 7 apples peeled, cored and sliced) (6 cups plus 1 Tbsp)
- 142 g Granulated Sugar (2/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp)
- 46 g All Purpose Flour (1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp)
- 3 g Cinnamon (1 1/2 tsp)
- 2 g Ginger (3/4 tsp)
Instructions
1. Peel and core apples. Slice thinly and toss with your dry ingredients.
2. Allow apples to sit and juice for approximately 30 minutes.
Best Pie Crust Recipe
This is an all purpose flaky pie crust that can be used for almost any kind of pie. Make a large batch and portion for freezer to have pie crust dough at your fingertips!
Best Pie Crust Recipe
The Best Pie Crust Recipe produces a buttery, flaky crust that is perfect for your baked pies and quiches.
Ingredients
- 510 g All Purpose Flour (18 oz)
- 36 g Granulated Sugar (3 Tbsp)
- 8 g Kosher Salt (1 1/2 tsp)
- 425 g Butter, cold and cut into pieces (15 oz)
- 57 g Filtered Water (2 oz)
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients in mixer bowl. Mix thoroughly at low speed with paddle attachment.
- Add butter and mix together. For mealy pie dough (for both bottom and top crusts) mix until you get a sandy texture. For flaky pie dough tops, mix until you see pea sized butter pieces.
- Add water and mix just until combined.
- Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and lightly knead together until cohesive, but do not over mix. If you still see small pieces of butter, that is okay!
- Divide into portions for your top and bottom crust. You can save any unused dough by flattening into discs and wrapping for freezer storage.
The Best Apple Pie Recipe
This is the Best Apple Pie Recipe! The combination of the buttery pie crust recipe along with the sweet and flavorful apple pie filling recipe, produces the best homemade apple pie!
Ingredients
- Pie Crust
- Apple Pie Filling
- 21 g Butter, cut into small pieces (3/4 oz)
- 1 Egg
- 15 ml Water (1 tbsp)
Instructions
- Prepare Pie Crust Recipe (see above)
- Prepare Apple Pie Filling Recipe (see above)
- Preheat Oven to 350 F Convection.
- Portion pie dough into two discs on lightly floured surface. Roll your first disc into a circle to a thickness of 1/8".
- Carefully fold pie crust in half and then in half again and place the center point in the center of a 9" pie pan. Leave edges of dough in place for now.
- With a fork, dock the pie crust on the bottom and sides to allow steam to escape while baking.
- Add your apple pie filling and press down as you add layers of apples. Your apples will form a mound that will cook down as it bakes.
- Add pieces of butter throughout apple filling.
- Roll out second disc of pie dough. To make a lattice crust design, with a pizza cutter, cut even strips of your desired width, typically 1/2" in size.
- Using an over-under-over pattern, weave the strips together on top of the filling. You can weave your strips side by side, or leave even space between each one.
- Lightly press edges of your lattice dough to your bottom pie crust all the way around. Cut off access dough by running a knife along the bottom of the outer rim of your pie pan.
- To make your braided crust design, use a pizza cutter to cut 1/4" even strips of dough. For my crust, I used 12 strips so I could make four braids. Take three strips and braid together, overlapping each strip to form a braid. Once you have desired number of braids, place around outer edge of your pie crust and lightly press edges of the braid together and lightly press to the rim of your weaved pie crust and the pie pan.
- With remaining pie dough, cut small shapes and place where seams are located in your braided crust.
- Make egg wash by whisking egg and water together.
- Brush top of pie crust with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Allow pie to proof in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, for best results, allow pie to proof overnight before baking.
- Bake at 350F Convection for 15 minutes, then 325 F for an additional 45 minutes or until juice bubbles.
- I used a crust guard for outer edges for half of the
baking time to prevent the outer edges from browning too much.
Pie Crust Tips:
I love making a lattice top for apple pie. It’s a little fancier and more impressive than a solid top.
What is the best type of apple to use for Apple Pie?
The best type of apple is a personal choice but I love Granny Smith due to their perfect tartness and the fact that they’re easy to find year round. If you prefer a bit sweeter pie, these are great mixed with a sweeter apple.
Honey Crisp apples are another favorite and make a great choice for pies. They are sweeter than Granny Smith but still firm and not too juicy.
Gala apples are a fairly mellow, sweet apple that hold up well in pies without getting mushy. They are also easy to find year round making them a great choice for the Best Apple Pie Recipe.
Finally, Pink Lady apples are a beautiful, rosy color and super crisp so they hold up great in pies making for tidy slices. They have a sweet and tart flavor making them a great balance for most people. Yum!
Use scraps of dough and cookie cutters to create shapes like flowers and leaves to embellish your pie. Adhere with a little egg wash.
Should you cook apples before making apple pie?
Apples should not be pre-cooked before baking your pie. Keeping them in cold water prevents browning before assembling the pie.
Coat the apples with flour and sugar before adding to the crust. In this recipe, toss the apples with the flour and sugar mixture and allow them to sit while prepping crust.
Should I pre-bake the bottom crust for apple pie?
It is not necessary to pre-bake the bottom crust in this recipe.
I hope you will and try (and LOVE) this Apple Pie Recipe. It is a great addition to your Thanksgiving table or any time you want a delicious dessert.
Looking for more recipes that include apples? Try these delicious and easy apple cranberry muffins or this simple apple spice bread. They are both delicious and perfect for fall breakfasts or snacks.
Be sure to save this pin to your desserts board.
This post was updated on September 3rd, 2024.
Jennifer is a professional chef and mom of six who shares recipes, home design, entertaining, travel, and family. A Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker, Jennifer’s work can be seen in Better Homes and Gardens, Cottages and Bungalows Magazine, American Farmhouse Style, Oprah Magazine, Country Living Magazine, and At Home in Arkansas Magazine.
Looks DELICIOUS!
I had to read your comment 2x… are there really only 5 ingredients in this beautiful pie? YES!
This pie is beautiful! I’m not much of a pie eater but my hubby LOVES them and this would be right up his alley!
Oh my stars my belly is growling!
I bet this tastes amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Ahhh thank you for this! Looks and “smells” delicious. Can’t wait to try! 🙂
Wow! this recipe looks so yummy and tasty. Thanks for sharing this recipe. take care…