Delicious Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

I am excited to share my take on Grandma’s Apple Pie. The blend of Granny Smith apples, cold unsalted butter, and a dash of lemon juice creates magic in each bite. Coupled with fragrant cinnamon and sugar, this recipe awakens the traditional charm of apple pie with a memorable twist.

I’ve always been a sucker for a good apple pie and this recipe never fails to impress me. I start by preparing a homemade pie crust using 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, a teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of sugar and cold, cubed unsalted butter.

There’s nothing like the process of mixing these together and slowly adding just enough ice water until it all comes together. Then, I slice about 6 to 8 medium Granny Smith apples into 6 cups of thin slices and toss them with 3/4 cup granulated sugar, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a bit of nutmeg.

A tablespoon of lemon juice adds a bit of zing to the mix. Once the apples are coated, I layer them onto the crust and dot with 2 tablespoons of butter.

This isn’t just any apple pie its an easy, timeless treat that reminds me of Grandma’s apple pie and many other classic recipes.

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it fills my kitchen with a warm, comforting aroma, reminds me of cozy family gatherings, and always gives me a sense of accomplishment when my homemade pie turns out delicious. Plus, I appreciate how the mix of tart apples and sweet, buttery crust satisfies my cravings for something classic yet unique.

Ever wanted to make a super tasty homemade apple pie? Well, this recipe is pretty awesome. It starts off with thinly sliced apples tossed in cinnamon and sugar, and then they get baked until they’re tender and bubbling nicely. The crust, made from scratch, adds that rich, buttery flavor that puts store-bought pies to shame. It’s perfect whether you’re looking to impress at Thanksgiving or just craving a tasty treat on a cool fall day. Trust me, even with a few little imperfections along the way, it always turns out just right.

Ingredients

• All-purpose Flour: Gives structure with carbohydrates for a firm, flaky crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and tender texture in the pastry.
• Apples: Offer natural sweetness, tartness, fiber, and essential moisture in the filling.
• Cinnamon: Lends warm, aromatic spice that enhances the pie’s overall flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright acidity, balancing sugar and intensifying the apple taste.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling perfectly while boosting caramelization during baking.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness throughout the pie.
• Butter in Filling: Enhances richness and creates delightful pockets of melted flavor.
• Ground Nutmeg: Adds subtle warmth and earthy aroma that complements the spice blend perfectly.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 4 to 8 tablespoons ice water
• 6 cups thinly sliced apples (about 6-8 medium apples, Granny Smith works great)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

How to Make this

1. Combine 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a big bowl. Cut in 1 cup cold unsalted butter until the mix looks crumbly then drizzle in 4 to 8 tablespoons ice water slowly till the dough holds together well. Cover and chill for about 1 hour.

2. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

3. In another bowl, toss 6 cups thinly sliced apples with 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a circle a bit larger than your pie dish and then place it into the dish smoothing it out to cover the bottom and sides.

5. Pour the apple mixture into the dough-lined pie dish making sure its spread evenly.

6. Dot the top with 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into small pieces.

7. Roll out the remaining dough to form the top crust and carefully lay it over the apples, pressing the edges to seal the top and bottom layers together. If you have excess dough, trim it off.

8. Cut several small slits in the top so the steam can escape while baking.

9. Place the pie in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes until the crust turns golden and the filling starts bubbling.

10. Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool a bit before serving. Enjoy your delicious homemade apple pie!

Equipment Needed

1. A large mixing bowl – to combine the flour, salt, sugar and butter for the dough.
2. A pastry cutter or a fork – to cut the cold butter right into the flour until it looks crumbly.
3. Measuring cups and measuring spoons – to accurately measure out the ingredients like flour, sugar, and spices.
4. A container for ice water – to pour in the proper amount as you build the dough.
5. Plastic wrap (or a cover) – to help chill the dough in the fridge for an hour.
6. An oven – preheated to 375°F to bake the pie.
7. A second mixing bowl – for tossing the sliced apples with sugar, flour, spices and lemon juice.
8. A rolling pin – to roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface.
9. A pie dish – to line with dough and hold the apple filling.
10. A knife – to cut the extra butter into small pieces for dotting the top of the filling.
11. Oven mitts – to safely take the hot pie out of the oven when done.

FAQ

Delicious Homemade Apple Pie Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• For the all-purpose flour, you could try whole wheat pastry flour instead. It gives a nuttier flavor and works just fine in the pie crust.
• If you don’t have unsalted butter for the crust, try using shortening. It may change the taste a bit but the texture is still great.
• Instead of ice water, you could mix a bit of vodka into cold water. This trick can help keep the crust extra flaky.
• For the Granny Smith apples, you can use a mix of tart and sweet apples like Braeburn or Honeycrisp. It adds a unique twist to the flavor.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure your butter stays super cold when you cut it into the flour cuz it helps make the crust funny flaky. Don’t be afraid to chill the dough longer than an hour if you can.
2. Add your ice water slowly and mix it in just until things come together; if you mix too much the dough can get tough and hard to roll out.
3. When you mix your apples with the spices, toss them gently so every slice gets a good dose of flavor, and try not to overdo it with the sugar if your apples are already sweet.
4. Always let your pie cool a bit after it comes out of the oven, even though it’s hard to wait; giving it time helps the filling set and makes it easier to slice.