This homemade apple pie recipe gives you a golden, flaky all-butter crust and a juicy filling of tender spiced apples that slices cleanly instead of running across the plate. The lattice top looks impressive but is easier than it seems.
After the recipe, you will also find fixes for the most common apple pie problems: a soggy bottom, a runny filling, a gap under the top crust, and pastry that shrinks.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe at a Glance
- Prep time: 1 hour (plus 1 hour chilling the dough)
- Bake time: 55–65 minutes
- Cooling time: 3 hours
- Pan: 23 cm (9-inch) pie dish
- Serves: 8
Apple Pie Ingredients
Crust for the Apple Pie
- 375 g (3 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 250 g (1 cup + 2 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 120–150 ml (½–⅔ cup) ice water
Apple Pie Filling
- 1.3 kg (about 7 medium) apples, a mix of tart and sweet
- 100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
- 50 g (¼ cup packed) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
Topping
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
How to Make This Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Make the Homemade Apple Pie Crust and Filling
- Make the dough. First, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Rub or cut in the cold butter until you have pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle in the ice water a little at a time, mixing with a fork, until the dough just holds together when squeezed.
- Chill. Next, divide the dough in two, flatten each into a disc, wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and slice the apples about 6 mm (¼ inch) thick. Toss with the sugars, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Then let stand for 20 minutes.
- Line the dish. After that, roll one disc into a 30 cm (12-inch) circle and lay it in the pie dish without stretching. Chill while you roll the top.
- Cut the lattice. Next, roll the second disc into a 30 cm (12-inch) circle and cut it into 10 strips about 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide.
Assemble and Bake the Apple Pie
- Fill. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) with a baking tray on the lowest rack. Then spoon the apples into the crust, leaving most of the liquid in the bowl. Dot with the butter.
- Weave the top. Lay 5 strips across the pie, then weave the other 5 strips over and under in the opposite direction. Trim the edges, fold the bottom crust over the strip ends, and crimp.
- Glaze and chill. Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Then chill the pie for 15 minutes.
- Bake. Place the pie on the hot tray and bake for 20 minutes. Lower the oven to 190°C (375°F) and bake for 35–45 minutes more, until the crust is deep golden and the filling is bubbling thickly through the lattice. Cover the edges with foil if they brown too fast.
- Cool. Finally, cool on a rack for at least 3 hours before slicing so the filling can set.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe: Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Why is the bottom of my apple pie soggy?
Cause: The bottom crust did not get enough heat, or too much liquid went into the pie.
Fix: Bake on a preheated tray on the lowest rack, use a metal or glass dish rather than ceramic, and leave the extra apple juice in the bowl.
Why is my apple pie filling runny?
Cause: The pie was sliced too soon, not baked long enough, or there was not enough thickener.
Fix: The filling must bubble thickly through the lattice, not just at the edges, because cornstarch only thickens once it boils. Then cool the pie for at least 3 hours.
Why is there a gap between the apples and the top crust?
Cause: Raw apples shrink as they cook, while the top crust sets in place.
Fix: Slice the apples evenly and pack them tightly. For a pie with no gap, cook the apples in a pan for 5–8 minutes first and let them cool before filling.
Why did my pie crust shrink?
Cause: The dough was stretched into the dish or not rested long enough.
Fix: Lift and drop the dough into the dish instead of pulling it, and chill the lined dish and finished pie before baking.
Why is my pie crust tough instead of flaky?
Cause: Too much water, overworking the dough, or butter that melted before baking.
Fix: Keep the butter cold, stop adding water as soon as the dough holds together, and handle it as little as possible. In fact, visible flecks of butter in the dough mean flaky layers.
Tips for Success With This Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
- Mix apple varieties. Tart apples like Granny Smith hold their shape, and sweeter ones like Golden Delicious or Gala add flavor.
- Chill everything: the butter, the water, the dough, and the finished pie before it goes in the oven.
- Bake until the crust is deep golden. A pale crust is usually undercooked underneath.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe Variations
- Dutch apple pie: replace the lattice with a crumble topping of flour, brown sugar, butter, and oats.
- Caramel apple pie: drizzle 100 ml caramel sauce over the apples before adding the top crust.
- Apple tart: for a single-crust French-style version, see our guide to tarts, pastry, and fillings.
How to Store Apple Pie
Apple pie keeps covered at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Before serving, reheat slices in a 175°C (350°F) oven for 10–15 minutes to crisp the crust. Baked pie can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
A Short History of Apple Pie
One of the earliest known English recipes for an apple pie dates to 1381. English, Dutch, and Swedish settlers brought apple pie traditions to North America, where it later became a famous symbol of American home cooking. Smithsonian Magazine explains how apple pie became linked to America.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe FAQ
What are the best apples for apple pie?
A mix of firm tart apples, such as Granny Smith, and firm sweet apples, such as Gala, Golden Delicious, or Honeycrisp, gives the best flavor and texture.
Can I use store-bought pie crust?
Yes. Use two ready-rolled crusts and follow the same steps from filling the dish onward.
Should apple pie be refrigerated?
It can stay at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, refrigerate it.
Want more? If you enjoyed this homemade apple pie recipe, take a look at our digital cookbook: 31 sweet recipes from the Middle East and the West, written in the same step-by-step style.
