Homemade Apple Pie

Classic Homemade Apple Pie is as warm and cozy as the season. With plump juicy apples, light flaky crust and a hint of cinnamon spice, this pie is everything you love about the holidays.

Featured with this recipe

1. Apple Pie Ingredients
2. Best Apples for Apple Pie
3. Homemade Apple Pie Crust
4. The Best Apple Pie Filling
5. Serving Apple Pie
6. How to Store Apple Pie
7. Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Pie
8. More Delicious Pie Recipes
9. Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

Homemade Apple Pie is my favorite to eat on the 4th of July, and during the winter holidays. After the leftover turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce is tucked away in the refrigerator and all the dishes are done comes my favorite part of every Thanksgiving: snuggling up by the fireplace with a slice of this Homemade Apple Pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and reminiscing with the family about past holidays. There’s something warm and familiar about the sweet apple filling and homemade pie crust with ice cream melting into every crevice. This classic apple pie recipe is so easy to make; it can become part of your favorite holiday traditions too.

Apple Pie Ingredients

Gather the best apples, some delicious spices, a rolling pin and a pie dish and you’re well on your way to making an easy apple pie recipe that everyone will love! Here’s what you need:

• Apples (6 apples or appx. 3 pounds.
• Apple juice
• White Sugar (granulated sugar)
• Brown Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Seasonings: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Salt
• Pie Crusts (Try our Homemade Pie Crust Recipe or store bought is fine too)
• Egg white: You’ll use this to create an egg wash to lightly brush on top of the crust. It gives the crust a gorgeous glossy sheen.

Best Apples for Apple Pie

The best apples for apple pie are tart, sweet, and firm apples that won’t break down to mush while cooking. I also like to use at least two kinds of apples in my apple pie. I always use Granny Smith apples. They are a firm apple and I love the tartness. For the second apple, I usually use a sweeter apple, but still firm. Depending on what’s available in my local market, I’ll complement the Granny Smith apples with either Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, Fuji, or Gala apple slices. Here is a quick breakdown of the best apples for apple pie:

• Granny Smith: Granny Smith apples are known for their tartness and firm texture, making them one of the most popular choices for apple pie.
• Honeycrisp: Honeycrisp apples are sweet and crisp, and they also work well in apple pie. They offer a nice balance of sweetness and a good texture.
• Gala: Gala apples are sweet, crisp apples that hold their shape well when sliced. They aren’t super tart so it’s always nice to pair them with a more tart apple like a Granny Smith when making a pie.
• Braeburn: Braeburn apples are a good choice for pie because they have a sweet-tart flavor and a firm texture.
• Jonagold: Jonagold apples are a hybrid of Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples, and they offer a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
• Pink Lady: Pink Lady apples have a sweet-tart flavor and a firm texture, making them a great choice for apple pies. They add a little tang-y flavor to the filling.
• Fuji: Fuji apples are sweet and crisp, and while they may not be as tart as some other varieties, they can still work well in pie when combined with a more tart apple like Granny Smiths.
• Cortland: Cortland apples have a balanced flavor and a tender texture. They are often used in homemade apple pies and are known to stay white after slicing, making for a pretty pie filling.

Homemade Apple Pie Crust

Any delicious pie begins and ends with the pie crust. Making that light, flaky, buttery crust is actually very simple. Click here for how to make a delicious pie dough for the Perfect Pie Crust. From there you can create a beautiful lattice crust or keep it simple with slits and forked edges.

The Best Apple Pie Filling

Homemade apple pie filling is so easy to make, you’ll never go back to the canned stuff again. Here are a few tips to make rich, thick filling:

1. Cook the apples ahead of time (see recipe below). Cooking the apples down a little bit ensures you have complete control over how the top of the crust looks. Since the apples cook down during baking, the crust could look a little lumpy. If they’re cooked down before baking, the top crust will stay nice and smooth.
2. Soak your apples in apple juice. Buy any kind of inexpensive juice you like. Letting your sliced apples soak in apple juice enhances the natural apple flavor and prevents browning. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice to keep them from browning.
3. To keep it from becoming too runny, add a thin layer of flour to the bottom of your crust before spooning in the pie filling.
4. Cut slits in the top crust to allow moisture to escape during baking.
5. Let the pie cool completely before slicing. This pie is ideal for baking the day before so it will be perfectly set when it comes time to serve.

Serving Apple Pie

There are several common toppings that pair well with apple pie, enhancing its flavor and texture and making it even more delicious to eat! Here are some popular options:

• Vanilla Ice Cream (aka “A La Mode”): A classic choice. A simple scoop of vanilla ice cream takes it to the next level. We like French vanilla ice cream best.
• Whipped Cream: Light and airy whipped cream adds a nice touch to apple pie. You can use homemade whipped cream or the canned kind.
• Cheddar Cheese: In some regions, especially in the United States, it’s traditional to serve apple pie with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. The combination of sweet and savory can be surprisingly delicious. Add it cold or bake it in with the crust.
• Caramel Sauce: Drizzling caramel sauce over a slice of apple pie adds a rich, sweet, element. Try the caramel sauce on its own or along with vanilla ice cream.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and sugar over the top of the pie or each serving to enhance the spice flavors in the pie.
• Nutmeg or Ground Cloves: A pinch of ground nutmeg or cloves can be sprinkled on top of the pie or the whipped cream for added spice and aroma.
• Nuts: Chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans can add a satisfying crunch to your apple pie. Toast them for extra flavor.
• Streusel Topping: Add a crumbly streusel topping made from a mixture of flour, brown sugar, butter, and spices to your pie before baking instead of a top crust (like our Dutch Apple Pie Recipe). It provides both texture and flavor.
• Oatmeal Crumble: A crumble made with oats, brown sugar, and butter can be used as a topping to add a rustic and nutty element to your pie.
• Blue Cheese crumbles: Ok, this one is a little out there but some people LOVE it. Never hurts to try! You may like it!

How to Store Apple Pie

You can keep your Homemade Apple Pie fresh in a few different ways. If you plan to eat it within two days, it’s okay to leave it on the kitchen counter at room temperature. If you want it to last longer, you can put the pie in the fridge, but make sure to cover it with plastic wrap. Be careful not to trap moisture inside, as it can make the pie crust soggy.

If you need to keep the pie for a few months, you can freeze it. Just wrap the pie pan well with freezer wrap and store it in the freezer for up to four months. When you’re ready to eat it again, let it thaw in the fridge, and then warm it up in the oven for about thirty minutes. This way, your pie will taste as yummy as when you first made it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Pie

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