Our classic Apple Pie Recipe with an irresistible homemade apple pie filling always gets glowing reviews from everyone who takes a bite. From the best flaky pie crust to the generous saucy center, this is the pie everyone has to make for Thanksgiving!
Homemade apple pie is easier than you think. This crust comes together fast and requires basic ingredients, and the filling is scrumptious and equally simple to make.
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We love apple recipes, from Baked Apples to Apple Turnovers, and let’s not forget Sharlotka Apple Cake. If you love apples, this easy apple pie is a must-try! Imagine saucy apples bubbling through that flaky lattice crust – irresistibly good!
Apple Pie Video Tutorial
Watch me make the best apple pie recipe, and we know you’ll crave it until you make it. This easy Apple Pie is a treasured recipe with hundreds of glowing reviews. It’s simple to make but looks just like a professional baker spent hours in the kitchen to make it, and it tastes that way too. It’s buttery, flakey, gooey, and sweet, just perfect.
Apple Pie Recipe
You’ll love the homemade flakey pie crust – we use this same crust for Blueberry Pie and Cherry Pie. It’s also perfect for savory pies like Chicken Pot Pie. It’s a keeper!
The homemade apple pie filling is adapted slightly from the famous Grandma Ople apple pie. The method for this filling is surprising, but it will win you over. It’s well worth the extra 5 minutes and you’ll never want canned apple pie filling again.
Ingredients for Apple Pie
You may be surprised to hear you only need pantry staples and some fresh apples to make this apple pie recipe.
- Pie crusts – you’ll need two disks of homemade pie crust. We love this apple pie crust just as much as the filling. Since it’s an all-butter homemade pie crust (no shortening), it’s flaky and tender. The bottom is never soggy but forms a crispness at the edges. You can use storebought, but homemade is best.
- Apples – We use Granny Smith in this pie recipe for the best flavor and texture. Avoid overripe or mushy apples. See my notes on apple substitutions below.
- Butter – use unsalted to add richness to the saucy filling.
- Flour – helps to thicken up the filling.
- Cinnamon – adds a warm, spiced flavor to the apples. You could also add a pinch of nutmeg.
- Sugar – add sugar to taste depending on the types of apples used (see apple options below).
- Egg Wash – combine egg and water gives the crust a golden brown, shiny finish.
The Best Apples for Apple Pie
Granny Smith apples are tart and crisp and the gold standard for baking, but any sweet/tart and crisp apples or even a mix of apples will do, and you can adjust the sugar accordingly. We use a full cup of sugar for tart Granny Smith and slightly less when substituting sweeter apples such as Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, fuji, Braeburn, or Pink Lady.
Our Favorite Tools to Make Pie
You don’t need fancy equipment to make an apple pie from scratch, and once you have the right recipe for pie dough, it’s as easy as pie!
- Food processor or pastry blender
- Rolling Pin
- Pizza Cutter, or a knife
- Pie Plate – 9″ wide, deep dish
- Apple Slicer – I highly recommend this time-saving tool. I even bought one for my Mom!
How to Make Apple Pie
- Prepare the pie crust recipe and chill in the refrigerator as instructed. When ready to assemble your pie, preheat the oven to 425˚F with a rack in the center of the oven.
- Make the Filling Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat then whisk in 3 Tbsp flour and continue whisking constantly for 1 minute. Whisk in 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar (if using a sweeter apple, adjust the sugar). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and continue whisking for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Do not overcook.
- Prepare apples – peel core and slice apples into about 1/4″ thick slices. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and toss to combine, then pour on the filling mixture and stir to coat the apples.
- Roll the Crust – Over a floured surface, roll the first chilled pie disk into a 12-inch diameter disk then transfer to a 9-inch, deep pie pan. Add the apples over the crust, mounding in the center (avoid getting apple filling on the edges of the pie crust, which will make it difficult to seal).
- Lattice Top – Roll the second disk into an 11-inch diameter circle and cut into 10 strips. Arrange half of the strips over the pie and weave in the second layer of strips. See my easy tutorial on how to make a lattice crust. Finish the pie by crimping the edges. In a separate dish, beat together the egg and water and brush over the lattice crust (you will have some eggwash left over).
- Bake at 425˚F for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350˚F and continue baking for another 45 minutes until you see thick juices bubbling through the lattice crust.
How to Keep Pie From Browning Too Fast
If you find the edges of your pie are browning too quickly, you can use a pie shield or simply cut a 3″ circle out of the center of a square sheet of foil and loosely place it with the dull side down over the top of your pie.
