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!
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! 🙂
Why do you need to refrigerate the dough? Seems pointless to me.
meh
meh same 😅 apple pie always tastes good though
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. 🤷♂️
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 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.
Why do you need lemon juice? I never use that in apple pie. Seems extra to me. I’ll stick with my recipe.
I’m skeptical of nutmeg in apple pie—feels kinda weird to me—but I tried anyway. Honestly, it was subtle and I ended up liking it.
Made this last weekend and it smelled amazing while baking. The cinnamon + nutmeg combo is perfect, and the lattice-less top still looked gorgeous. I didn’t have cornstarch so I used flour and it thickened a bit less, but still delicious.
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? 😅
I think my dough was too dry, it didn’t come together like in the recipe. Maybe need more water?
Nah, it shouldn’t be too dry. Maybe you mixed it too much? I dunno, but my dough always comes out fine.
Yeah, that dough can definitely be tricky! I usually add an extra tablespoon of water if it’s too dry. Don’t worry, it’ll still turn out yummy!
Pie good! I like apples. Easy to make! 5 stars.
Yum! Apple pie is the best! I love the smell when it’s baking. Gonna try this recipe!
So simple and easy to follow! I added some caramel on top before baking and it was a hit! Delicious flavor! 🍏🥧
Way too much cinnamon for my taste, but that’s probably personal preference. I liked the lemon juice though—kept it from tasting flat. Crust was decent for a first try.
I’m not convinced about 425°F for 40-45 minutes. I baked that long and the crust got too dark before the apples were fully tender. I’d lower the temp next time or cover with foil halfway.
Followed the recipe to the letter and it turned out fantastic! Everyone loved it at the party.
Maybe I did something wrong, but my butter leaked and the bottom crust got soggy. The filling tasted awesome, so I’ll try again with a thicker dough or pre-baking the crust.
Apple pie is LIFE. This recipe is a keeper even if I messed up the crust a bit. Will try again!
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!
The instructions are pretty clear, but I wish it said how thick to roll the crust. I rolled it kind of random and got uneven thickness.
Yeah, I get that. I try to aim for about 1/8 inch (3-4 mm) when rolling pie dough—maybe add a quick note like that would 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!
I accidentally used brown sugar instead of white. Still yummy! A little more caramel flavor. 😊
This pie is the best! I made it for my family’s dinner and everyone loved it. Easy recipe too!
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.
Good recipe, but a bit complicated. I like simpler stuff.
I understand! Simple recipes are way easier to follow. Maybe try a no-bake pie next time?
Who needs all that? I just throw apples in a pan and call it a day! This sounds too fancy.
Can anyone tell me how long to bake it if I use frozen apples instead?
You might wanna bake it for a bit longer, like 10-15 mins more. Frozen apples need more time to cook through right!
Not bad, but I think 6 cups of apples is a lot unless they’re tart. Mine were sweet so it felt slightly too sugary—next time I’ll use less sugar or add more lemon.
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! 🍏🥧
Yum! Made this for my grandma’s birthday and she loved it! Will 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!
425°F is a lot lol. My pie browned fast, but the middle was still a bit runny, so I think I should’ve tented with foil halfway. Flavor was still solid.
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 🙁
Why do you add lemon juice? Isn’t that weird? Just make it simple, people.
I don’t think nutmeg belongs in apple pie. Just stick with cinnamon, am I right?
I totally disagree! Nutmeg adds that special something to apple pie. Can’t imagine it without! 😊
Yuck, this pie was a disaster. The apples were mushy and the crust was tough. Not trying again.
Followed the instructions pretty closely (even chilled the dough). Crust came out flaky and golden. Next time I’ll slice apples a tiny bit thinner so the bake time gels even better.
Nice! Chilling the dough usually makes a *huge* difference. Your flaky/golden result sounds spot on. Thinner apple slices is a great tweak too—less crunchy in the middle, more consistent bake.
Wait… mine never turns “bubbly” like that. I did 50 min once and it still looked kinda watery. Maybe I’m under-slicing the apples? Also, do you cover it with foil if the top browns too fast?
