Easy Homemade Apple Pie (Simple From Scratch Recipe)
Here, you have a homemade apple pie recipe that is made with a double pie crust, fresh sliced apples, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and more for a flavorful and perfect apple pie. Serve up your double-crusted apple pie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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What is going to stand out with this recipe is you will use fresh sliced apples that offer a thick homemade apple pie filling. Then you add that double crust, and this dessert is taken to a whole new level of goodness.
Want more delicious apple recipes to try out? If you loved this recipe and you’d like more ideas on using those apples in your recipes, you could try the classic combination in the caramel apple dump cake. Or, for a healthier option, make some apple oatmeal bars for a great snack option.
Like a classic pumpkin chiffon pie or even peach galette, you will find this apple pie is a classic pie recipe you can’t stray from. I have used this same apple pie recipe for so many years that everyone knows exactly what to expect when I say I am bringing apple pie to events.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made with real apples that are thinly sliced so each bite is bursting with rich apple flavor.
- I used a homemade pie crust to offer a light and flaky crust texture that complements the sweetness of the pie filling.
- You can make this apple pie a day in advance of when you want to serve it up.
- Freezer-friendly if you want to make and store for later on.
- Versatile in adding a caramel sauce, changing up the flavors to fit exactly your preference.
What Is Apple Pie?
Apple pie is an American dessert served year-round, from classic summer cookouts to potlucks or holiday feasts. It has a buttery crust filled with sliced apples, warm apple pie spices, and a thick, perfectly sweet glaze.
This dessert with apples has been around for so long that it has become a staple for all yearly celebrations.
What’s in This Easy Apple Pie Recipe?
- Crust – Whether homemade or purchased from a store, the crust forms the base of your apple pie, offering a light, flaky texture that encapsulates the delicious filling. A homemade crust is a way to go for those seeking authenticity and warmth in every bite.
- Butter – Opt for unsalted butter to control the saltiness, ensuring a perfectly balanced, buttery taste. It enriches the crust and filling, adding a depth of flavor and tender texture.
- Flour—All-purpose flour thickens the apple filling, creating a rich and sumptuous consistency. It’s also key to making a flaky and tender homemade crust.
- Brown Sugar – The use of dark brown sugar adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness, enhancing the warm spices and tartness of the apples, contributing to a richly flavored filling.
- Apples—Choosing the right apples, such as Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Braeburn, is crucial. They offer a delightful balance of tartness and sweetness and become tender but not mushy after baking.
- Lemon Juice – A splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice prevents the apples from browning and adds a slight tang that cuts through the sweetness, brightening up the overall flavor of the pie.
- Spices – A combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice brings warmth, complexity, and the quintessential autumn aroma to the apple pie. Each spice contributes its unique characteristic, enhancing the natural flavors of the apples.
- Turbinado Sugar—Sprinkled on top before baking, turbinado sugar gives the pie a delightful crunch and a professional-looking finish. Due to its minimal processing, it provides a subtle molasses note.
- Egg – A large beaten egg is used to create an egg wash, brushed over the crust before baking. This step guarantees a golden-brown, glossy finish that makes the pie visually appealing and adds a slight richness to the taste.
The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
- Apple Varieties: While the recipe suggests Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Braeburn apples, feel free to experiment with other types, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples. The latter offers a more tart flavor profile, which can be balanced with a bit more brown sugar if desired.
- Sugar Alternatives: For a healthier twist or to accommodate dietary preferences, substitute dark brown sugar with coconut sugar or a sugar-free brown sugar alternative. Keep in mind that the flavor and texture might slightly change.
- Gluten-Free Crust: To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour for both the crust and the filling. Ensure the blend is suitable for pie crusts to maintain the desired flakiness.
- Vegan Option: Use a plant-based butter and a vegan pie crust for a vegan apple pie. Replace the egg wash with a plant-based milk wash or simply brush the crust with maple syrup for a glossy finish.
- Spice Variations: Feel free to adjust the spices according to your taste. For a unique twist, add a pinch of ground cloves or cardamom to the apple filling for added warmth and complexity.
- Add-ins: Consider incorporating a handful of chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans into the filling for an added crunch. Alternatively, a layer of crumble topping made from oats, flour, butter, and sugar can replace the upper crust for a delightful texture contrast.
How to Make Double Crust Apple Pie Step by Step
- Prepare a double pie dough recipe ahead of time. Refrigerate for 1 hour to 3 days. Roll out one dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch diameter circle using a rolling pin. (Photo 1)
- Fit dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Trim excess dough. Chill pie crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. (Photo 2)
- Preheat oven temperature to 425℉.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Add water and sugars, boil, then simmer. (Photo 3)
- Off heat, whisk in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool. (Photo 4)
- Prepare fresh apples: Peel, core, and slice. Toss with lemon juice. Mix spices and salt in a separate bowl, then sprinkle over apples. Combine with cooled sauce. (Photo 5)
- Roll the second dough for the top crust into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8-10 strips for lattice. Add apple filling to the crust, and arrange dough strips in a lattice pattern. (Photo 6 & 7)
- Trim excess dough and crimp edges. Create an egg wash and brush over the crust. Sprinkle with Turbinado sugar. (Photo 8)
- Bake at 425℉ for 15 minutes, then at 350℉ for 45 minutes more, rotating midway. Tent with a piece of aluminum foil if overly browning. (Photo 9)
- Cool pie for at least three hours before serving. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream.
