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Classic Apple Pie Recipe 🍎🥧

August 16, 2025

Flaky, buttery crust filled with cinnamon-spiced apples—this iconic American dessert is perfect for holidays or any cozy occasion!

Ingredients

For the Double Crust

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 6-8 tbsp ice water

For the Filling

  • 6-7 cups peeled, sliced apples (mix of Granny Smith & Honeycrisp)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp butter, diced
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)

For Finishing

  • 1 egg yolk + 1 tbsp water (egg wash)
  • 1 tbsp coarse sugar (for sprinkling)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the Pie Dough

  1. In a food processor, pulse flour, salt, and sugar.
  2. Add cold butter; pulse until pea-sized crumbs form.
  3. Drizzle in ice water, 1 tbsp at a time, until dough clumps.
  4. Divide into two disks, wrap in plastic, and chill 1 hour.

2. Prep the Filling

  1. Toss apples with lemon juice, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cornstarch.
  2. Let sit 15 minutes to release juices.

3. Assemble the Pie

  1. Roll out 1 dough disk to fit a 9-inch pie dish.
  2. Add apple mixture, dot with butter.
  3. Roll out second disk, place over apples.
  4. Crimp edges, cut 4-5 slits in top crust.
  5. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with coarse sugar.

4. Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) with a baking sheet on the lower rack.
  2. Bake pie 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F (190°C).
  3. Bake 40-50 more minutes until golden and bubbly.
  4. Cool 2+ hours before slicing (or the filling will run!).

Pro Tips

🔸 Keep butter cold for flaky layers.
🔸 Vary apple types for balanced sweetness/tartness.
🔸 Prevent soggy bottoms:

  • Par-bake crust 10 minutes (optional).
  • Sprinkle bottom crust with breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes.
    🔸 Freeze unbaked pie for later—bake straight from frozen (+20 mins).

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream! 🍦

Storage:

  • Room temperature: 2 days
  • Fridge: 4 days (reheat in oven for crispness)

Variations:

  • Cheddar crust: Add ½ cup shredded cheddar to dough.
  • Caramel apple pie: Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
  • Dutch crumb topping: Replace top crust with streusel.