What do you look for in an apple pie recipe? A few years ago, the first time I volunteered to make a homemade apple pie for my family’s Thanksgiving, I scoured the internet in search of the perfect one. I wanted the filling to be juicy, but not so juicy that the pie wouldn’t slice. I wanted it to be warmly spiced with cinnamon and spiked with lemon for bright, tart flavor. The best apple pie recipe would yield slices thick enough to stand up to a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it would have a flaky, buttery, easy-to-make crust. That year, I couldn’t find an existing apple pie recipe that I thought would come out just the way I wanted it to, so I set out to make my own. Since then, I’ve carefully tested and tweaked this recipe, and it’s now the one I love most. A mountain of tender apple slices fills a glorious golden brown crust. I made it for a family gathering a few weeks ago, and we ended up without a single slice left. Fingers crossed you won’t have one either.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy apple pie recipe:
Apples, of course! Use good baking apples that will hold their shape when cooked. See my favorites below! Peel and thinly slice them to prepare them for the filling. Apple pie spice – This mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom adds warm, spiced flavor to the filling. Brown sugar and cane sugar – For sweetness. I love the brown sugar’s molasses flavor alongside the warm spices. Lemon juice and zest – For bright, zingy flavor. Vanilla extract – It enhances the spices’ warming flavor. Cornstarch – It thickens the apple juices into a glossy sauce. My homemade pie crust – I’ll never make pie crust any other way! This recipe is easy to make in the food processor using simple ingredients like butter, all-purpose flour, and apple cider vinegar. The pastry comes out flaky and tender every time. An egg – You’ll mix it with a little water to make an egg wash, which will help the crust brown as the pie bakes. Coarse sugar – Optional, for sprinkling over the crust. And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Here are some varieties I love:
Granny Smith Honeycrisp Golden Delicious Braeburn Jonagold Pink Lady
Tip: To add depth of flavor to your pie, use a mix of apples! I love this recipe with a blend of tart apples like Granny Smiths and sweet apples like Honeycrisps.
Apple Pie Crust
To streamline this recipe, you could make it with a store-bought crust. But if you take the time to make your own, you won’t regret it! My all-butter pie crust is tender, flaky, and easy to make in the food processor. Its crispness and rich, buttery flavor make it the perfect complement to the juicy pie filling. You’ll love it! The recipe makes 2 9- or 9.5-inch crusts, enough for the bottom and top crust of this pie. You’ll need to chill the dough for at least 2 hours before rolling it out. If you can, I recommend making it a day or two ahead.
How to Make Apple Pie
Once you make the pie dough, start the filling. Stir together the sugar, spices, apples, and lemon juice in a large pot. Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out the apple juices. Then, cook the apples over medium-low heat until they soften slightly, about 5 minutes. Raise the heat to medium and add a slurry made with the cornstarch and water. Cook, stirring, until the juices thicken. Remove from the heat, and fold in the lemon zest and vanilla. Allow the filling to cool completely. Tip: Spread it in a large baking dish to help it cool faster!
Next, assemble the pie. Roll out one disk of chilled pie dough on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to your pie plate, and press it into the bottom and up the sides. Tent with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out the remaining dough for the top crust, transfer it to a baking sheet, and chill it too. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a baking sheet inside it. When the bottom crust has chilled for 30 minutes, add the filling, cover with the top crust, and crimp the edges to seal.
Brush the crust with the egg wash, and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut steam vents in the top of the pie. Tip: These slits aren’t just for decoration! They let moisture evaporate from the filling, helping it thicken. Finally, bake the pie. Place the pie on the hot pan in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. The crust should be golden brown, and any visible juices should be bubbling. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Best Apple Pie Recipe Tips
Don’t cut the cooling (or chilling) time short. For the best apple pie, don’t skimp on chilling the pie dough or allowing the filling to cool. These steps ensure that the butter in the crust stays cold until the pie goes in the oven, which results in a tender, flaky crust. And if you love really clean slices of pie (i.e., ones that aren’t too juicy or watery), allow the baked pie to cool completely, about 4 hours, before serving. Bake it on a low oven rack. The hottest part of most ovens is at the bottom, near the heat source. Baking the pie on a low rack places the bottom crust in this zone, making it less likely to end up soggy after baking. Crust getting to brown? Foil is your friend. If you notice that your pie crust is golden brown well before the low end of the time range, not to worry! Tenting any dark areas with aluminum foil will prevent further browning. Cover them up, and continue baking until the crust has good color all over (if you’re using a glass pie dish, check the bottom and sides of the pie) and any visible juices are bubbling. Get ahead. Give yourself a head start on this apple pie recipe by making the filling and pie dough ahead. The filling will keep for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Wrap the pie dough tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge before using.
More Favorite Baking Recipes
If you love this apple pie recipe, try one of these delicious baking recipes next:
Homemade Cherry Pie Best Pumpkin Pie Vegan Pumpkin Pie Apple Cake Applesauce Cake Baked Apples Apple Crumble Cinnamon Apple Muffins
I used Erin Jeanne McDowell’s cookbook The Book on Pie as a resource in developing this recipe.