Tips for the Best Apple Pie
- Don’t overheat the filling – Avoid overheating the sauce or cooking for too long, which can cause it to separate or get too thick. If this happens, don’t panic, you can still toss the apples together with the sauce, and it will come together in the oven.
- Chill the crust – make sure to chill the pie crust according to the instructions or the butter will melt out of the crust and it will go flat.
- Let it cool – allow the pie to cool and set for at least an hour before slicing. If you serve it hot, it will slide apart.
Make-Ahead & Storage
With all the bustle of the holidays , it’s nice to know you can check this pie off your list early. Be sure to cool completely to room temperature before covering and storing.
- Storing at Room Temperature: The pie keeps well covered on the counter for up to 2 days.
- To Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: store in a freezer-friendly airtight container for up to 6 months
- To Reheat: thaw in the fridge or on the counter and then reheat in a 350°F oven until warm
Everything about this apple pie is good, from the flaky buttery homemade crust to the unbeatable apple pie filling. Let me know if it graces your holiday table.
More Fall Baking Recipes
Fall always puts me in the mood for baking. All of these recipes are on our regular rotation. These recipes are easy to make and are so good, they are our go-to Thanksgiving recipes!
- Pumpkin Cake
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Baklava
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Banana Bread
- Pumpkin Bread with honey butter
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Apple Crisp
The BEST Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 recipe for double pie crust
- 2 1/4 lbs Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored 6-7 apples (7 cups thinly sliced)
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg , + 1 Tbsp water, for egg wash
Instructions
- Make the pie crust recipe and chill per instructions while preparing the filling. Preheat oven to 425˚F.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 3 Tbsp flour then simmer for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Whisk in 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue simmering for 3 minutes, whisking frequently then remove from heat.
- Peel, remove cores, and thinly slice 7 cups of apples and place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle the top with 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and toss to combine. Pour the sauce over the apples and stir to coat the apple slices.
- Sprinkle your work surface with flour and roll out the bottom pie crust to a 12" diameter circle. Wrap it around your rolling pin to transfer it to the 9" pie plate. Add apple mixture, mounding slightly in the center and being careful not to get the filling on the edges which would make it difficult to seal.
- Roll the second crust into an 11" round and cut into 10 even-thickness strips using a pizza cutter. Arrange strips in a woven lattice pattern over the top (see video tutorial). Beat together 1 egg and 1 Tbsp water and brush the top with egg mixture.
- Bake at 425˚F in the center of the oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350˚F and continue baking for another 45 minutes or until the apples are soft and the filling is bubbling through the vents.* Rest at room temp 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
We have gluten intolerant person in our household. Can I substitute gluten free flour for the flour in this recipe without any problems?
Great question! I looked through the comments and it doesn’t look like anyone has tried this with gluten-free flour If you experiment I would love to know how it works out.
Thanks for the recipe. The taste is really great. I’ve made twice and the whole family love it.
What happen if we didn’t refrigerate the crust dough and just sit for 1 hour?
Why the filling still runny and collapse when we slice the pie? is it normal? or is there a way to prevent?
Thanks again
Hi Thomas, make sure you let the pie rest and cool before slicing into it to give the filling a chance to thicken. Also, make sure not to make any modifications to the filling.
My husband said it was the best pie I’ve ever made. Wonderful flavor. Definitely be making again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
THE BEST APPLE PIE RECIPE!!!
actually, it’s too good! I’ve made 5 apple pies in the last 2 weeks… I think I need therapy!
my wife is banning me for making any more for a while 🙁
The sauce is AMAZING!
if I wanna make a 12″ pie… how much to I increase the dough measurements? you should have a page for measurements of different sizes.
Wow, that is an awesome comment, thank you! It sounds like you found your favorite pie recipe. I haven’t tried it in 12″ yet to advise of the measurements but thanks for your feedback and suggestion.
Absolutely love this apple pie recipe with your pie crust recipe! Making it the second time and my house smells heavenly!! I just replaced the sugar in the sauce with brown sugar and also sprinkled some lemon on my apples before transferring them into the sauce.Turned out delish!! I had some problem with the pastry breaking and crumbling when rolling it out probably since it was my first time making the pastry from scratch. But I fixed that by sprinkling more flour on my counter when rolling the pastry out, wetting my finger tips very lightly and ‘fixing’ any crack I saw with my wet hands and finally sprinkled a bit more flour before transferring into the baking dish and refrigerating it a bit before baking. It was perfect thank you!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that Mohsina!
