This is the best apple pie recipe…or I think so. I have many friends and family who absolutely love this apple pie recipe. And why is this the best apple pie recipe? The apples are sweet and tart, there is brown sugar, and other warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, clove, and more! And on top of all that, the crust is flaky and delicious. Top your hot slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream and you have the perfect dessert. Plus, this is the best apple pie recipe for the fall! We all love sweet flavors with warming spices during the fall and it’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t like pumpkin spice.
The Best Apple Pie Recipe
I love this recipe! It’s so good. I don’t remember who gave it to me, though I do remember my Gramma gave me the crust recipe. Unfortunately I did not have butter for homemade crust this round, so I had to use frozen crust. But it was still delicious. I’ll still share the homemade crust recipe, though there won’t be images of it. I’ll make a post for it later.
But your whole family is gonna love this delicious apple pie recipe. It’s perfect in the summer after a BBQ or in the fall. I also prefer this apple pie recipe at Thanksgiving as well. I have a nut allergy and I hate pumpkin pie, so this pie is my go to! It’s a little time consuming to make, but overall fairly easy and oh so worth it!
Ingredients Needed To Make The Best Apple Pie Recipe
- Pie Crust (Homemade* or store bought)
- Lemon Juice (Half a lemon)
- 5lbs of apples
- Brown Sugar
- All Purpose Flour
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Clove
- Ginger
- Salt
- Milk
- Optional: Raw sugar
*Note:
At the end of this recipe I’ll put my Gramma’s pie crust recipe. When I took the photos I used store bought because I did not have butter on hand.
Directions To Make The Best Apple Pie Recipe
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 425 F. Peel all the apples. I generally use whatever I have on hand which are usually Granny Smith and Gala apples.
Step 2
Once peeled core your apples. I cut off all the sides and leave the core. If you have something to core it, that will also work.
Tip: You can save your apple skins and cores to make apple cider vinegar!
Step 3
Now thinly slice your apple slices. You want them about 1/8 of an inch, just really thin. That way they cook well. You can use a mandolin if you want, just be careful.
Step 4
Once you have your apples together put them in a large Dutch oven or very large skillet.
Step 5
Add your lemon juice and stir well.
Step 6
Now add your sugar, spices, and flour and mix it well until everything is coated.
Step 7
Put the heat on medium heat and let your apples cook for about 20 minutes with a lid stirring every few minutes.
Tip: Don’t walk away… it will burn and scorch your pan. I learned this the hard way.
Step 8
Once your apples are cook and the liquid is thick, add your vanilla and stir.
Step 9
Lay out your apple filling on a baking sheet to cool off. I tend to put it in the freezer for 10-20 minutes.
Tip: You will probably want to rush it and get the pie in the oven. But hot filling and dough does not work out well.
Step 10
While your filling is cooling get your pie crust ready. If you’re making it homemade, go ahead and make it and put it in your pie pan and cut off the excess.
Step 11
Take your other dough and cut it in strips. Each strip should be about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick.
Step 12
Put your apple pie filling into the pie crust.
Step 13
Put 1 row of pie crust strips on your pie vertically.
Step 14
Now, start weaving the other strips horizontally. Don’t forget to press down the ends and cut off the excess.
Step 15
Once your pie has a lattice put your pie in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Step 16
Take it out of the fridge and brush the lattice with milk. You can add the raw sugar now if you want.
Step 17
Put the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Grab some tinfoil.
Step 18
After baking for 15 minutes put the foil around the outside of the pie, the outside crust. Put it on loosely.
Step 19
Reduce the oven heat to 350F and bake for another 40 minutes.
Tip: If it doesn’t look golden brown leave it in another 5 minutes.
Step 20
Let your pie cool. It can take about 4 hours to fully cool. Serve with a scoop of ice cream!
How Long Does This Amazing Apple Pie Last
Well, mine never survives the get together. But if it is just me and my family it will last 3-4 days. It will last for about 2 days on the counter. However it will last a couple more days in the fridge. Make sure you wrap it well and do not put anything cream based on the whole pie. Do it for the individual slices.
What Do I Do With Extra Apple Pie Filling?
Do you have extra apple pie filling? You can put in a freezer bag and freeze it. You can freeze it for up to 3 months. This apple pie filling is great in oatmeal, hand pies, cobblers, crisps, etc.
What If I Want Homemade Pie Crust?
Do it! I love homemade pie crust. The only reason I didn’t use it this time was because I didn’t have butter and didn’t wanna run out to the store, but here is my Gramma’s recipe. I’ll make a bigger post later about it and what you can use it for.
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 Sticks of COLD diced salted butter (If you used unsalted butter add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to your recipe.)
