There's something about a homemade apple pie that just feels like home. The buttery, flaky crust, the warm cinnamon apples, and that golden baked top-it's a dessert that never goes out of style. Honestly, every time I bake this pie, the smell alone takes me right back to holidays in my grandma's kitchen.
Jump to:
The best part? This recipe is simple enough for beginners but tastes like you've been baking pies for years. And if you're in the mood for another cozy dessert, you might also love the classic peach cobbler as a sweet follow-up.
Ingredients you'll need for Homemade Pie Crust
- Butter - I like using high-fat butter for the best flakiness, but I've also tried store-brand butter and it turned out just as delicious.
- All-purpose flour - The base for a tender, golden crust.
- Cold water - Super important! Make sure it's ice-cold so the butter stays solid.
- Salt - Brings out the buttery taste.
How to make a homemade Pie Crust for Apple Pie
Step 1: Start with the dry ingredients
Add the flour and salt to a large bowl.
Step 2: Grate in the butter
Use a cheese grater to shred the cold butter right over the flour mixture. Pop the whole bowl in the freezer for 7-10 minutes to get the butter extra cold.
Step 3: Mix with your fingers
Using your hands, press and mix the butter into the flour until you see little pea-sized bits throughout.
Step 4: Add the water
Start with about ¾ of the water. Mix, then add one tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together. Divide it into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better).
Ingredients for homemade apple pie filling
- 6-7 firm apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
How to make a homemade apple pie
Step 1: Roll the dough
Take one chilled disc of dough, roll it into a thin sheet, and press it into your pie dish.
Step 2: Make the filling
In a bowl, toss the sliced apples with flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt.
Step 3: Add the filling
Pour the apple mixture into the crust. If you're doing a lattice top, chill the pie in the fridge while you prep the strips.
Step 4: Decorate
Lay your top crust however you like-a lattice, a full cover, or even cut-out shapes. Chill the pie for 15 minutes before baking.
Step 5: Bake
Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar if you want a little sparkle. Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 375°F and bake for another 40-50 minutes. Keep an eye on the crust-cover the edges with foil if they start to brown too quickly.
Storage and serving tips
- Let the pie cool for 2-3 hours before slicing so the filling sets.
- Store leftovers at room temp for up to 2 days or in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even a slice of sharp cheddar (my husband's favorite!).
Top tips for success
- Always keep your ingredients cold-this is the secret to a flaky crust.
- Use a glass pie dish if you can-it helps you see if the bottom crust is golden.
- Mix different apples for the best sweet-tart balance.
Recipes you may like
📖 Recipe
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe | Easy & Delicious Dessert
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 pie (8 slices) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
There's something about a homemade apple pie that just feels like home. The buttery, flaky crust, the warm cinnamon apples, and that golden baked top-it's a dessert that never goes out of style.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) high-fat or store-brand butter
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup ice-cold water (plus more as needed)
- ½ tsp salt
- 6-7 firm apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add flour and salt to a large bowl.
- Grate cold butter into the flour mixture and freeze for 7-10 minutes.
- Mix with your fingers until pea-sized bits form.
- Add ¾ of the cold water, mixing until the dough comes together, then wrap into two discs and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Roll out one chilled dough disc and press into pie dish.
- Mix sliced apples with flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt.
- Pour apple mixture into the crust.
- Decorate with top crust (lattice, full, or shapes) and chill for 15 minutes.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar if desired.
- Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 375°F and bake for another 40-50 minutes. Cover edges if browning too fast.
Notes
Let the pie cool for 2-3 hours before slicing. Store leftovers at room temp for up to 2 days or refrigerated for 4-5 days. Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or sharp cheddar. Keep ingredients cold and use a glass pie dish if possible. Mix apple varieties for best flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Comments
No Comments