This delectable apple pie recipe from scratch is sweet and flavorful. This is the best apple pie recipe, and it can be made just using 8 ingredients!
I will be giving you lots of photos and a video to follow to make replicating this apple pie from scratch even easier. I will also be giving you alternatives to make this homemade apple pie gluten-free as well as dairy-free.
If you are loving all things apple, don’t forget to try my scrumptious caramel apple cake.
Why this homemade apple pie works:
- It is the perfect addition to your holiday dessert table.
- This easy apple pie recipe is great for all occasions.
- The apple pie filling is sweet and delicious.
- You can’t find a more flakey or buttery crust.
- All you need is 8-ingredients!
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How To Make Apple Pie From Scratch
FIRST STEP: Start by making the double pie crust. Use your food processor and place the flour, salt, sugar, and cold butter in the food processor. Pulse for 4-5 times until you see pea-sized flakes. Slowly add one tablespoon of water and pulse again. Continue doing this until it forms into a dough.
TIP: A food processor isn’t required. If you don’t have one, you can always use a pastry cutter or by using 2 forks. If you choose this method, begin by adding the flour, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Then you will need to add the butter. It should resemble a coarse texture with pea-sized flakes. You will need to add a little bit of water at a time until it has become clumpy.
SECOND STEP: You will need to separate dough into two even halves. Then you should form each dough ball into a disc that is a 1 – 1.5-inch thick. Don’t knead the dough. You need to cover each disc tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. It can stay in the fridge for 2 hours all the way up to 4 days.
THIRD STEP: The oven should be preheated to 375°F (190°C). Add diced apples, sugar, flour, and lemon juice to a bowl and give it a quick stir. Pour in vanilla and sprinkle with cinnamon. Allow the apple mixture to stand for 15 minutes.
NOTE: Cinnamon is optional, so you can leave it out if you prefer.
FOURTH STEP: Roll one dough disc out onto a lightly floured surface. You want it to end up a 12-inch circle. Carefully, transfer the crust to a 9-inch pie pan. It’s normal for the edges to hang over the pie dish.
FIFTH STEP: Put the apple pie filling into the crust. Don’t add any of the excess liquid; it can be tossed.
SIXTH STEP: Now it’s time to roll out the second dough that will be used as your top crust. After it’s rolled out, cut slits in the top crust because that will allow the steam to escape. Or you can cut the dough into strips as I did in the photo below. All the strips are 1-2 inches wide. Form them into a grid going over and under until you have all the pieces in place.
SEVENTH STEP: You can use your imagination and decorate pie crust to your preference. Seal and flute the edges.
EIGHTH STEP: Mix together the egg and water in a small bowl and brush on top of the crust. Then give a sprinkle of sugar and bake for 45 minutes. It’s best to cover the pie for the last 10 minutes of baking, so it doesn’t become too brown or burn. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Place the apple pie from scratch in the refrigerator for 4 hours then serve.
Baker’s Tips
- Never use warm butter; it should always be very cold.
- Don’t forget to cover the homemade apple pie for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Cinnamon isn’t necessary, but you can add it if you want to.
- Drain off excess liquid from apples, so the apple pie filling isn’t too wet.
- Make sure to tightly cover the apple pie after it’s cooled down.
Substitutions
Is There Something I Can Use Besides Eggs For Egg Wash?
Yes, if you have an allergy to eggs or simply ran out there is excellent news for you because you can substitute it. Take a little bit of the oil of your choosing and brush it on very lightly. Then you can still sprinkle with sugar, and it will still look and taste fabulous.
Can I Make The Apple Pie Gluten-Free?
Yes, absolutely you can make transform this apple pie recipe from scratch to a gluten-free pie. You will need to substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend instead. Keep in mind if the gluten-free blend doesn’t have xanthan gum in it you need to add 1 tsp. per cup of flour, so it’s the right consistency.
What Are Some Dairy-Free Alternatives To Butter?
Thankfully, there are several different dairy-free alternatives if you can’t or don’t want to have butter. Keep in mind if you use a substitute the texture and flavor may be slightly different than my original apple pie recipe from scratch. You can simply replace the butter with vegan butter, shortening, lard or coconut oil. If you go with coconut oil, always choose refined, so it doesn’t make the pie taste like coconut. Also, it’s a good idea to refrigerate the coconut oil, so it doesn’t get too warm too quickly when you are mixing it up.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
Why Is My Pie Crust Soggy?
If your pie crust is soggy, it’s probably because the juice that was with the apples ended up in the pie. That liquid or juice can make the crust super soggy and moist. This can significantly affect the texture of this apple pie recipe from scratch. I recommend placing the apples in a small strainer to let any excess liquid drip off before putting it in the crust.