Tried to made this and it was yummy and my employers and their 3 y old kid liked it so much!!! The filling was heavenly. My only problem was with the crust. Failed it. Tried to follow your easy crust pie but as I don’t have a bigger food processor, I used a small one and mix the butter and flour in batches, probably the reason why I had a hard time working on my crust. It crumbles fast and as soon as it finished baking it breaks but the bottom crust still have some like doughy texture.
Hi Natasha, super excited to make this! How would it go being made a day before and reheating in the oven before serving? Is this recommended?
Hi Jessie, we’ve enjoyed it with in the first few hours but I haven’t tested with reheating it but I believe it should work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hello Natasha,
Do you pre-bake the crust? If so, for how long and at what temp? Do you allow the pre-baked crust to cool before adding the apples and the top? The edges of my lattice stripes were melting on the hot dish. 🙁
Thank-you! 🙂
Hi Lina, there is no need to pre-bake the crust. It sounds like maybe your top crust was out too long and got warm. If you notice your crust no longer feels cool to the touch, you can refrigerate the whole premade pie for 15-30 minutes before baking which will cool the butter in the dough and keep it from ‘melting’.
I always add freshly grated nutmeg to my pie, just a bit, to taste. My family loves it!
Thanks for sharing that with us, Jeanette. I should try that too next time!
AMAZING!!!! I cut the apples into cubes instead. I used half green apples and half red. I also made the sauce after I cut the apples. This recipe was the best and my family LOVED it! I used the pie crust recipe and it was perfectly flaky , ugh SO GOOD!
Love it! Thank you so much for sharing that with us, I appreciate it!
My first apple pie try and it was excellent, I lowered the sugar amount to 1/2 cup and 1 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and it came out delicious. Thank you for sharing!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Ana!
It was my first time to make a pie from scratch, from pie crust to its filling, and this recipe made me feel like I’m a pro already! Lol. Thank you so much, Natasha and to your team! You guys are really amazing.
Wonderful! So happy to hear that your first time was a success, I hope you love every recipe that you try!
Natasha this recipe is awesomesauce! I’m having difficulty with the apples, I find they still have too much bite to them. I’ve sliced them super thin, using a veg peeler and they still are not soft enough. Any suggestions on what I can do differently?
Thank you!
Hi Maria, it sounds like you are doing everything right I’m curious if it is the apple itself.
After I’ve made mini Pavlova from your recipe and it was a star!. I’ve decided to make apple pie for the first time today. I added a little bit of saltana in the filling and it really is amazing. I followed recipe to the Tee and the filling has perfect consistancy not too runny and not overly sweet. Just right amount of cinnamon. Thanks a million!!!
That is so awesome. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, so glad that you enjoyed this recipe!
This Apple Pie came out delicious and beautiful. Even the pie crust came out well. Everyone just loved it.
It’s my all-time favourite recipe now on. Thanks!!!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review
Hi Natasha, I made it and it tastes great, although my husband says it is too sweet. I have questions, why the pie have lots of sauce when I cut it? And also, why the crust a little bit sticky? Is it because I use mixer? Overall, thanks for your recipe. It’s my first time making apple pie!
Hi Maria, the sweetness can vary depending on the type of apples used which is why we love tart Granny smith apples. Also, the crust would be sticky if using a mixer since you are blending the butter into the flour rather than cutting it in.
Hands down best apple pie ever! Do not skip making the homemade butter crust. The crust came together in minutes in the food processor. The sauce for the apples was worth the extra step. I used Gala apples and it was fine.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Sue. Thanks for your great feedback!
The apple pie was amazing! I mixed the crust by hand so it wasn’t as flaky, but it was still worth the effort. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I don’t even know how to start this review lol. This pie recipe was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. There is no other way to say/describe it. I’ve made so many of your recipes..from entrees to desserts to bread! I swear you’re a celebrity in my household. When your name comes up…we all get so excited. You should do a meet and greet one day lol. All kidding aside…fantastic recipe. Easy steps, limited ingredients, and delicious result. Thank you again!
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m smiling big reading this comment.
This pie was a huge hit!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Super love it! Thank you for your excellent feedback, Tori.
Omg, this is the first time I have ever baked something so delicious. Like I accidentally took too long to add the butter for the dough and it came out a bit dry but after a day it began to be crumbly and flavorful.
How the heck you make this piece of food?! So good!!
That is awesome and great job for your first time! Thanks for giving this recipe a try and for giving your wonderful feedback.