Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Abeer Rizvi · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Classic, American, old fashioned, easy apple pie recipe from scratch, homemade with simple ingredients. It has a flaky butter pie crust and a homemade cinnamon spiced pie filling.

Thanksgiving just won't be the same without this old fashioned pie! It's truly a classic just like thisEasy Pecan Pieor thisEasy French Silk Pie. If you have ever been scared of making your own homemade version, you can be at ease now with these instructions.

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (1)

Table of contents

  • Key ingredients for best cinnamon swirl cake
  • Variations
  • How to make easy cinnamon roll cake recipe with cake mix?
  • Tips and techniques
  • Storage
  • More Pie Recipes
  • More Apple Desserts

Key ingredients for best cinnamon swirl cake

  • Brown sugar- Similar to granulated sugar but with added molasses.
  • Flour- Use simple all-purpose flour.
  • Cinnamon- Adds a pleasant aroma and flavor.
  • Nutmeg- Warm and sweet with a hint of nuttiness.
  • Lemon juice- Balances the sweetness and helps apples from browning.
  • Apples- The crispy ones are best, like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp.
  • Butter- Be sure it is unsalted and room temperature.
  • Egg- Use large ones at room temperature.
  • Salt- Even in a sweet dish, this is an essential ingredient.

Variations

Design the top- You can do a lattice top or any other design on top of the pie with pie crust. I did not do that since I was going for a classic appearance.

Instead of a top crust- Add a crumb topping like I did in this Crumble Pie. This is made by combining together flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon and some nuts into a crumbly mixture. It's spread on top of the pie, prior to baking instead of a pie crust to create a delicious topping.

Make mini pies- By using mini pie pans OR you can make the pies in mason jar lids.

Make a slab pie- By using a shallow pan like a cookie tray.

Pair with caramel- By either drizzling Caramel Sauce on top once it cools completely or serve with a dollop of Caramel Frosting. Another option is to simply make this No Bake Pie With Caramel.

Use other spices- In the filling like allspice, cloves, ginger, star anise, cardamom. You can even use extracts like vanilla, coconut, maple, almond.

Dutch style- This is different than the classic version because it has a crust base that's filled with an apple filling and topped off with a crumbly streusel topping instead of a classic crust.

Bars- Make this pie in an oven-safe rectangle dish and when it cools down, cut it into bars.

Add cranberries- About ⅓ cup fresh cranberries is sufficient in this recipe to give it a little tartness and use 6 apples instead of 7.

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (2)

How to make easy cinnamon roll cake recipe with cake mix?

  1. Prepare crust- And spread it in a pie dish.
  2. Fill it- With an apple mixture composed of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch.
  3. Top it off- With cubed butter.
  4. Cover- With pie crust and trim and crimp the edges.
  5. Bake- Let it cool down completely and you are done.

Tips and techniques

Use glass pie pans or dull metal pie pans- Because dark pans absorb a lot of heat while baking and lead to too much browning. I usually use foil trays because they are easier to take over to family and friends.

Prevent the crust from burning or over-browning- By covering the edges with strips of aluminum foil halfway through baking.

Brush the crust with egg wash- Before baking and this will ensure that nice deep golden-brown color.

Use unsalted butter- To prevent the pie from becoming too salty.

Store-bought crust or homemade crust can be used- I used store-bought pie crust today because it's just so much easier but this is my family's recipe for Flaky Butter Pie Crust. Here are instructions on How to Blind Bake Pie Crust if you want to try that.

Cut slits- On top of the pie crust to vent the steam.

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (3)

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples for making pie?

Use firm apples. Make sure they are ripe. Also, use a variety for best flavor profile like Granny Smith, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Gala.

Why is my pie watery and soggy?

It wasn't baked long enough to allow the excess liquid to evaporate. Another reason could be that there is too much liquid in the filling.

What is the difference between American pie and Dutch pie?

Dutch pies have a crumbly topping while traditional American ones have a pie crust topping.

Storage

  • Room temperature- It can be left out for about 3-4 hours.
  • Make ahead- This can be made 1-2 days before and placed in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to bake.
  • Refrigerate- Tastes best when served fresh but leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • Freeze- Cover cooled pie in multiple layers of saran wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. When you are ready to enjoy it, thaw overnight in the fridge. Be aware that after being in the freezer it can sometimes become soggy.

