Go Back
A freshly baked apple pie with a golden, flaky crust on a cooling rack.

Best way to grow perfect Apple Pie in 3 steps

This recipe guides you through baking a delicious apple pie from scratch. It involves preparing a flavorful apple filling and a buttery, flaky crust, then combining them for a classic dessert.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 6 large apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter cut into small pieces
For the Crust
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup ice water or as needed
For Assembly
  • 1 egg beaten (for egg wash)
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for sprinkling)

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rolling pin
  • 9-inch pie plate
  • Wire rack

Method
 

Prepare the Pie Crust
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, mixing until a dough forms. Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate, trimming any excess and crimping the edges as desired.
Make the Apple Filling
  1. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Mix gently until the apples are evenly coated.
  2. Pour the apple mixture into the pie crust. Dot the top of the filling with the small pieces of unsalted butter.
Assemble and Bake the Pie
  1. Roll out the second disc of dough and place it over the apple filling. Trim, seal, and crimp the edges of both crusts together. Cut several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
  2. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of ground cloves or allspice to the apple filling. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the edges with aluminum foil.