The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

This is the Best Apple Pie Recipe you will ever taste!This easy apple pie has been in our family for generations and it’s sure to please your family and friends! If you just need apple pie filling, you will also find an easy apple pie filling recipe that you can make and freeze and then just pop into a pie crust when you’re ready to make it!

The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (1)

This easy apple pie recipe makes the absolute best apple pie you will ever taste! Starting with a classic old-fashioned flaky pie crust and then filled with the perfect balance of sweet and apple flavors, it is the ideal pie for the most important holiday get togethers!

This apple pie recipe has been in our family for 75 yearsor more and still takes the #1 spot at any meal where it is served. This family favorite is the pie my grandmother made and my mom still makes one every year! When I first met him, my husband used to only eat chocolate pies, but after he tasted this apple pie, he started requesting it every year!

Best Apples For Apple Pie

People often ask me what are the best apples for apple pie.What kind of apples do I use? Some people are dogmatic about what kind of apples they use and will only use baking apples, like Granny Smith apples for pies. I’m not so fussy and I use whatever apples are on sale or that I happen to have on hand.

I personally don’t like the super tart taste from baking apples and I always needed to add more sugar when I used them. It also seems to take longer to bake using baking apples.

My favorite thing to do with this easy apple pie recipe is to use a couple of different kinds of apples. Don’t have a heart attack but, yes, I have used Golden Delicious apples before.

Personally, I think the best apples to use for the best apple pie are Gala apples or Envy apples and they work perfectly with our easy apple pie recipe below. One of our viewers recently suggested using Pink Lady apples for the best apple pie, but I have not tried them yet.

Also, my mom likes to dehydrate all kinds of foods for easy storage. She sometimes uses dehydrated apples for apple pies and the dehydrated apples can make the pie taste sweeter. (If you use dehydrated apples to make apple pie, you do NOT need to add more liquid to the recipe.

The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (2)

Here are a couple of tips before you start making your homemade apple pie:

  • No recipe is set in stone.You can make some modifications to the ingredients in this apple pie recipe to adjust to your tastes. For example, you might add more or less cinnamon or you might use all white sugar or less sugar.
    For your first try, though, I suggest that you make this easy apple pie recipe exactly as it is written and then adjust to your tastes the next time you make one.
    When people adjust things before making the apple pie recipe the way it is, I often hear, “My pie didn’t turn out well but I made it just like you said. I only changed this and this and this…” and by the time she has finished explaining, I discover that she has only used one of the original ingredients. : )
  • One of the best things I have discoveredafter years of baking pies is to cook my fruit pie filling in the microwave for 2-3 minutes first and then pour it into the crust. Two of my pet peeves about pies are soggy crusts and partially cooked apples in a pie. If you don’t partially cook the apple pie filling ahead of time, the crust will sometimes start turning too brown before the apples are done cooking. Pre-cooking the pie filling prevents overbrowning the crust.
  • If you make a mistake, it is not necessarily a disaster. Mom once made this apple pie recipe but accidentally left out the sugar. It looked beautiful but obviously didn’t taste right. We discovered that we were able to sprinkle some sugar over the top and it tasted great. My husband also found that if he put a scoop or two of ice cream on top of it, that provided plenty of sugar to give it a wonderful taste! So if you think you have made a mistake, see if you can improvise before throwing it away!

Easy Apple Pie Crust Recipe

The best pies start out with the best pie dough!Mom’s apple pie crust is light and flaky and melt in your mouth delicious! This pie crust is perfect for all kinds of pies, but I use it most for this easy apple pie recipe.

This pie dough is so much better than a store bought crust that you will wonder why you ever bought a pre-made one. It takes a little but of work but is surprisingly easier than you might think because grandma appreciated easy recipes even more than you do!

This crust has a delicious flavor with a flaky and delicate melt in your mouth consistency! It has a homemade taste that is even better than a fancy bakery pie. If you make the easy apple pie recipe according to the recipe below, this pie crust is never soggy.

