Holidays and get-togethers with family & friends are even better with an easy-to-make and incredible-tasting freshly baked Apple Pie Recipe!
This classic Apple Pie Recipe is full of sweet, spiced apples that no one can get enough of at holidays or potlucks! Roll out your homemade or store-bought dough and slice a few beautiful apples to make everyone’s favorite dessert- and don’t forget the ice cream!
Love A La Mode
No matter the occasion or what else everyone brings, everyone loves a good, old-fashioned, freshly baked apple pie! From the Fourth of July to Thanksgiving and all the potlucks in between, apple pie is the perfect dessert. Sometimes, I make my crust homemade, and sometimes, I pick up a pre-made one, and both versions are a hit. I think it must be the perfectly cooked and spiced apples with that rich smell that makes everyone drol that makes this pie irresistible!
Bake another classic to knock people’s socks off, like sweet Apple Crisp, or keep it simple and still incredibly delicious with hot out of the oven Baked Apples!
Other Recipes to Serve with Apple Pie Recipe
- Carrot and Apple Slaw is the perfect side dish for every gathering and is so simple to make!
- A delicious Apple Whiskey Sour is a great way to say cheers to everything, apple and to good friends!
Ingredients
Crust: You can make a homemade crust for this pie or pick up a store-bought crust. The pre-made crust found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store is easier to use than the frozen pie crusts, but go with what you can find. If you don’t have a homemade recipe you love, check out this homemade crust recipe—it’s perfect!
Dry Ingredients: To make the filling, you will need granulated sugar, cornstarch, and pumpkin pie spice. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can use ground cinnamon.
Wet Ingredients: Pick up apple cider, lemon juice, and vanilla extract for the filling.
Apples: Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples are perfect for this recipe. Otherwise, grab your favorite apples to use instead.
Topping: To make an egg wash for the top of the pie, you will need an egg and a little cream, milk, or water. You will also need brown sugar crystals to sprinkle over the top.
How to Make Apple Pie Recipe
STEP ONE: In a saucepan, bring the apple cider to a boil and continue to boil until the juice is reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Cool the juice reduction completely.
STEP TWO: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pour the apple cider mixture into a large bowl and stir in the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and pumpkin pie spice.
STEP THREE: Mix the apple slices into the apple cider mixture. Set this aside while you prepare the crust.
STEP FOUR: Roll one pie crust out large enough to cover the pie plate and hang over the edges. Fit the pie dough into the pie plate. Fill the pie crust with the apple slices and any juices in the bowl.
STEP FIVE: Roll the other pie crust into a large circle that will cover the top and hang over the edges a bit. Place the top crust over the pie and press the edges together to seal the pie. You can do this with your fingers, crimp the edges together, or use a fork. With a sharp knife, cut six 1-inch slits into the crust to create vents. Mix the egg and cream (or water or milk) and brush it over the top of the pie. Sprinkle brown sugar crystals over the top of the pie.
STEP SIX: Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees F and bake for another 60 minutes.
STEP SEVEN: Once out of the oven, allow the pie to cool for 2-3 hours before slicing. We like to serve this pie with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side!
Tips for Success
- Any kind of pie pan will work for this recipe, so if you have a beautiful pie pan you love to use, you can make this pie in that, or you can make it in a tin pie pan so that you don’t have to worry about getting your pie pan back after the potluck!
- You don’t have to brush the egg wash over the top of the pie before baking, but giving it that beautiful, shiny, golden look that everyone loves is recommended.
- You’ll know the pie is ready to come out of the oven when the timer goes off or when the top is nice and golden brown and the filling is bubbling a little through the vents in the top crust.
What are the best apples to use for apple pie?
Honeycrisp apples are one of the best apples for making apple pie. These apples are a little tart and sweet so flavor-wise, they are great for pleasing a crowd. Honeycrisp apples are also more widely available now, making them easy to use in your favorite apple dishes. For tart apple lovers, tried and true Granny Smith apples and Braeburn and Jonathon are always perfect. Sweet apple choices include Pink Lady, Pazzaz, and Fuji. No matter what apple you choose, cut your apples to a uniform size to ensure the pie bakes evenly.
What should I do if the crust is getting too brown?
Ovens can be finicky, and sometimes pie crusts can be as well, so if your pie crust is getting a little too brown, consider using a pie shield. You can buy pie shields or make your own using tin foil. Tear off a square of foil a little larger than the pie and fold it in half. Cut a circle out of the middle of the foil, unfold the foil, and then place the foil over the pie. The cut-out portion should be over the center of the pie so that you can fold the edges of the foil over the crust. This should help your crust not burn and turn out as lovely as the rest of the pie!
There’s Always a Reason for More Pie!
- Blueberry Pie
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
- Apple Cranberry Pie
- Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe
- Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
*This post originally posted on 06/25/2014.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 3.5 pounds honeycrisp apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 2 9-inch pie crusts (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar or coarse sugar
Instructions
- Bring the apple cider to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled cider, 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in the apple slices until evenly coated.
- Roll one pie dough out into a large circle (large enough to fill the pie dish and slightly hang over the edge). Add apples and any liquid in the bowl to the crust. Roll out the top crust to the same size and place it on top of the apples.
- Work your fingers around the outside edge of the pie crust to seal the edges together (you can crimp or use a fork as well). Cut six 1-inch vent slits into the top crust using a sharp knife.
- Combine the egg and heavy cream in a small bowl. Brush the top crust and edges of the pie with the egg wash. Then sprinkle all over with 1 tablespoon sugar. Place the pie on a baking sheet. (It will catch any spills if the filling bubbles over.)
- Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes. This will make the top of the crust very golden brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 60 minutes or until done.
- Remove from the oven and cool the pie on a wire rack for 2-3 hours. (If the pie is cut when still warm the apple and juices will run all over. Letting it rest will allow the filling to thicken.)
Valerie says
Hi Krissy,
I am just simply mouth watering since I saw the recipe, can’t wait to taste it. I am not sure to find the Honey Crips apple in Spain, do they have another name by any chance?
Thanks a lot!
Val