Recipe Tips
- When you are going to use apples, reach for a baking apple. Some apples break down way too much and become mushy. Here are the best apples to use: Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Braubum, etc.
- Aim to slice all the apples to the same thickness so that the apples all bake up evenly.
- I created a lattice look for the top pie crust; you are welcome to do a different design if you need to. Just make sure that there is an air hole for steam to release.
- If the outside crust is browning too quickly in the oven, use a pie shield to prevent it from burning.
- You can add fewer or more spices to elevate or lessen the flavor of the recipe.
- If you mix and match two varieties of apples, it will add more flavor to the pie. Just do half and half on apples and enjoy the flavors.
- Letting the pie cool before serving will let the filling thicken a bit. So when you slice the pie doesn’t fall apart once you go to cut it.
- You can add caramel sauce, chopped nuts, or even raisins to add flavor to the pie filling.
Storing Tips
I recommend refrigerating apple pie in a sealed container. After baking, you want the pie to cool to room temperature, then place it in a proper container and refrigerate.
The pie will last around 3-4 days in the fridge. Slice and serve as you want.
You can freeze per slice or a whole pie. Simply place the pie in an airtight container and freeze it for 2-3 months. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight before you eat or reheat the apple pie.
Warm up by the slice in the microwave. Place on a plate and heat for 30 seconds to a minute or until the pie reaches the desired warmth. Or place in the oven and heat for a few minutes until the pie is warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve up your apple pie with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Or you can drizzle some caramel sauce on top of the pie for added sweetness. Or go a step further and reach for a sea salt caramel sauce.
You could also serve it alongside other tasty dessert dishes in a dessert buffet. A great option is a cream cheese Danish for a nice contrast. Or, for a fall feel, go with some maple pecan cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Blind baking the bottom crust can help the apple pie filling to not cause the bottom crust to become soggy. This is when you bake the bottom crust for a few minutes in the oven to help it be somewhat cooked before you pour in the pie filling.
Adding a little lemon juice to the sliced apples will help prevent them from browning. The acid in the juice does the trick.
Your pie is done when the crust is nice and golden brown. Then, the filling will be bubbly, and the apples will be tender when poked.
Need More Apple Recipes? Try These:
- Fireball Apple Bread Pudding
- Apple Oat Bars
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
- Maple Pecan Caramel Apple Cobbler
- Gluten Free Apple Muffins With Streusel Topping
- Mulled Apple Cider
- See all our homemade treat recipes!
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Easy Homemade Apple Pie (Simple From Scratch Recipe)
Equipment
- Glass Baking Pie Pan (9-inch )
- Peeler or Paring Knife (for removing apple skin)
Ingredients
- Double pie crust recipe
- 8 tablespoons (7 ⅞ tablespoons) 1 stick unsalted butter
- 5 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¼ cup (59 ⅐ ml) water
- ½ cup (110 g) dark brown sugar loosely packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6-8 Pink Lady Jonagold, or Braeburn apples (about 2.75 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced into ⅓” thick slices
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon milk lightly whisked (for egg wash)
- Turbinado sugar for topping
Instructions
- Prepare a double pie dough recipe ahead of time. Refrigerate for 1 hour to 3 days. Roll out one dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch diameter circle using a rolling pin.
- Fit dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Trim excess dough. Chill pie crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven temperature to 425℉.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Add water and sugars, boil, then simmer.
- Off heat, whisk in vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare fresh apples: Peel, core, and slice. Toss with lemon juice. Mix spices and salt in a separate bowl, then sprinkle over apples. Combine with cooled sauce.
- Roll the second dough for the top crust into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8-10 strips for lattice. Add apple filling to the crust, and arrange dough strips in a lattice pattern.
- Trim excess dough and crimp edges. Create an egg wash and brush over the crust. Sprinkle with Turbinado sugar.
- Bake at 425℉ for 15 minutes, then at 350℉ for 45 minutes more, rotating midway. Tent with a piece of aluminum foil if overly browning.
- Cool pie for at least three hours before serving. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- When you are going to use apples, reach for a baking apple. Some apples break down way too much and become mushy. Here are the best apples to use: Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Braubum, etc.
- Aim to slice all the apples to the same thickness so that the apples all bake up evenly.
- I created a lattice look for the top pie crust; you are welcome to do a different design if you need to. Just make sure that there is an air hole for steam to release.
- If the outside crust is browning too quickly in the oven, use a pie shield to prevent it from burning.
- You can add fewer or more spices to elevate or lessen the flavor of the recipe.
- If you mix and match two varieties of apples, it will add more flavor to the pie. Just do half and half on apples and enjoy the flavors.
- Letting the pie cool before serving will let the filling thicken a bit. So when you slice the pie doesn’t fall apart once you go to cut it.
- You can add caramel sauce, chopped nuts, or even raisins to add flavor to the pie filling.
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