The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (3)

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The Very Best Pie Crust Recipe

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Here’s mom’s famous homemade pie crust recipe which really is the VERY BEST! Super light and flaky, this pie crust is melt in your mouth delicious! Everyone raves about it! Make some extra to freeze and use later and you’ll cut your preparation time for your next pie!

Ingredients

Units

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/4 cups shortening, cold
1 egg, cold
1 Tbsp. vinegar, cold
5 Tbsp. cold water
sugar

Instructions

  1. Mix flour, salt and 2 Tbsp. sugar in a bowl.
  2. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives.
  3. Add egg, vinegar and 3 tablespoons water.
  4. Mix lightly with your hands. Don’t over mix. If the dough is too dry, add more water. Mix just until the dough sticks together.
  5. Divide into thirds.
  6. Roll out to make 3 pie crusts.
  7. When using the crust for the top of the pie, sprinkle sugar on top.

The crust can be frozen in slightly flattened balls and then defrosted and rolled out when ready to use. Makes 3 crusts.

Here is my best apple pie recipe and as a bonus I will give you a recipe for French apple pie.You use the French apple pie when you have only 1 crust for the bottom and need something to top it with. It is a cross between a pie and apple crisp.

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Grandma’s Easy Apple Pie Recipe

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Ingredients

67 cups of medium apples, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. butter

Instructions

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl except the butter.
  2. Microwave this filling mixture 2-3 minutes.
  3. Pour into the pie crust.
  4. Dot with chunks of the butter.
  5. Top with the other crust.
  6. Cut steam slits in the top crust.
  7. Sprinkle the top with sugar.
  8. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes.
  9. Then turn down to 350° and bake for 35-45 minutes, until apples are tender and juices are bubbling nicely out of the steam slits.

French Apple Pie is the same as a regular apple pie except with a different topping. If you prefer French apple pie or you’d like to try something a bit different, make the French apple pie recipe below and sprinkle it over the top of your pie instead of using a top crust.

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Easy French Apple Pie Topping

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Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour

Instructions

  1. Mix ingredients in a small bowl until crumble-like.
  2. Sprinkle over the top of the apples.
  3. Bake as usual.
The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (7)

How to make easy homemade apple pie filling

My mom makes the best apple pie.We have always loved it. I was talking to her and asked her how she makes it taste so good. She said “I used canned apples.” HA! All this time we thought it was some great secret and it was just canned apples!

If you are like me and have fresh apples piling up everywhere,here is a recipe I love that tastes amazing and freezes really well. I keep bags of it in the freezer to pop into a pie crust when I need it. Make this apple pie filling now and have it ready for those more hectic days during the holidays when you need a quick dessert or easy apple pie.

Part of the reason canned apples sometimes taste betterfor apple pile filling is because the apples are fully cooked and nice and tender, so make sure your apples are well cooked.

This easy apple pie filling recipe can be slow cookedin a crockpot on low until apples are tender or cooked as the recipe says in a Dutch oven.

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Best Apple Pie Filling Recipe

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  • Yield: Filling for two 9 inch pies

Ingredients

9 cups baking apples (I use what I have for apples), peeled, cored & sliced
1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
5 cups water
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Toss apples with lemon juice and set aside.
  2. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a Dutch oven.
  3. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  4. Add apples and return to boil.
  5. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until apples are tender (6-10 minutes).
  6. Cool for 30 minutes.
  7. Then ladle into freezer containers or bake in pies. Makes enough for two 9 inch pies.

Alternatively, you can cook in the crockpot on low for 4 hours or until apples are tender.

For more delicious pies like this easy apple pie recipe, or ideas to make pie baking easier, check out these posts:

Easy Pie Recipes! 20 Of The Best Ever Homemade Pie Recipes

Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe

The Very Best Homemade Pie Crust Recipe

Best Chocolate Pie Recipe Ever!

You can make EASY and delicious meals at home in less time than eating out! You’ll save a ton of money on food and your family will thank you!

Click here to get our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks 25% Off NOW! They’re filled with tasty recipes and tips to make your life easier!