More Pie Recipes

  • Easy Pumpkin Pie
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
  • Easy Chocolate Cream Pie
  • Easy Banana Cream Pie
  • Easy Sweet Potato Pie
  • Lemon Meringue Pie

More Apple Desserts

  • Easy Apple Cake Recipe with Cake Mix
  • Chocolate Caramel Apples
  • Easy Applesauce Cake
  • Mini Apple Strudel

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (4)

Easy Apple Pie Recipe

Abeer Rizvi

Classic, old fashioned, easy apple pie recipe from scratch, requiring simple ingredients. It has a perfect flaky pie crust and a homemade apple pie filling.

4.75 from 8 ratings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 9 Servings

Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients

Pie Filling

  • ¾ cup Brown sugar
  • ¼ cup All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Ginger powder Optional
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
  • 7 medium Apples Washed, Cored, Peeled, Sliced
  • 3 tablespoon Butter Unsalted, Cut into small cubes
  • 1 Egg Large, Beaten for egg wash
  • OR USE MY HOMEMADE APPLE PIE FILLING
  • OR USE STORE-BOUGHT PIE FILLING

Pie Crust

Instructions

Pie Crust

  • Add flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg in a food processor and pulse to mix everything together.

  • Add butter in the food processor and pulse a few times until pieces of butter are very small (almost the size of a pea).

  • Add 6 tablespoon of very cold water and pulse again. Add additional 1 tablespoon water at a time, if necessary, until dough just begins to hold together and is not too sticky.

  • Transfer the dough to a table and use your hands to form it into a ball. Don't over-mix or else the dough will become tough! You should be able to still see pieces of butter in the dough. That's normal and you need that!

  • Divide the ball into 2 portions and shape each portion into a flat disc. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.

Pie Filling

  • In a mixing bowl, add brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, lemon juice, applesand mix until fully coated. Keep aside.

Assembling

  • Remove your dough from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes so that it becomes a bit soft and easy to roll.

  • Roll dough to about ⅛ inch thickness. If dough is sticking to the table or rolling pin, sprinkle some flour to make it easier.

  • Roll the crust on the rolling pin and unroll it over the pie dish. Spread it out and press it firmly along the sides of and bottom. Trim off excess dough from sides.

  • Spread the apple mixture on top of this crust.

  • Place cubed butter on top of the apples.

  • Roll out the second pie crust over the filling. Trim off excess and and press/crimp all around the edges to seal the crust.

  • Make a few slits on top to vent the steam, while baking.

  • Brush with egg wash to ensure a wonderful golden brown color.

  • Bake at 375 degrees F for for about 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender and filling is bubbly.

  • Tip: Cover edge of the crust with strips of aluminum foil after the first 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.

  • Allow the pie to cool down completely before slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Use glass pans or dull metal pans because dark pans absorb a lot of heat while baking and lead to too much browning.
  • To prevent the crust from burning or over-browning, cover the edges with strips of aluminum foil halfway through baking.
  • You must cut slits on top of the pie crust to vent the steam.
  • Read additional tips and variations my tips above.
  • Tastes best when served fresh but leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 4gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 220IUVitamin C: 6.8mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1.5mg

Keyword best apple pie recipe, easy thanksgiving pie, fall dessert, homemade pie

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

17.5K Shares

More Thanksgiving

  • Easy Spice Cake {Chai Cake}
  • Fresh Cranberry Cookies {White Chocolate, Orange, Oatmeal}
  • Easy Cranberry Orange Scones {With Glaze}
  • Easy Gingerbread Recipe {Gingerbread Cake}

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angie

    That is one beautiful looking apple pie. I love the photos too.

    Reply

  2. Anna

    I wish I had a slice of this pie right now! Looks amazing!Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (9)

    Reply

  3. Chrissie Baker

    What a delicious easy apple pie! I simply cannot wait to try it! Very interesting combination of ingredients. I am saving this recipe for later.Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (10)

    Reply

  4. Melanie Bauer

    Oh my goodness! These are seriously mouth watering, this recipe is a keeper!Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (11)

    Reply

  5. Brandy

    This pie looks perfect and I love easy!

    Reply

  6. Paula

    Apple Pie is super special to me! Love Love Love it!

