Homemade Apple Pie

This is absolutely the best homemade apple pie you'll ever make! It has a flaky, buttery crust and a tender, lightly-spiced apple pie filling. Use a combination of apples for best flavor, and bake until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 21, 2022
Elise Bauer
Plate of Homemade Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream on Top

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Here is our favorite apple pie recipe, with an easy, no-fail, buttery, flaky homemade pie crust, and a filling with a mix of different types of apples, spices, vanilla, and a splash of brandy.

This apple pie is my family's most requested pie during the holidays. I usually make two of them so we can enjoy one for leftovers. Nothing better than pie for breakfast, right?

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Watch How to Make Apple Pie

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Pie?

It's best to use a mix of different types of apples in your pie. Some apple varieties cook up faster than others. Some cook up firm, some more soft; some apples are more tart, some more sweet.

By combining them, you'll get a more complex, deeper flavor. Look for a combination of tart and sweet apples, and a combination of apples that cook up firm and soft. That said, some apples are better for cooking into a pie than others. I like to use:

  • Granny Smith - Green and tart, Granny Smith apples have wonderful flavor, but they they often lose their shape and turn mushy when cooked. So use no more than 2 Grannies in your pie, and combine with other varieties.
  • Jonagold - A cross between a Golden Delicious and a Jonathan, Jonagolds have a lovely aromatic flavor, they're both sweet and sharp, and they hold their shape with baking.
  • Fuji - Crisp, firm, juicy, balance of sweet and tart, holds its shape in baking.
  • Golden Delicious - Yellow and sweet, holds its shape after baking
  • Braeburn - Sweet and crisp, bakes up firm and juicy
  • Cortland - Juicy and tart, relatively soft, great all purpose apple for baking.
  • Honey Crisp - Honey sweet and tart flavor, crisp and juicy, holds shape in baking.
  • Avoid Red Delicious apples for pies, they don't cook well.
Homemade Apple Pie on Plate with Fork

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Make the Crust Ahead

To make apple pie, start with the crust. If you are making a homemade crust, you can make the dough a day or two ahead, and keep the dough disks chilled in the refrigerator. The dough recipe I'm recommending for this apple pie uses sour cream along with butter, and is especially delicious, flaky, and easy to make. If you would like to make an all-butter crust instead, see our All Butter Crust.

If using a store bought frozen crust, follow the directions on the crust package for working with the crust.

Tips for Making Apple Pie

  • To make it easier to roll out the dough, remove the dough disks from the refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes before using.
  • Always place a baking sheet under the pie to catch any juices that bubble over so they don't land on the bottom of your oven.
  • The apple pie is not done until the juices are noticeably bubbling. If you have an instant read thermometer, insert it into the center of the pie. A reading of 200°F is done.
  • If the top of the pie begins to brown too much before it's fully cooked, tent it with foil.
  • Want to make a lattice crust? We can help you with that.
Homemade Apple Pie with a Serving Cut Out

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

Best Toppings for Apple Pie

There's nothing better than a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, right? For something a little different, try cinnamon ice cream instead. You could also top it with homemade whipped cream or caramel sauce.

How To Store and Freeze Apple Pie

Apple pie will easily last a couple of days, lightly covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, on your counter at room temperature. (Keep the any wrapping loose, so the crust can breathe. Otherwise it will loose its crispness.)

After a couple days, you can keep the pie chilled for a few more days in the fridge. If you want, warm the pie in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

  • To freeze the unbaked pie, wrap the assembled pie in plastic wrap, with as much air pressed out as possible. Then wrap the pie in a layer of foil; this will help keep the plastic wrap in place. Freeze for up to a month. When ready to bake, remove it from the freezer, unwrap, and place it into the oven. Bake as directed, adding on about 15 minutes to the baking time, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling.
  • To freeze a baked pie, wrap and freeze the pie as above. When ready to serve, unwrap and let the pie thaw at room temperature. Warm it up in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes to crisp up the top and warm the filling.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe with Ice Cream

Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

More Great Apple Pie Recipes

Vegan Apple Pie

To make this pie vegan, use our vegan pie crust recipe and omit the egg wash.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Homemade Apple Pie

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 80 mins
Chilling the Crust 60 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 50 mins
Servings 8 servings

Pies always seem to take longer to cook than one expects. (Perhaps it's because we're always opening the oven to check on how the pie is doing?) The filling should be visibly bubbling, which you should be able to see through the steam vents.

