There’s no dessert quite as comforting or iconic as a homemade apple pie. With its flaky, golden crust, sweet and spiced apple filling, and irresistible aroma that fills the entire house, apple pie is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for any season but especially beloved in the fall.
The key to a great apple pie lies in the apples. Choose a mix of tart and sweet apples, like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, to achieve the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The apples are sliced thinly and tossed in a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of lemon juice to brighten the filling. As the pie bakes, the apples soften and meld together into a luscious, sweet filling with just the right amount of spice.
The crust is equally important. A homemade pie crust, made from butter, flour, and a pinch of salt, creates that flaky, tender texture that makes every bite of apple pie irresistible. For extra richness, a touch of sugar can be added to the crust, giving it a slight sweetness that complements the filling.
Baking the pie until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling is a delicate balance, too little, and the apples aren’t soft enough; too much, and the crust could burn. But when done right, the result is a perfect apple pie that’s both comforting and satisfying.
Serve your apple pie warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream for a classic touch. Whether you’re celebrating a holiday, hosting a gathering, or simply indulging in a sweet treat, apple pie never disappoints.

Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup unsalted butter cold and cut into cubes
- 5-6 tablespoons ice water
- 6 cups apples sliced
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp butter cut into small pieces
- 1 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Mix well.
- Roll out half of the pie dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Transfer the dough to the pan.
- Pour the apple mixture into the pie crust. Dot the top with small pieces of butter.
- Roll out the remaining pie dough and place it over the filling. Trim and seal the edges. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Brush the top crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Allow the pie to cool before serving.
5 stars for sure! Love how simple it is to make! My kids loved it too, gobbled it up in minutes!
I followed the recipe but my pie ended up too watery. Did anyone else have this issue? I think I used too many apples.
Why do you need to refrigerate the dough? Seems pointless to me.
Used honey instead of sugar and it still taste good!
That’s awesome! Honey is a great alternative. I’m gonna try that next time! 🍏🥧
Sugar is sugar, isn’t it? Idk if honey will taste the same, but whatever floats your boat. 🤷♂️
I thought the amount of sugar was too much. The pie came out very sweet.
Why do you need lemon juice? I never use that in apple pie. Seems extra to me. I’ll stick with my recipe.
My pie exploded in the oven! Smoke everywhere! 🤦♂️ But when it cooled, it tasted kinda good. I guess it’s the thought that counts.
An exploded pie? Sounds like a disaster! 🤣 What did you do wrong? Did you forget to cut the slits for steam? Anyway, hope it was still yummy!
At least it still tasted good! I guess that’s what matters most. Maybe next time, you can put a tray under it just in case? 😅
So simple and easy to follow! I added some caramel on top before baking and it was a hit! Delicious flavor! 🍏🥧
Yum!! 10/10 would recommend! So delish, my whole house smells like fall. 🍏🥧
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Apple pie truly is the taste of fall. 🍁🍏
This recipe was super easy and my family loved it! Apple pie perfection!
I followed the instructions but my crust didn’t turn out like the pic. 😕 Maybe I messed up.
Maybe you should try a different recipe next time? Not everyone can make the crust perfectly, it’s easy to mess up. 😕
I’m sorry to hear that! The crust can be tricky sometimes. Did you make sure the butter was really cold? That can help a lot!
I had a hard time getting the dough to come together. Maybe I added too much water? It didn’t turn out like I thought, but the filling was yum!
The flavor was good but I think the crust was too tough. What did I do wrong? I hope I can fix it next time.
Smelled good, tasted okay. Not exactly like my grandma’s pie, but still pretty decent.
Okay? That’s not great! You gotta nail that flavor! Just use more cinnamon next time.
I totally get that! No one can make it like grandma, but glad you enjoyed it a bit.
Best apple pie I ever made! Will definitely make again! 🍏🥧
This apple pie is amazing! The crust turned out flaky and the filling was just perfect. Will definitely make again!
This apple pie is absolutely delicious! I made it for my family, and they couldn’t stop raving about it. Definitely a keeper! 😊
Yummy! Made this pie for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it!
I’m not really into baking, but this pie was worth the effort! Even my kids loved it, and they are picky eaters!
Did you really need all that sugar? Made it once, way too sweet for my taste! I prefer it without all the sugar. Disappointed.
OMG, the crust is perfect! I’ve never been able to get it this flaky before. I feel like a baking genius now!
Too many directions! I just wanted a quick pie recipe 🙁