Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (2024)

This classic, old-fashioned apple pie recipe is an American classic. With a double buttery crust and a perfectly spiced, sweet filling, the only thing that can make this apple pie better is a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Serve as part of Thanksgiving dessert or another holiday spread, at an autumn potluck, or after a plentiful day of apple picking.

This homemade apple pie is extra easy if you use premade pie crusts, but feel free to make your own pie crust if you have the time. The simple but delicious pie filling of sliced apples, sugar, and spices doesn't require any cooking before you bake the pie. Use flour or cornstarch to thicken the filling and help prevent a soggy bottom crust.

For an extra special treat, serve with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. A drizzle of caramel sauce is lovely, too.

"Homemade pies are so much better than store-bought. This one is easy to make, you don't have to precook the pie filling and you can use store bought pie dough. Serve with vanilla ice cream, and you've got yourself a meal...er...a dessert." —Carrie Parente

Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (2)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (3)

  2. Roll out the crusts. Wrap one crust in plastic wrap and chill.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (4)

  3. Line the pie pan with one crust, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until apples are ready. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 450 F.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (5)

  4. Peel, core, and slice the apples.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (6)

  5. Put the sliced apples in a large bowl with the lemon juice and toss thoroughly.

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  6. Sprinkle the apples with the brown sugar, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves, and allspice (if using). Toss until apples are thoroughly and evenly coated.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (8)

  7. Pour the apple filling into the crust-lined pie pan and dot with butter.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (9)

  8. Place the second crust on top. Seal around the edge, trim the excess, and crimp the edges if you like.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (10)

  9. Slice a few vents in the top crust for steam to escape. If desired, paint the crust with the egg wash using a pastry brush.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (11)

  10. Place the pie pan on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 F and bake until the pie is well browned and bubbling inside, about 50 more minutes. Let the pie cool thoroughly (at least 1 hour) before cutting.

    Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (12)

Tips

  • If using cornstarch instead of flour, make sure to mix in with the sugars to avoid clumping.
  • Baking this pie at a high temperature first helps to prevent a soggy bottom crust. To further prevent this common pie problem, make sure the crusts are well-chilled and bake the pie as soon as you can after adding the filling. Positioning the oven rack towards the bottom of the oven will help, too, as it's closer to the heating element.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Tightly wrap any leftover apple pie and store for up to 2 to 3 days at a cool room temperature or in the fridge. The pie can be reheated in the oven.
  • You can also assemble and freeze an unbaked apple pie. After sealing the top crust, tightly wrap the pie in a few layers of plastic wrap, making sure it is airtight. Freeze for up to a month. To bake, place the frozen pie directly in the hot oven and bake for 10 minutes at 450 F and around 90 minutes at 350 F, or until the apples are cooked through and bubbly and the crust is browned. If the edges are getting too brown, cover with aluminum foil.

What Is the Best Apple To Make Apple Pie With?

A good pie and baking apple is firm so that it doesn't turn to mush when baked with good sweet-tart flavor. Try Braeburn, Cameo, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, or McIntosh. For a tarter pie, try Granny Smith.

Do You Cook Apples Before Making Apple Pie?

No, apples do not need to be cooked before they are baked in an apple pie, as they will cook through when the pie is baking in the oven.

How Do I Keep My Pie Filling From Being Watery?

Ingredients like flour, cornstarch, and tapioca help thicken pie fillings and keep them from being a watery mess. Apples don't release as much liquid as berries and therefore need less thickener. Flour and cornstarch both work well in an apple pie. For a tidy slice that doesn't leak, let the pie cool completely before cutting.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
453Calories
20g Fat
65g Carbs
5g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories453
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g26%
Saturated Fat 7g37%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 314mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 65g24%
Dietary Fiber 5g19%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 7mg33%
Calcium 32mg2%
Iron 2mg11%
Potassium 235mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Recipe for Old-Fashioned Apple Pie (2024)

FAQs

What is the best mix of apples for apple pie? ›

At the end of the day, choosing the best pie apples is a personal decision. My best apple pie would include a combination of these three: Cortland, for flavor; Russet, for texture; and Granny Smith, for its combination of the two.

How to make an apple pie from scratch book summary? ›

"How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch" by Harry Cliff is a fascinating and engaging book that takes readers on a journey through the history of physics, chemistry, and astronomy, exploring the origins of our universe and the awe-inspiring fact that it exists at all.

What must you invent to make an apple pie from scratch? ›

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe” Quote from Carl Sagan, American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in astronomy and other natural sciences.

Should I prebake the bottom crust for apple pie? ›

You do not need to pre-bake a pie crust for an apple pie or any baked fruit pie really, but we do freeze the dough to help it stay put. Pre-baking the pie crust is only required when making a custard pie OR when making a fresh fruit pie. you should probably get: Pie weights are super helpful to have for pre-baking.

What is the best thickener for apple pie? ›

The best way to thicken runny apple pie filling before baking it is to add some cornstarch, tapioca starch, or flour to your mix. To fix a runny pie that's already been baked, simply let it cool to see if it will congeal naturally. If not, you can stick it back in the oven for a bit longer.

What are the top 3 best apples? ›

10 Most Popular Apple Types—and Which Ones Are Best for Baking and Snacking
  • 01 of 10. Granny Smith. undefined undefined / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 02 of 10. Golden Delicious. liaminou / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 03 of 10. Red Delicious. LiveFree / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 04 of 10. McIntosh. ...
  • 05 of 10. Honeycrisp. ...
  • 06 of 10. Gala. ...
  • 07 of 10. Pink Lady. ...
  • 08 of 10. Fuji.
Oct 6, 2023

What is the apple pie rule? ›

Here's a look at one of the most unusual laws on the books in the Badger State. In Wisconsin, it is illegal to serve apple pie in public restaurants without a slice of cheese on top. Yes, you read that right: cheese is required on top of any apple pie that is served in a public restaurant in Wisconsin.

What makes a good pie apple? ›

Granny Smith.

Firm and very tart, this variety is the go-to for many when it comes to pie because it keeps its shape extremely well. But it isn't exactly known for its flavor, so Granny Smiths are best used in conjunction with sweeter and/or more flavorful apples.

When making apple pie do you peel the apples? ›

Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple's nutritional value once the peel is removed. Making sure you are using the correct apples – peeled or unpeeled – is a more important part of crafting the perfect apple pie.

How was the original apple pie made? ›

“In fact, the first recorded recipe for apple pie was written in 1381 in England, and called for figs, raisins, pears, and saffron in addition to apples,” she writes.

How to make an apple pie from scratch quote? ›

Usually, it's a bit of wisdom from an ancient philosopher, or something a bit trite from a self-help book, but on this particular day they had written up the quote from Carl Sagan, 'If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe'.

How do I keep the bottom of my apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

During that time, the egg cooks into a glossy layer that will later prevent the filling from seeping into the crust and making it soggy.

How do you keep the bottom of an apple pie from getting soggy? ›

Crust dust is a 1:1 mixture of flour and granulated sugar. When baking a pie, especially a fruit pie, a couple of teaspoons of crust dust sprinkled into the bottom of the crust will help prevent the crust from becoming saturated with juicy filling as it bakes.

What 4 apples are best used for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Are Honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What is a substitute for Granny Smith apples in apple pie? ›

Braeburn

As part Granny Smith, the Braeburn apple brings the same great qualities to a recipe, but it's slightly sweeter.

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