What Apples Should I Use For Apple Pie?
For this homemade apple pie recipe, I prefer to use sweet apples because they give such a lovely flavor. The sweetest apples are Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp. You can go for an apple that is more sour than sweet like Granny Smith if you would rather, it’s totally up to you.
Do I Eat Apple Pie Warm Or Cold?
You can actually eat apple pie warm or cold depending on how you like it. When you eat it warm, it tastes amazing with some ice cream on top or a little bit of whipped cream. And honestly, when you eat it cold, it can be right out of the refrigerator. It’s delicious both ways so just go with your favorite.
How Long Does Apple Pie Last And How To Store It?
Apple pie should be kept in an airtight container to keep it fresh longer. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I Freeze Apple Pie?
Yes, you can freeze apple pie from scratch. Wrap it with plastic wrap or tin foil tightly. Then put it inside of an airtight container for up to 3-4 months in the freezer. To defrost, place the pie in the refrigerator the night before and serve when thawed.
If you make this Apple Pie recipe leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo #alsothecrumbsplease on Instagram! Would love to see your snap!
If you love apple pie, here are more apple recipes to try
This delectable apple pie recipe from scratch is sweet and flavorful. This is the best apple pie recipe, and it can be made just using 8 ingredients!
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (280g)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 cup unsalted cold butter, cut into a few pieces (226g)
- 6-8 tbsp cold water (90-120ml)
- 2.5 lbs sweet baking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/4 inch slices (1,1kg / 10-12 cups)
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar (100g)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (30g)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (15ml)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp water (30ml)
- 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
Make the double pie crust with a food processor: Place flour, salt, sugar, and butter in a food processor and pulse 4-5 times. Pea-sized butter flakes should still be visible. Add one tablespoon water at the time and pulse 1-2 times after every tablespoon. Stop adding water when the dough starts to clump.
If you don't have a food processor, then make the double pie crust with a pastry cutter or two forks instead: In this case mix together flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Then add butter and cut it into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal with pea-sized butter flakes. Then add water little by little until the texture starts to clump.
Divide pie crust in half and form 1- 1.5 inch thick discs without kneading. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl stir apple, sugar, flour, and lemon juice to combine. Also, add vanilla and cinnamon if using. (I like my apple pie very simple without any other overpowering spices but you can add vanilla and cinnamon to your preference.) Let stand 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the first dough disc into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. The edges of the pie crust should hang out of the baking form. Spoon filling into the pie crust without any excess liquid. Discard any excess liquid.
Roll out second dough disc and place on top of the filling. Cut slits on top that the steam can escape, or cut the second dough disc into 1-2 inch strips and arrange in a grid on top of your filling by laying over and under one another carefully. Decorate pie crust to your preference. Seal and flute the edges.
In a small bowl stir together egg and water. Brush on top of the pie and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 45 minutes. Cover the last 10 minutes with parchment paper to prevent it from browning too much if necessary. Let cool to room temperature and chill for 4 hours in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Recipe Video
Recommendations
- Never use warm butter, it should always be very cold.
- Don't forget to cover the homemade apple pie for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Cinnamon isn't necessary, but you can add it if you want to.
- Drain off excess liquid from apples so the apple pie filling isn't too wet.
- Make sure to tightly cover the apple pie after it's cooled down.
Substitutions
Is There Something I Can Use Besides Eggs For Egg Wash?
Yes, if you have an allergy to eggs or simply ran out there is great news for you because you can substitute it. Take a little bit of the oil of your choosing and brush it on very lightly. Then you can still sprinkle with sugar and it will still look and taste fabulous.
Can I Make The Apple Pie Gluten-Free?
Yes, absolutely you can make transform this apple pie recipe from scratch to a gluten-free pie. You will need to substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend instead. Keep in mind if the gluten-free blend doesn't have xanthan gum in it you need to add 1 tsp. per cup of flour so it's the right consistency.
What Are Some Dairy-Free Alternatives To Butter?
Thankfully, there are several different dairy-free alternatives if you can't or don't want to have butter. Keep in mind if you use a substitute the texture and flavor may be slightly different than my original apple pie recipe from scratch. You can simply replace the butter with vegan butter, shortening, lard or coconut oil. If you go with coconut oil always choose refined so it doesn't make the pie taste like coconut. Also, it's a good idea to refrigerate the coconut oil so it doesn't get too warm too quickly when you are mixing it up.
I added vanilla extract and used brown instead of white sugar and it was so good. It’s a delicious recipe.
That sounds super delicious! Will try your changes the next time.