Description
A classic homemade apple pie featuring a flaky, buttery crust filled with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples. This recipe guides you through making the perfect pie dough, preparing a sweet and tangy apple filling, and baking it to golden perfection for a comforting dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
Apple Filling
- 6 to 7 cups thinly sliced peeled apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the apple pie.
- Combine Dry Ingredients for Dough: In a large bowl, mix together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar.
- Cut in Butter: Add 1 cup diced unsalted butter to the flour mixture, cutting it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Ice Water: Stir in ice water one tablespoon at a time until dough forms a ball. The dough should be moist but not sticky. Divide into two halves.
- Chill Dough: Roll each half into a circle, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Prepare Apple Filling: In another bowl, combine 6 to 7 cups thinly sliced apples with 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Toss well to coat all pieces evenly.
- Roll Out Bottom Crust: Roll out one chilled dough circle to fit your pie pan. Carefully transfer and place it into the pan, ensuring it covers the bottom and sides.
- Add Filling: Pour the apple mixture into the pastry-lined pan and dot the filling with 1 tablespoon butter evenly on top.
- Roll Out Top Crust: Roll out the second dough circle and place it over the filling. Trim excess dough and pinch edges firmly to seal the pie.
- Cut Vents: Cut small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: Beat the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk and brush this mixture over the top crust to give a shiny and golden finish.
- Bake at High Temperature: Bake the pie in the preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes to set the crust.
- Reduce Temperature and Continue Baking: Lower the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 35 to 45 minutes until the apple filling is soft and the crust is golden brown.
- Cool Before Serving: Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving to allow the filling to set.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced sweet-tart flavor and to keep the filling from becoming mushy.
- Make sure the butter for the dough is well chilled to achieve a flaky crust.
- Do not overwork the dough to avoid a tough crust.
- Letting the pie cool before serving helps the filling thicken and makes for cleaner slices.
- You can cover the edges of the pie crust with foil if they brown too quickly during baking.
