Description
A classic homemade apple pie recipe with a buttery flaky crust and a perfect balance of sweet and tart apple filling.
Ingredients
For the buttery flaky crust
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour (Use very cold flour for best results.)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup very cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes (Keep butter extremely cold for flaky layers.)
- 6-10 tablespoons ice water (Add gradually until dough holds together.)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (Optional but helpful for tenderness.)
For the apple filling
- 7-8 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples (about 6-7 medium) (A mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp is recommended.)
- 3/4 cup sugar (Adjust to taste.)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour or cornstarch (Use as thickener.)
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (Optional.)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (Optional.)
- 1 tablespoon butter to dot on top of filling
For topping
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (For egg wash.)
- 1-2 teaspoons coarse sugar (Optional for sparkle.)
Instructions
Make the dough and chill it
- In a big bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and mix until you have a mix of pea-sized bits and some larger flat pieces.
- Drizzle in ice water, mixing gently until the dough holds together. Split into two discs, wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
Mix the apples
- Peel, core, and slice apples. Toss apples with sugars, flour or cornstarch, spices, lemon juice, and vanilla. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Roll, fill, and build the pie
- Roll one dough disc into a circle suitable for a 9-inch pie dish. Place it gently in the dish.
- Spoon in the apples along with the sugary juices and dot with butter.
- Roll the top crust, place it over the filling, trim excess, and crimp the edges. Cut slits for steam.
Bake until bubbling
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle coarse sugar. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 375°F and bake for 40-55 minutes.
Cool, then slice
- Cool for at least 2-3 hours before slicing. This helps the filling set.
Notes
Avoid overworking the dough and keep all ingredients cold for a flaky crust. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Pie
- Cuisine: American