Ingredients

For the pie

  • 3 pounds good cooking apples such as Granny Smith, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Braeburn (about 6 to 8 apples, depending on the size of your apples)

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

  • 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup sugar, depending on how sweet you like your pie

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 tablespoon brandy, optional (if you have Calvados apple brandy, use it!)

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 double crust sour cream pie dough, OR all-butter crust, OR your favorite pie crust recipe

For the egg wash

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 tablespoon cream

Method

  1. Peel, core, and slice the apples:

    Peel, core and slice or roughly chop the apples into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch slices or chunks.

    As you cut your apple slices, add them to a large bowl and toss them with the lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to help keep them from turning brown.

    Apple Pieces with Lemon Juice in Bowl for Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  2. Make the apple pie filling:

    Combine the sugar, flour and spices (allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon) in a bowl. Add the flour mixture to the apple slices and use your hands to distribute the flour through the apples so they are well coated.

    Sprinkle with brandy (if using) and vanilla extract and stir to coat all the apples.

    Spices in Bowl for Apple Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Apple Pie Filling for Homemade Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  3. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    Place one oven rack in the lowest position and put a large rimmed baking sheet on it to catch any drippings from the pie. Position a second rack the next rung up (still in the lower third of the oven).

  4. Roll out the dough and line the pie plate:

    Remove one disk of pie dough from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. Place disk on a lightly floured, clean, flat surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out the pie dough to a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick.

    As you roll out the dough, check to make sure it isn't sticking. If and when it starts to stick, gently lift it up and sprinkle a little more flour on the table surface or on the pie dough to keep the dough from sticking.

    Gently place the rolled out dough onto a 9-inch pie plate. Press down to line the pie dish with the dough.

    Rolled Dough for Homemade Pie Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Homemade Apple Pie Dough Placed in Pie Plate

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  5. Add the apple filling:

    Arrange the apple slices in the dough-lined pie plate. Mound the apples in the center.

    Fill Pie Recipe with Apple Mixture

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  6. Roll out the top crust, place over apples, trim and crimp edges:

    Roll out the second disk of dough, again to 12-inches. Gently place the second round of pie dough over the apples. Trim excess dough with kitchen shears, leaving a 3/4 inch overhang from the edges of the pie pan.

    Fold the dough under itself so that the edge of the fold comes right to the edge of the pan. Press the top and bottom dough rounds together as you flute edges using thumb and forefinger or press with a fork.

    Simple Tip!

    If at any point the dough becomes too soft to work with, stick the crust or whole pie in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.

    Cover Homemade Apple Pie Recipe with More Dough

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Excess Dough from Homemade Apple Pie Cut Using Scissors

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
    Make Border for Homemade Apple Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  7. Brush with the egg wash and cut vents:

    Place egg yolk and cream in a small bowl and use a fork to stir until well combined. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash over the top and fluted edges of the pie. Use a sharp knife to cut slits in the top of the pie crust for steam vents.

    Egg Wash the Homemade Apple Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  8. Bake:

    Place pie on oven rack centered over the baking sheet on the rack below it to catch any drippings. Bake the pie at 375°F until crust begins to lightly brown, about 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F.

    Bake until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling all over, an additional hour or up to another hour and a half, depending on the type of apples you are using. If you have an instant-read thermometer, it should read 200°F when inserted in the center of the pie.

    Simple Tip!

    About halfway through baking, check to make sure the pie isn't browning too much. When it's nicely browned, tent the pie with a large piece of aluminum foil to keep the pie from browning further.

    Bake Homemade Apple Pie on Top of Baking Tray

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
  9. Cool:

    Transfer the apple pie to a rack to cool for at least 1 hour. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Great with a side of vanilla ice cream.

    How to Make Homemade Apple Pie

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
460 Calories
17g Fat
75g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 460
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 272mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 75g 27%
Dietary Fiber 6g 22%
Total Sugars 37g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 256mg 5%
*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. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.