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.
This came out *so* golden and the filling was nice and bubbly—exactly what I want in an apple pie. I did add a tiny pinch more cinnamon because I’m that person 😅
Yes!! Golden top and bubbly filling is the whole vibe 😍 I always add cinnamon too—great call.
This turned out so cozy! The cinnamon + nutmeg combo smells unreal while it bakes. I did need an extra splash of ice water but only slightly—still easy. Great crust too.
Mine turned out a little too runny even though the filling was “bubbly.” I think I under-measured the cornstarch or my apples were extra juicy. Still tasted amazing though—will try again.
Runny pie is the worst 😩 but “bubbly” can fool you. I’d try using less ice water in the crust (sometimes dough bakes differently) and definitely give the apples a good toss + let them sit 5-10 min to draw out juices before filling.
That’s usually the cornstarch/apples moisture combo! If you use really juicy apples, I bump the cornstarch a bit more (and make sure the filling *really* comes to a thick bubble on the stove next time). Glad it still tasted amazing though—apple pie is forgiving like that 😊
5 stars for sure! Love how simple it is to make! My kids loved it too, gobbled it up in minutes!
Honestly the recipe is solid, but I’m confused: it says 1 tbsp butter and also says dot the top—so do I melt it? I just used small cubes and it worked, but the wording threw me off.
I don’t get the cornstarch amount. It didn’t thicken as much as I expected—more like a glaze than a thick filling.
I followed the recipe but my pie ended up too watery. Did anyone else have this issue? I think I used too many apples.
So good, my whole family loved it! Apple pie for life! 🙂
425°F for 40-45 mins felt a little too hot for my oven. The crust got brown fast and I was worried the inside wouldn’t set, but the filling did bubble eventually. Lower temp might be better for me.
Why do you need to refrigerate the dough? Seems pointless to me.
meh
meh same 😅 apple pie always tastes good though
Not bad, but I found the filling a little too sweet. Would cut the sugar down to like 1/2 cup next time, especially if using sweeter apples.
I don’t understand why people love apple pie so much. I tried this recipe, and it was just okay. Kind of bland.
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. 🤷♂️
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about only 2 tbsp butter in the filling part. But the dotted butter really helps. Crust was golden and the filling set nicely.
My pie leaked like crazy even after chilling. I used too many juicy apples (maybe Honeycrisp), so the cornstarch must’ve not been enough. Also my crust shrank a bit.
I’m skeptical about cornstarch here—usually I do flour. Mine thickened, but the texture was kinda gluey at the bottom. Still edible, just not my favorite.
I followed it pretty closely, but my dough was a little dry at first. Adding the water tablespoon by tablespoon saved it. Tastes great though—crust is flaky!
Glad you saved it with the water! My dough gets dry if the butter warms up even a bit—flaky crust is the dream 😄
Um, why do you have to use cold butter? Can we just use it regular? Asking for a friend. 😂
I thought the amount of sugar was too much. The pie came out very sweet.