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    November 9, 2023

    Apple Pie

    This super easy, super comforting apple pie recipe is full of family tradition and will be your go-to dessert recipe all autumn long.

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    a slice of homemade apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Pie is seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    An Easy, Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

    Take home the cake (or should we say pie?) with this recipe for apple pie! A golden brown crust envelopes a cinnamon-sweet apple pie filling. We like to make our apple pie recipe from scratch using our perfected All-Butter Pie Crust, and of course a store-bought will do just fine here! It might seem impossible to wait to cut into your apple pie once you get a whiff of cinnamon-y comfort from the oven, but trust us, it’s worth the wait. Let the juices and filling thicken a little and you will be rewarded with the perfect slice. Take it to your next potluck, or serve it during the holidays – any way you slice it, it’s a timeless dessert. We like to top ours with a homemade whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You could also try our Dutch Apple Pie with a crumble topping,

    Bourbon Pecan Pie, or classic Pumpkin Pie, if you are wanting to switch it up a bit.

    apples, pie crusts, butter, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and egg to make homemade apple pie

    What Are The Best Apples to Use For Apple Pie?

    The secret to the best pie is choosing the best apples! If you start with apples that are soft, mealy, or contain too much water (like Fuji), your fruit might bake with little texture. And we want a juicy, crisp, thick filling with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon! While you can use almost any apple to make an apple pie, and there are a variety to choose from, a few types of apples are better than others when it comes to making the best apple pie! At your local farm or grocery store, look for apples that are crisp and not too sweet, so they hold up to the delicious caramelized filling. Ideally, you’ll want an apple that is slightly tart, provides a good crunch, and is complex in flavor. For our homemade apple pie, we choose Granny Smith apples for their texture, juicy interior, and slight tartness. Make it your own by using a combination of apples for a variety of textures and flavors such as Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Honeycrisp.

    water being poured into a pot with melted butter, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice for apple pie
    apples that have been sliced, cored, and peeled being poured into a pot with apple pie filling
    sliced, peeled apples being tossed in a pot with apple pie filling made with butter, flour, sugar, brown sugar and spices
    homemade apple pie filling made with butter, brown sugar, sugar and spices being poured into a homemade pie crust

    Do You Cook Apples Before Putting Them in a Pie?

    Short answer: it depends on your palate! If you cook the apples before putting them in a pie, it will result in a softer filling texture and a slightly more caramelized flavor. But a more common (and easier) method is to let the oven do its job! This allows the brown sugar filling to mingle with the apples, creating a thick and juicy filling without the added work. We prefer not to bake our apples in our easy apple pie recipe because it creates the perfect consistency and sweetness.

    beaten egg being brushed onto a raw apple pie using a pasty brush
    a raw apple pie that has been brushed with beaten egg and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar sitting on a baking sheet

    Apple Pie Ingredients

    What do you need for a traditional apple pie recipe? These common pantry items paired with orchard fresh apples will help you make the best apple pie.

    • All-Butter Pie Crust or recipe for pastry crust

    • Granny Smith Apples (or a combo of your favorite fresh apples!)

    • Salted Butter

    • AP Flour

    • White and Brown Sugar

    • Cinnamon

    • Nutmeg (optional, but we think it adds a warming touch)

    • Fresh lemon juice

    • Eggs

    a simple homemade apple pie right out of the oven with golden brown flaky crust and topped with cinnamon and sugar

    How to Make an Apple Pie

    We are here to give you the best apple pie recipe! There are two components to apple pie (crust and filling) but we’re going to focus on how to make apple pie filling! If you’d like to make everything from scratch, try using this recipe for All-Butter Pie Crust.

    1. Prepare your apples! Peel, core, and cut into equal slices for consistent cooking time. This will ensure a soft crunch.

    2. Make your filling! Rich brown sugar and butter combine with a pinch of cinnamon, to make our apple pie filling recipe. Pro Tip: For our thickening agent, we use flour. When the butter combines with the flour, allow it to cook for a full 1-2 minutes. Don’t worry if you’re not sure when it’s done - you’ll be able to smell the aromatic nuttiness of the butter and flour together, ensuring a perfect caramel-y thick base for your apples.

