Delicious Apple Pie Recipe: A Sweet American Tradition

There’s something magical about an apple pie. This dessert, with its golden, flaky crust and sweet, spiced apple filling, embodies the warmth and comfort of home cooking. It’s a dish that brings back memories of family gatherings, holidays, and cozy afternoons spent baking in the kitchen. Whether you’re an experienced baker or a beginner, making a classic apple pie is an experience that will delight your senses and reward you with one of the most iconic desserts in American cuisine.

This apple pie recipe is easy to follow and uses simple, everyday ingredients. But don’t let the simplicity fool you—the result is nothing short of extraordinary. The key to a great apple pie lies in the balance of flavors and textures: sweet, tart apples combined with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, all wrapped in a buttery, flaky crust. Each bite is a perfect blend of tender apples and crispy crust, making this dessert a favorite for any occasion.

So, if you’re looking to make the perfect apple pie, look no further! This recipe will guide you through each step, ensuring your pie comes out just right. Let’s get started.

Why Apple Pie is the Ultimate Comfort Dessert

Apple pie is more than just a dessert—it’s a symbol of warmth, tradition, and nostalgia. Here’s why you’ll love this apple pie recipe:

1. Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: You don’t need fancy ingredients to make a delicious apple pie. With just apples, sugar, flour, and a few spices, you can create a pie that’s full of rich, comforting flavors. The ingredients come together beautifully, creating a dessert that’s much more than the sum of its parts.
2. Perfect Texture: The combination of the tender, juicy apples and the flaky, buttery crust creates a textural contrast that’s hard to beat. Each bite is a delightful mix of soft fruit and crisp pastry.
3. Customizable: This recipe provides a classic apple pie foundation, but you can easily make it your own. Whether you prefer more cinnamon, a mix of apple varieties, or even a lattice-top crust, there are endless ways to personalize your apple pie.
4. A Feast for the Senses: Apple pie engages all your senses. The aroma of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven is irresistible. The sight of the golden, bubbling pie as it comes out of the oven is pure comfort, and the taste—well, that’s simply unbeatable.

Now, let’s dive into the ingredients and instructions you’ll need to create your own apple pie masterpiece.

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Classic Apple Pie Recipe

Equipment

• Peeler: To remove the skins from the apples.
• Knife and cutting board: For slicing the apples.
• Mixing bowl: To combine the filling ingredients.
• Pie dish: To hold the pie crust and apple filling.
• Oven: For baking the pie.
• Cooling rack: For letting the pie cool after baking.

Ingredients

• Apples (6 cups, peeled and sliced): Apples are the star of this dish, and using a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp will give your pie a more complex flavor. The tartness of Granny Smith apples holds up well against the sweetness of the sugar, while Honeycrisp adds a touch of sweetness and crisp texture.
• Sugar (¾ cup): Adds the right amount of sweetness to balance the tartness of the apples.
• All-purpose flour (2 tablespoons): Acts as a thickening agent, ensuring the filling isn’t too runny but has that perfect, gooey consistency.
• Cinnamon (1 teaspoon): The warm, spicy aroma of cinnamon is essential in any apple pie. It complements the sweetness of the apples and adds depth to the flavor.
• Nutmeg (¼ teaspoon): A small amount of nutmeg gives the filling a subtle, nutty warmth that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon.
• Salt (¼ teaspoon): Enhances the natural flavors of the apples and the spices.
• Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons): Adds richness and helps create a creamy, smooth filling that binds the apples together.
• Pre-made pie crusts (2): For ease, store-bought pie crusts work well in this recipe. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can make your own for an extra buttery, flaky texture.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Your Apple Pie Recipe

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Preheating the oven ensures your pie bakes evenly, with a perfectly golden crust and a bubbly filling.

Step 2: Prepare the Apples

Peel, core, and slice your apples into thin, even pieces. The key to a great apple pie is evenly sliced apples, which ensures that they cook at the same rate and gives you a consistent texture throughout the pie.

Step 3: Make the Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss the mixture until the apples are well-coated with the sugar and spices. This is where the magic happens—the combination of sugar and spices will turn the apples into a sweet, spiced filling that’s truly irresistible.

Step 4: Prepare the Pie Crust

Place one of your pre-made pie crusts into your pie dish. Gently press it into the bottom and sides of the dish, making sure it’s evenly distributed. Pour the apple filling into the crust, and dot the top with small pieces of unsalted butter. This will melt into the filling as it bakes, adding a rich, creamy texture to the pie.

Step 5: Top the Pie

Place the second pie crust over the top of the filling. Press the edges together to seal, then crimp them with your fingers or a fork for a decorative edge. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits in the top crust. These slits allow steam to escape as the pie bakes, preventing the filling from becoming too watery.

Step 6: Bake the Pie

Place the pie in your preheated oven and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. If the edges of the crust start to brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Once the pie is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least two hours. This cooling time is essential, as it allows the filling to set and makes the pie easier to slice. After cooling, serve your apple pie warm or at room temperature, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra treat.

Tips for a Perfect Apple Pie

1. Use a Variety of Apples: Mixing different types of apples adds depth to the flavor of your pie. Tart apples like Granny Smith hold their shape well, while sweeter varieties like Honeycrisp or Braeburn add a natural sweetness.
2. Prevent a Soggy Crust: To avoid a soggy bottom crust, you can blind bake the bottom crust for a few minutes before adding the filling. This helps to create a firmer, crispier crust.
3. Add a Lattice Top: If you want to get fancy, consider making a lattice top instead of a full top crust. It’s a great way to show off the beautiful filling inside.
4. Serve It Right: Apple pie is best enjoyed with something creamy, like vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, to balance the sweet, spiced flavors of the filling.

Apple Pie Recipe

Print Pin

Calories:

Equipment

• Peeler
• Knife and chopping board
• Mixing bowl
• Pie dish
• Oven
• Cooling rack

Ingredients

• 6 cups Apples, Peeled and Sliced
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Tbsp All-purpose flour
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted butter
• 2 Pre-made pie crusts

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Prepare the apples: Peel the apples, remove the cores, and slice them into thin pieces.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until the apples are evenly coated.
• Prepare the pie crust: Place one pie crust into your pie dish. Pour the apple filling into the crust and dot with pieces of butter.
• Top the pie: Cover the filling with the second pie crust. Seal and crimp the edges. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Bake the pie: Bake for 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. If the edges of the crust are browning too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil.
• Cool and serve: Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving. This gives the filling a chance to set.

Conclusion

And that’s it! Apple pie is a classic dessert that never goes out of style. With its flaky crust, spiced apple filling, and comforting flavors, it’s the perfect treat for any occasion. This easy-to-follow recipe will guide you through making a delicious homemade apple pie that’s sure to impress your family and friends. So grab your ingredients, roll out that pie dough, and get ready to enjoy a slice of American culinary tradition at its finest!