Homemade Apple Pie
This homemade apple pie recipe features a flaky, buttery crust and a warmly spiced, tender apple filling made completely from scratch. It is the easy apple pie recipe your family will request again and again.
The Best Homemade Apple Pie You Will Ever Bake
There is something magical about a homemade apple pie fresh out of the oven, with its golden, flaky crust and warmly spiced filling bubbling at the edges. This is not just any apple pie recipe, it is the perfectly simple apple pie that generations of home bakers have relied on, and once you taste that from scratch, cinnamon kissed filling, you will understand why. Whether you are searching for an apple pie recipe easy filling option for a weeknight dessert or a showstopper for the holiday table, this recipe delivers every single time.
Before we get cooking, the right tools and ingredients make a real difference here. A good pastry cutter helps you achieve that flaky, tender crust without overworking the dough, and a sturdy ceramic pie dish ensures even baking so your bottom crust never turns soggy. Having a reliable apple peeler corer on hand also saves a surprising amount of prep time when you are working through eight apples.
Why This Is The Easiest Apple Pie Recipe You Will Make
This simple apple pie recipe strips away the fuss without sacrificing flavor. The crust comes together with just five ingredients, and the apple pie recipe filling homemade version uses pantry spices you already have on hand. No shortcuts on taste, just a streamlined process that respects your time.
- A buttery, all-butter crust for maximum flakiness
- A mix of tart and sweet apples for balanced flavor
- Cornstarch to keep the filling perfectly thickened, never runny
Chef's Tip: Use a blend of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples. The tartness of the Granny Smith holds its shape during baking, while the Honeycrisp adds natural sweetness and juiciness.
Building The Perfect Apple Pie Filling
The secret to a fresh apple pie recipe easy enough for beginners lies in how you treat the apples before they hit the crust. Tossing the slices with sugar, spices, and lemon juice draws out just enough moisture to blend with the cornstarch into a glossy, clingy sauce, rather than a watery mess.
If you have ever wondered how to make a apple pie that slices cleanly instead of collapsing into a puddle, the cornstarch and the resting time after baking are your two best friends. Letting the pie cool completely allows the filling to set into neat, sliceable wedges.
Chef's Tip: Resist the urge to slice into your pie right away. Two hours of cooling time on a wire rack makes all the difference between a clean slice and a soupy one.
Getting That Golden, Flaky Crust
A great crust starts and ends with temperature. Cold butter, cold water, and a quick chill before rolling all work together to create those beautiful, flaky layers. Handle the dough gently and avoid overworking it, since too much mixing develops gluten and leads to a tough crust instead of a tender one.
Whether you go with a classic double crust or a decorative lattice top, brushing on an egg wash before baking gives you that irresistible golden brown finish that makes this homemade apple pie filling look every bit as good as it tastes.
Ready to make it? Here is the full step-by-step recipe:
Homemade Apple Pie
This homemade apple pie recipe features a flaky, buttery crust and a warmly spiced, tender apple filling made completely from scratch. It is the easy apple pie recipe your family will request again and again.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar, for the crust
- 1 tsp salt, divided between crust and filling
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
- 1/2 cup ice water, add gradually as needed
- 8 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, for the filling
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tbsp cornstarch, to thicken the filling
- 1 large egg, beaten, for egg wash
Instruction
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt for the crust. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter.
Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough just comes together. Divide the dough in half, shape into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt until evenly coated.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disc into a 12 inch circle and fit it into a 9 inch pie dish, letting the excess hang over the edge.
Spoon the apple filling into the crust, mounding it slightly in the center.
Roll out the second dough disc and place it over the filling, or cut it into strips for a lattice top. Trim and crimp the edges to seal.
Brush the top crust with the beaten egg and cut a few small slits for steam to escape.
Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees F, then reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and continue baking for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
Cool the pie on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing to let the filling set.
Equipment
- 9 inch pie dish
- Rolling pin
- Pastry cutter
- Large mixing bowls
- Wire cooling rack
Notes
Serving, Storing, and Make-Ahead Tips
This pie is wonderful served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or at room temperature with a dusting of extra cinnamon. It also happens to be one of those rare desserts that tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had time to meld.
For storage, keep leftovers loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerate for up to five. This recipe is also incredibly freezer friendly. You can freeze the fully assembled, unbaked pie for up to three months and bake it directly from frozen when the craving strikes.
However you slice it, this apple pie recipe easy canned filling alternative or fully homemade version is guaranteed to become a permanent fixture in your dessert rotation. Happy baking.