    3. Prepare your pie crust! If you’re making your pie crust from scratch, this step needs to be done ahead of the filling, allowing ample time for it to chill in the fridge. It’s important to bake a chilled pie crust, or the crust will droop in the hot oven. Otherwise, store-bought works well, too! Just remember to keep the pie crust in the fridge until ready to fill.

    4. Bake! Two different temperatures make for the ideal bake. We start with the oven on 425° F to crisp up the crust and then drop it down to 350° F to get the filling all yummy and bubbly. You can always tent aluminum foil over the top if you see your top crust getting a little too golden brown.

    5. Cool and Enjoy! We know it’s impossible to wait once you smell the rich spices and fresh pie baking, but for the absolute best apple pie, we recommend waiting until completely cool to dig in.

    a homemade apple pie with golden crust in a pie pan with a slice that has been cut out
    a homemade apple pie with golden crust in a pie pan with slices that have been cut out and served on plates with forks

    Simple Tools You Need For Apple Pie From Scratch

    Our Favorite Apple Forward Recipes

    Love the freshness of an apple dessert? So do we! Take a look at a few of our faves!

    several slices of homemade apple pie on plates served with vanilla ice cream

    An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

    Try this simple apple pie recipe and let us know what you think! We’d love to see how you slice it up. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

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    Apple Pie

    Updated on November 9, 2023

    • Serves: 8
    • Prep Time:  40 min
    • Cook Time:  45 min
    • Calories: 290
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    Ingredients

    • 2 pie dough rounds, store-bought or homemade, room temperature
    • 8 medium sized Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
    • ½ cup salted butter
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
    • 1 egg, beaten

    Method

    1. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.

    2. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add flour and stir until a paste forms, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in ½ cup white sugar, brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, if using, and lemon juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until sugars begin to dissolve, 3-5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the apples and toss to coat.

    3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pie dough into two 14-inch rounds. Carefully transfer one round to the pie plate, gently pressing the crust into the dish without stretching. Trim the edges if needed.

    4. Spoon the pie filling, including any excess liquid, into the pie crust, forming a slight mound in the center. Place the second pie dough round on top of the apples. Crimp the edges of the bottom crust and top crust together using the tines of a fork or your fingers.

    5. In a small bowl combine remaining sugar and remaining cinnamon. Brush the top of the pie with the beaten egg and sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut four, 2-inch slits into the top of the crust.

    6. Bake pie on a baking sheet for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake, tenting with foil halfway through if the crust is browning too quickly, until the crust is a deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about another 45 minutes.

    7. Cool on a baking rack at least 2 hours before serving. Rewarm if desired.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories290
    • Protein2 g
    • Carbohydrates43 g
    • Total Fat13 g
    • Dietary Fiber2 g
    • Cholesterol55 mg
    • sodium133 mg
    • Total Sugars33 g

    Apple Pie

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • K

      What happened to my question about how many CUPS of sliced apples? I’ve seen some huge Grannies and I’ve seen small lunch box size Grannies which 8 of could make a big difference in your pie.

      We used medium sized Granny Smith apples. Hope you enjoy!

    • Joleen

      Well I have officially made my husband’s favorite apple pie, thanks to TMP! I can’t describe how quintessentially perfect this apple pie is. And what I love MOST about TMP’s recipes is they have just the right amount of information, laid out in a simple to digest format. I didn’t have a lemon so I subbed apple cider vinegar. I made the pie crust from their all butter pie crust recipe, and that is half of what made this apple pie perfection! I had previously never cooked up the sauce ahead of time. I think that is what made this recipe so delicious. I could go on and on. I do have one CHALLENGE for you wonderful ladies though…my husband does prefer a crumb crust on his pies. I made him one years ago that was his favorite. I couldn’t recall where I got that recipe when I decided to make an apple pie again so I have been on the longest search ever for the perfect crumb topping. Up for the challenge? 😉
      Thank you for your solid, approachable recipes!

      Thanks so much Joleen for this kind review, we are so happy you love our recipes AND this pie specifically. We will have to see if we take you up on your challenge in the future!

    • Kay

      Fabulous Recipe!

      Thanks Kay!