American Apple Pie Recipe
What could be more American than a great apple pie recipe? This apple pie recipe can be made with a pre made store bought crust or with, my preference, this delicious flaky homemade crust using ancient grains. Try this apple pie recipe packed full of flavor and delicious down to the last bite.
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With apples ripening and autumn approaching there is no better time to make apple pie. Although anytime of year is a good time of year for apple pie in my opinion!
Our old apple trees actually produced some decent apples this year. We have severely neglected them since we moved to the farm. They surprised us this year however and produced many decent apples. The kids have been non stop snacking for weeks now and I’ve now made several apple pies as well.
Does the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” count if you eat it in apple pie?
I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this apple pie recipe as much as mine have!
Tips for Making American Apple Pie Recipe
Pick the right apples for making apple pie. Some apples will turn mushy while baking. Check out my recommendations below.
Using homemade pie crust will really enhance the flavor of your pie. Store bought works in a pinch but I always recommend making homemade. You can even make several crusts at once and freeze some for later.
Create a beautiful crust by poking holes in a creative design on the top crust. Creating a lattice crust by weaving strips of crust back and forth also will make a beautiful pie. I’ve even braided an edge to my pie or one lattice strip. There are so many beautiful ideas out there to try.
Add an egg wash to your crust for a glossy finish. A milk wash will give your pie crust a golden matte finish. No wash will leave your crust looking a little pale and boring but will still taste great. Adding a sprinkle of sugar over the wash will give the crust a bit of a sparkle too.
If the edges of your pie start to get too dark while baking, add aluminum foil carefully around the edges of your crust to prevent it from burning.
It is best to let the pie cool before cutting into it as this will help the filling to firm up. But this rule, of course, is meant to be broken because hot apple pie tastes amazing.
Best Apples for Making American Apple Pie Recipe
Any apples will do but here are some some common apple varieties and how they bake in pie.
- Granny Smith – are crisp, very tart green apples with maybe a slight blush of red. They work well in pie because they hold their shape nicely and don’t bake down into a mushy sauce. The pie will have a slightly more tart flavor once baked.
- Honey Crisp – is sweet and crunchy. A nice choice for a slightly less tart pie than the granny smith.
- Gala – is widely available year round which makes it a good choice for pie. They have a light sweetness and hold up to baking well. They are often more affordable than some other varieties too.
- Pink Lady – apples are super crisp and will hold their shape nicely after baking. They have a great apple flavor with a light sweetness and a citrus tang.
- Fuji – is a very crisp, juicy and sweet apple. They hold up well to baking but can tend to make a lot of liquid.
- Golden Delicious – has a mild flavor and can tend to break down more while baking. Mixing in a firmer variety creates a nice balance.
- Slightly old and tired apples – using apples for pie that are past their fresh eating stage is a perfect way not to waste them.
I personally just use whatever apples I have on hand. The pie always turns out delicious.
FAQ
Should you cook the apples before putting them in the pie?
No. All the cooking takes place in the oven. Just slice your apples thinly and mix in the seasoning. The flavors will come together as it bakes.
How to store apple pie?
Let the pie cool completely before covering with plastic wrap. It can be stored on the counter for a day or in the fridge for 5 days.
Apple pie can also be frozen. Just make sure it is sealed in an airtight container. It’s best to eat within 3 months of being frozen.
How do you keep the bottom of apple pie from getting soggy?
Crust dust is an old-fashioned secret that will keep your bottom crust from getting too soggy while baking. Crust dust is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and flour. Sprinkle a few teaspoons of the sugar and flour mixture into the bottom crust before adding in the filling. This helps the bottom crust from becoming saturated and soggy. If you have trouble with a soggy crust be sure to give crust dust a try next time.
What to serve with apple pie?
The classic choice is vanilla ice-cream but whipped cream, custard or créme fraiche also make nice toppings.
