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Perfect Apple Pie

Photo Credit
Brent Hofacker/shutterstock
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
Yield
8 servings
Category
Pies and Pastries
Course
Desserts
Occasions
Christmas
Independence Day
Thanksgiving
Preparation Method
Bake
Sources
Yankee Magazine

Abe Lincoln was a big fan of apples. Here is the perfect apple pie recipe for a beginner—with the right balance of sweet and tart (not mushy!) for a nice, clean flavor.

Picking the Right Apples for Pie

If you’ve had a lot of sub-par apple pies, it comes down to the right apple. Many types of apples just do not make a good pie on their own. 

They don’t hold their shape and release too much liquid when cooking, or they lack texture. Or, they are too tart for most taste buds (for example, Granny Smith), or they are too sweet (for example, Empire). That’s why we mix two types of apples. If the apples listed in the recipe below aren’t available, choose a mix of “firm-sweet” and “firm-tart” apples. See the list of apples for pies.

Bottom-line:

  1. Choose one “sweet” and one “tart” apple for best results. If you can only find one apple type, use a “firm” apple variety, which will hold its shape throughout the cooking process and not get mushy.
  2. Always use fresh, firm apples. If you don’t use them right away, put the apples in the refrigerator or they will go soft.

Making Your Pie Crust

Homemade pie crust truly isn’t that difficult! So, we’ve provided an easy, buttery pie crust recipe. It only requires a few pantry ingredients and comes out flaky and flavorful!

However, if you’re not up to making pie dough, don’t let that stop you. You can certainly purchase an easy refrigerated pie crust. 

More Apple Recipes

Apple Pie Filling

Ingredients
2 pounds large sweet apples (such as Jonagold, Golden Delicious)
1 pound large tart apples (such as Northern Spy, Granny Smith, or Rhode Island Greening)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 taplespoon cornstarch
Flour (for work surface)
Double-Crust Pastry Dough (see recipe below)
1 large egg, well beaten
1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel and core apples, slice them 1/4 inch thick, and put in a bowl. Toss to coat with lemon juice.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch.
  3. Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the larger disk of Double-Crust Pastry Dough into a 12- to 13-inch circle, rolling out from the center and turning the dough as you go. Transfer to a 10-inch pie plate; let extra dough hang over sides.
  4. Place a flat 1-inch layer of apples on the bottom and sprinkle with a layer of sugar mixture. Repeat until you’ve used all apples and sugar.
  5. Roll out the second piece of pie dough and cover the apples with it. Trim excess dough to about 1-inch overhang; tuck edges of top crust under the bottom crust and crimp.
  6. Brush egg over pie surface; sprinkle with sugar. Make decorative cuts to let steam escape. Bake 20 minutes.
  7. Lower oven temperature to 375°F and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes longer.

Double-Crust Pastry Dough

Ingredients
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
18 tablespoons (2-1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Instructions

  1.  In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt until well combined.
  2. Sprinkle butter over flour mixture, and use your fingers to work it in (rub your thumb against your fingertips, smearing the butter as you do). Stop when the mixture looks like cornmeal, with some pea-size bits of butter remaining.
  3. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons ice water on top, and stir with a fork until dough begins to come together. If needed, add more ice water, a tablespoon at a time.
  4. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead three times, or just enough to make a cohesive dough—don’t over mix!
  5. Gather into a ball; then divide into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Press each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
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Comments

<span>Summer</span> Sat, 09/21/2019 - 16:12
I made this pie with all Cortland apples and it was delicious! I’ve never had the apple pie/cheddar cheese combo before but it was great. Wonderful way to use the apples we just picked at the orchard!
<span>Summer</span> Sat, 09/21/2019 - 16:18
Forgot to mention, idea to serve the pie with cheese came from the Vermont cheddar apple pie recipe on this site. It works!
<span>Ellen</span> Mon, 11/21/2016 - 00:22
If you can find them, one of the best pie apples is the Ida Red. But multiple apple types can be combined, depending on what is available -- this year I've used Ida Reds, Granny Smiths, Honeycrips, Fujis, Galas, Liberty, Pink Lady successfully -- Zestar, available early in the season, were bland, even when blended with Granny Smiths. I get my apples from nearby orchards when possible, but am not a fan of Jonathans or Jonagolds. Taste the apples you use in your pie -- cut back on sugar when they're especially sweet.
<span>Cathy</span> Sun, 11/06/2016 - 18:54
I love cortlands! I dry them, can them and bake everything with them. They make a perfect pie! I don't know what people are doing to get soggy pies, I never have that problem.