There are few things in this world more delicious and comforting than a freshly baked apple pie. The buttery, flaky crust. The sweet, cinnamony apple filling. Each bite is a cozy, nostalgic delight that warms you from the inside out.
While you can certainly find tasty apple pies at bakeries and restaurants, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of making one entirely from scratch. When you put in the time and effort to craft the dough, peel and slice the apples, and bake it to golden, bubbly perfection, the payoff is unbeatable.
Luckily, crafting the ultimate homemade apple pie isn’t as difficult as it may seem. With a few simple techniques and quality ingredients, you can whip up a batch that will have everyone fighting for the last slice. Get ready to earn some serious baking cred.
1. The Best Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Pie Crust
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 1/4 cup ice water
For the Apple Filling
- 6-8 Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Pie Crust
In a food processor, pulse the flour and salt to combine. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
Add the ice water 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing just until the dough begins to hold together. Do not over-process.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days).
Step 2: Prepare the Apple Filling
In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and cornstarch until evenly coated.
Roll out one disc of the chilled pie dough and line a 9-inch pie plate. Arrange the apple filling in the crust and dot the top with the cubed butter.
Roll out the remaining dough and cut into 1-inch wide strips. Arrange the strips in a lattice pattern over the top of the pie.
Crimp and flute the edges of the dough to seal. Brush the top of the pie with a bit of water and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
Step 3: Baking the Pie
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Bake the pie for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 40-50 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving, at least 4 hours.
No matter how you slice it, this homemade apple pie recipe is the stuff dreams are made of. With its flaky, golden crust and sweet, cinnamon-spiced filling, it’s the ultimate comfort food and the perfect dessert for any occasion. So grab your rolling pin and let’s get baking!