Tools you will need
- box grader or food processor
- small pot
- large bowl
- 9″ pie dish
- rolling pin
- knife
- cutting board
- measuring cups and spoons
- basting brush
How to make American Apple Pie
This recipe comes together in about 30 minutes give or take and takes an hour to cook. The most time consuming parts of this recipe are peeling the apples and making a crust. The time can be cut down by using a pre made crust.
Ingredients
6-8 apples cored approximately 7 cups
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup sugar (1/2)
1/4 cup water
1 egg + 1 tablespoon water for egg wash (or 2 tablespoons milk for milk wash)
Instructions
Start by making the pie crust recipe per instructions and chilling in the fridge while making the filling. I like to use my flaky einkorn pie crust recipe. Any favorite crust recipe will do. Preheat oven to 425°F.
In a pot on the stove, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and continue to cook for about 1 minute. Then add 1/4 cup of water, 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
Cut apples into thin slices and toss with the butter/sugar sauce.
Roll out pie crust in about 12 inches. Transfer the crust to pie plate. Add the apples and spread evenly.
Roll the top pie crust to around 10-11 inches. Cut 10 strips about 1-1 1/2 inches thick for lettuce crust. Carefully weave the strips back and forth over the top of the pie. Or transfer whole crust to pie for a solid surface crust. Be sure to cut slits into the solid crust to allow air to escape while baking.
To make an egg wash mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water and beat together. Next using a basting brush, apply the egg wash to the entire crust.
Bake apple pie in oven 425°F (212°C) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 45 minutes until apples are bubbling. Remove from oven and rest room temperature for 1 hour.
Tips:
To transfer crust: roll the crust onto rolling pin and unroll onto the pie plate or fold crust into quarters and then unfold in the pie plate.
If crust starts to burn, cover edges of crust with some aluminum foil.
Place foil or baking sheet on bottom of oven to catch any potential drippings that might bubble over during baking.
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Simple Bacon and Spinach Quiche
- Einkorn Flour Banana Bread
- No Sugar Cinnamon Sweet Potato Puff
- Easy Butternut Squash Soup
If you make this recipe and love it, please consider coming back and commenting and give this recipe a 5 star review. It helps out my website so much! Many thanks! Enjoy!
Printable American Apple Pie Recipe
American Apple Pie Recipe
What could be more American than a great apple pie recipe? Try this apple pie recipe packed full of flavor and delicious down to the last bite.
Ingredients
- 1 homemade double crust recipe or store bought
- 6-8 apples cored approximately 7 cups
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar (1/4 brown?)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water for egg wash or 2 tablespoons milk for milk wash
Instructions
-
Start by making the pie crust recipe per instructions and chilling in the fridge while making the filling. I like to use my flaky einkorn pie crust recipe. Any favorite crust recipe will do. Preheat oven to 425°F.
-
In a pot on the stove, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and continue to cook for about 1 minutes. Then add 1/4 cup of water, 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
-
Cut apples into thin slices and toss with the butter/sugar sauce.
-
Roll out pie crust in about 12 inches. Transfer the crust to pie plate. Add the apples and spread evenly.
-
Roll the top pie crust to around 10-11 inches. Cut 10 strips about 1-1 1/2 inches thick for lettuce crust. Carefully weave the strips back and forth over the top of the pie. Or transfer whole crust to pie for a solid surface crust. Be sure to cut slits into the solid crust to allow air to escape while baking.
-
To make an egg wash mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water and beat together. Next using a basting brush, apply the egg wash to the entire
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Bake apple pie in oven 425°F (212°C) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 45 minutes until apples are bubbling. Remove from oven and rest room temperature for 1 hour.
Recipe Notes
- To transfer crust: roll the crust onto rolling pin and unroll onto the pie plate or fold crust into quarters and then unfold in the pie plate.
- If crust starts to burn cover edges of crust with some aluminum foil.
- Place foil or baking sheet on bottom of oven to catch any potential drippings that might bubble over during baking.