    Reply

  7. Christyn

    This is a very easy recipe to follow. My pie turned out great. Thank you for sharing the recipe. The crust was flaky and the pie filling was just perfect. My family was very impressed.Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (12)

    Reply

    • Abeer Rizvi

      I am so happy to hear that!

      Reply

  8. Camille

    This recipe is a keeper! The pie was perfect, not overly sweet. Thanks for sharing!Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (13)

    Reply

  9. Mike Boldiszar

    Just to let everybody know Northern spies or Ida Reds those are Michigan apples are absolutely the best apples 4 pies my grandma use them for over 90 years and my mother used them and I use them they are the best pie apples ever try them you'll see

    Reply

  10. Teresa Reep

    Can we buy your Apple Pies please?Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (14)

    Reply

    • Abeer Rizvi

      Lol. I am sorry but I don't sell any of my baked goods. Hope you try this recipe. It's really very easy.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you cook apples before putting them in a pie? ›

The one trick with this apple pie recipe that makes all the difference? Baking the apple slices first. It's the magic key to a crispy base, superior flavour and perfectly-cooked-and-never-mushy filling. It's also how you get a generous amount of pie filling without the dreaded giant empty cavity under the lid.

What is the thickener in apple pie filling? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

Do I have to peel apples for pie? ›

Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple's nutritional value once the peel is removed. Making sure you are using the correct apples – peeled or unpeeled – is a more important part of crafting the perfect apple pie.

How do you keep the bottom crust of apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Sprinkle dried breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes, or other types of cereal, on the bottom crust before filling and baking in the oven. The layer will absorb moisture and prevent the filling from turning the crust soggy.

Should apple pie crust be prebaked? ›

If you're making a traditional two-crust apple pie, the crust should not be pre-baked. If the bottom crust is baked, you won't be able to pinch it together with the top crust after adding the filling. Prebaking is only practical for single-crust pies.

Is it better to use flour or cornstarch for apple pie? ›

Corn starch lends a glossy thickness and adds sheen to the filling while flour adds opacity and some mouthfeel so that it has a sort-of creaminess. With all corn starch the filling reminds me too much of store-bought pies with that gloopy clear gel-like texture and with all flour it can get too lumpy and stodgy.

How do you keep apple pie filling from being runny? ›

Here are some tips to prevent runny apple pie.
  1. Precook the filling. ...
  2. Reduce the juice. ...
  3. Experiment with different thickeners. ...
  4. Vent the top crust. ...
  5. Try a lattice or crumb top crust. ...
  6. Bake thoroughly — and then some. ...
  7. Let the pie cool completely — preferably overnight.
Sep 19, 2018

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

Why did my apple pie turn out mushy? ›

Avoid using overripe apples to prevent your pie from becoming mushy and wet. Southern Living says choosing the perfect apple variety will be for naught if the fruit is overripe. Your pie will turn out very mushy and lack the flavor apple pie is known for.

Is it better to slice or chop apples for apple pie? ›

Recipes invariably tell you to slice your apples thinly, then toss them in a bowl with sugar and spices.

How many apples go into a pie? ›

It's hard to know exactly how many apples you'll need for an apple pie, but for one 9-inch pie, you probably won't need more than 10 apples. If your apples are smaller, you'll probably need 10; if they're really big apples, you'll use fewer of them.

What kind of apples does mcdonalds use for their pies? ›

So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home. Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.

Can you mix different apples for apple pie? ›

The key word is “mix.” Instead of selecting one variety of apple, it's best to opt for a few, which will give the filling a more balanced and nuanced flavor. You'll want some sweet and some tart, and most should be firm enough to hold their shape when baked. No one wants a mushy pie!

How to keep apples from getting mushy in pie? ›

Here are some tips to prevent runny apple pie.
  1. Precook the filling. ...
  2. Reduce the juice. ...
  3. Experiment with different thickeners. ...
  4. Vent the top crust. ...
  5. Try a lattice or crumb top crust. ...
  6. Bake thoroughly — and then some. ...
  7. Let the pie cool completely — preferably overnight.
Sep 19, 2018

How to keep apple pie from being runny? ›

Skip the Thickener

Adding a few tablespoons of thickener is absolutely necessary to keep your apple pie filling from turning into apple soup. Flour is most commonly used, although it does leave a slight cloud over the filling. Alternatives include cornstarch, quick-cooking tapioca, and apple jelly.

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