When I made it, my crust burnt. I’ve bake before but this time I messed up. Maybe different oven temp?
I’ve had that happen before! It might be the oven temp, or it could be the baking time. Maybe try lowering the temp next time? Good luck!
This pie is awesome! But I accidentally used salted butter and it still worked out, yay!
Wow, that sounds great! I’ve never tried it with salted butter. Might give it a go! 👍
Wow 9/10 recipe. I’m not kidding. It’s basically perfect, family loved it and asked for seconds 😂
I tried this with salted butter once and it was fine but not as buttery. Also I accidentally used 5 tbsp water not 5-6… anyway, flavor still solid.
This pie was soooo good! The apples were perfectly sweet. Will make it again for sure! 😍
I don’t know, I think my pie turned out too soggy. Maybe it was the apples? I’m not sure.
Soggy pie? That’s a bummer! It could be the apples, but make sure to drain them if they’re really juicy. Also, maybe bake it a bit longer? Just a thought!
Naah, it’s probably just the recipe! I’ve seen pies that turn out all watery. Did you use too many apples? I don’t think there’s such thing as too many but maybe measure them next time.
Not sure about 6 cups apples—mine shrank a lot and the pie looked a bit empty. Next time I’ll use fewer apples or pack them tighter.
I added some walnuts to the filling and it was super tasty! Great recipe!
Made this yesterday and it turned out *so* golden. The cinnamon + nutmeg combo is exactly right. I did 45 minutes and the filling was definitely bubbly when I pulled it.
I tried it and my filling was *not* bubbly at 40 min… maybe my apples were too juicy? I’m curious—did you bake on the middle rack?
Yes!! “Golden” is exactly the vibe of this pie. I also do 45 min and mine is always bubbly when I pull it—love that cinnamon + nutmeg punch.
I don’t know, it seemed too complicated. Why do I need so much sugar? Can’t I just use one cup?
This is the best apple pie recipe ever! My family devoured it. 5 stars!
I totally agree! This pie is a family favorite for us too! Can’t get enough of it!
Really? I tried this recipe and it didn’t turn out great for me. The crust was too tough. Maybe I did something wrong?
Apple pie is made with just apples. This is fake recipe with too much stuff. 😡
Simple and delicious! I substituted brown sugar, and it turned out heavenly. Highly recommend!
I tried it and it turned out kind of… bland? I added extra sugar and a pinch more cinnamon and it became way better. Maybe my apples were tart and I didn’t compensate.
Oof, bland is the worst for apple pie 😭 I think you nailed it though—if the apples were tart, the 3/4 cup sugar might not be enough. Next time I’d try a little more cinnamon too, or even a touch of salt in the filling to make the flavors pop.
I had the same issue and it was 100% the apples. I used Granny Smith once and it tasted kinda “flat” until I added more sugar. Also, make sure the filling sits a few minutes so the cornstarch hydrates.
Pretty basic. I mean, it’s just apple pie, right? Not sure why everyone is raving. 🤔
This turned out so good! The cinnamon/nutmeg combo smells like fall heaven, and the bubbly filling was perfect. I baked mine 43 minutes and it was golden.
I messed up the crust! It was too crumbly, maybe I didn’t add enough water? Anyway, still tastes good! 🍏
Don’t worry! Crusts can be tricky. Maybe try adding a bit more water next time or even chilling the butter longer! 🍏🥧
Best apple pie everrrrr!! 👏 Cool before serving was key—didn’t rush and it set nicely.
Yes!! Letting it cool is the whole secret. First time I made apple pie I cut it immediately and it was all runny—never again 😅 This sounds spot on.
I’m not sure about cooling—mine sets fine even if I slice it after like 10 minutes. But I do agree the cornstarch + slits help. Also 425 seems high… do you cover it if it browns too fast?
Followed the steps but my dough was super sticky even after chilling. I ended up adding a little extra flour and it still baked up decent. Tastes great though!