The Best Easy Apple Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you cook apples before putting in pie? ›

Should you cook the apples before baking apple pie? You don't have to pre-cook the filling before spooning it into the pie crust, but it's a quick step I recommend. Just 5 minutes on the stove begins the softening process, and also helps the flavors start to mingle.

Is it better to prebake pie crust for apple pie? ›

I do not usually par-bake my fruit pie crusts - this is because with a fresh fruit filling (or even with a cooked fruit filling such as my apple pie or my blueberry crostata), the pie has long enough in the oven that it gives the crust enough time to crisp up properly, removing the need for blind baking.

What are the best apples for pies? ›

What are Good Apples for Pie? – Best Baking Apples
  • Honeycrisp: As one of the most prized apples around, it's no surprise that Honeycrisps are popular for baking. ...
  • Granny Smith: Prefer a tarter taste for your apple pies? ...
  • Braeburn: For a sweeter take on the spicy apple flavor, choose Braeburns for baking your pie.

How do I keep the bottom crust of a fruit pie from getting soggy? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

Should you soak apples before baking? ›

Firm, yet tender apple slices

Afterward, simply pour the hot water over them and let them sit for 10 minutes. The hot water allows the apples' pectin to stabilize and, as a result, stay slightly firm while being baked. The apples will still soften when baked, just at a slower rate.

Should you poke holes in bottom of pie crust? ›

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

Pre-baking is a must if you're looking for a flaky pie crust. It's especially helpful for recipes with a wet center. Recipes for most tarts, pies, and quiches call for pre-baking to ensure that the final product doesn't end up soggy.

How long to prebake pie crust at 350? ›

If your recipe doesn't have instructions and you're wondering how long to pre bake the pie, here's what I do: I pre bake the prepped pie crust at 350°F. If the crust is homemade from scratch, I pre bake for 35 minutes. If the crust is store-bought, I pre bake for 30 minutes.

What apples not to use for pie? ›

For more on all these apples, including what they look and taste like, see our baking apple guide below. There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

Why do you put lemon juice in an apple pie? ›

Many recipes for apple pie and apple cobbler will call for tossing your sliced apples in a little bit of lemon juice before putting them into your dish. Lemon juice prevents oxidation of the apples, which means that it stops the slices from turning brown by providing a barrier between the ...

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.

What is the sweetest apple for apple pie? ›

Honeycrisp apples are known for their intense sweetness and crisp snap. They're a delicious apple to incorporate into either pie or crisp filling because they pack a bold punch in the flavor department and are neither too wet nor too firm when cooked.

What apples make the sweetest apple pie? ›

The Honeycrisp apple is one of the sweeter varieties, so it definitely is not lacking in the flavor department. They stay relatively firm, although less so than the Granny Smiths, and this makes them a great combination of flavor and texture for your pies.

Is McIntosh apples good for apple pie? ›

While you may like Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, and McIntosh apples for snacking, these mealy apples run a higher risk of disintegrating in the oven. Instead, use these varieties to make applesauce, dried apples, or in raw applications like charoset, not apple pie.

How do you keep apples from getting mushy in a pie? ›

Flour or cornstarch might seem like an odd addition to your pie filling, but it's there for a reason, people! These ingredients work to thicken the juices from the fruit, helping them gel together instead of staying thin and runny. For the love of all things delicious, do not forget them.

How do you keep apples from browning when making a pie? ›

Any type of citrus juice—lemon, lime, or orange juice—will work here; pineapple juice will do the trick too. These fruit juices contain citric acid, which slows the chemical reaction and prevents browning. (You can also sprinkle the fruit with powdered citric acid, but it may leave a strong sour flavor.)

Does it matter if apples brown before baking? ›

Apple prep won't affect your baking

So, when a fruit is cut open, its enzymes come in contact with oxygen — turning it brown. Luckily, when it comes to baking, a little bit of discoloration won't hurt anyone. Fruits will start to brown immediately upon exposure.

Can I leave the skin on apples for pie? ›

peel your apples. While the debate on whether or not to peel your apples seems never-ending, it really comes down to a matter of personal choice. Unpeeled apples will add a bit of color and texture to your pie, but they may prevent the apples from melding together when baked.

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