- 7 Tablespoons of ICE COLD water
Optional: Some people put sugar in their crust, I do not, if you want a sweet crust than you can add 1.5 teaspoons of sugar in it or 1/2 tablespoon.
Why do I have cold in capital letters? Because if you want your dough to come together everything must be cold.
- Put the butter into the flour and cut it in with your pie crust tool or with forks. Everything should look like course crumbs and be dry and powdery.
- Now add your water until moist balls form and press dough between your fingers until it all sticks and if it doesn’t add another tablespoon of water.
- Put your dough on your work place and make a big dough ball. Do not knead.
- Divide the dough into 2 and flatten it take make 2 discs.
- Wrap with plastic wrap and cover with plastic wrap before using.
- When ready to use then use a rolling pin to flatten it out.
Is It Better To Cook The Apples Before Making Your Apple Pie?
You may want to cut time in the recipe by just putting your apples into the pie crust and while TECHNICALLY you could, it’s best to precook it first to make sure they’re cooked and that your pie isn’t watery.
Why Is My Apple Pie Crust Soggy?
Did something go wrong and your apple pie crust is soggy? No worries.
Make sure you add flour. If you forget this “filler” it may make your apple pie crust soggy. Flour thickens everything up and keeps everything thick and less…liquidy.
If you don’t do a lattice top then make sure you’re cutting slits into your top pie crust. Gotta let that steam escape!
Bake your pie on the lowest rack as it’ll ensure your crust is browned on the bottom rather than the heat just focusing mainly on the top. I cook mine on the middle rack no problems, but everyone’s stove is different.
And if all else fails…You can pre-bake your pie to ensure that it doesn’t get soggy and before you do that, brush with some egg wash. It just needs 4 minutes at 400F and that should help.
What Are The Best Apples For Making Apple Pies?
Not all apples are the same. You wouldn’t put red delicious in an apple pie because they’re too soft and sweet. The best apples in my opinion for apple pie are:
- Granny Smith Apples
- Honey Crisp Apples
- Gala Apples
- Golden Delicious Apples
Can You Use Cornstarch In Apple Pie Instead Of Flour?
Yes. I do not personally prefer it. Cornstarch makes a very thick and glossy filling like you would see at the grocery store. And nothing is wrong with that. Keep in mind that cornstarch needs to reach boiling point to work best as well.
Flour just makes the filling seem less gel like and more…creamy? And it works faster at binding the filling. And that’s why I personally prefer it.
The Perfect Apple Pie For Anytime
I hope you love this apple pie recipe as much as my family and I do. It’s such a good treat. We don’t eat it often since we tend to stay away from sugar as much as possible, but after a big family dinner, sometimes a nice slice of pie really hits the spot.
The Best Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pie crust Homemade or store bought
- 1/2 fresh lemon Juiced
- 5 lbs apples
- 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 3/4 cups white sugar
- 5 TBSP all purpose flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp clove
- 2 TBSP milk
- Optional raw sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 F. Peel all the apples. I generally use whatever I have on hand which are usually Granny Smith and Gala apples.
- Once peeled core your apples. I cut off all the sides and leave the core. If you have something to core it, that will also work.
- Now thinly slice your apple slices. You want them about 1/8 of an inch, just really thin. That way they cook well. You can use a mandolin if you want, just be careful.
- Once you have your apples together put them in a large Dutch oven or very large skillet.
- Add your lemon juice and stir well.
- Now add your sugar, spices, and flour and mix it well until everything is coated.
- Put the heat on medium heat and let your apples cook for about 20 minutes with a lid stirring every few minutes.
- Once your apples are cook and the liquid is thick, add your vanilla and stir.
- Lay out your apple filling on a baking sheet to cool off. I tend to put it in the freezer for 10-20 minutes.
- While your filling is cooling get your pie crust ready. If you’re making it homemade, go ahead and make it and put it in your pie pan and cut off the excess.
- Take your other dough and cut it in strips. Each strip should be about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick.
- Put your apple pie filling into the pie crust.
- Put 1 row of pie crust strips on your pie vertically.
- Now, start weaving the other strips horizontally. Don’t forget to press down the ends and cut off the excess.
- Once your pie has a lattice put your pie in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- Take it out of the fridge and brush the lattice with milk. You can add the raw sugar now if you want.
- Put the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Grab some tinfoil.
- After baking for 15 minutes put the foil around the outside of the pie, the outside crust. Put it on loosely.
- Reduce the oven heat to 350F and bake for another 40 minutes.
- Let your pie cool. It can take about 4 hours to fully cool. Serve with a scoop of ice cream!
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Do you think this is the best apple pie recipe? How did your apple pie turn out?
