The Best Homemade Apple Pie

Autumn is by far my favorite season. There are no days as pleasing to the eye as the sunny ones in October, filled with vibrant hues of yellow, bronze, green, and red. This leaf-decorated Apple Pie is a perfect way to celebrate the year’s most colorful season.

It’s a comforting pie with a buttery, flaky crust and a sweet, cinnamon-flavored apple filling. It is for sure un unforgettable dessert to enjoy with your loved ones.

The recipe is quite similar to this Berry Pie I made some time ago, but decorated differently and uses different spices for the filling. This apple pie is best served slightly warm with a big scoop of ice cream on top.

How to make apple pie

Begin with preparing the dough for the crust. Continue with preparing the apple filling and assemble the pie. From the remaining dough cut some decorative leaves for decoration and bake the pie until golden brown and bubbly.

How to prepare the crust dough

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Incorporate cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender, fork, or food processor until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add one egg and a few tablespoons of cold water, stirring until the dough begins to come together. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill.

How to prepare the apple filling

While the dough chills, prepare the apple filling. In a small bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and freshly grated lemon zest. Place the sliced apples in a large bowl, add the sugar mixture and freshly squeezed lemon juice, and toss to coat the apples evenly. This mixture will enhance the flavor and texture of the apples when baked.

How to assemble the pie

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the first piece of dough to a diameter of about 12 inches (30 cm). Carefully line an 8 or 9-inch (20-23 cm) pie pan with the rolled dough, pressing it gently into the edges and trimming any excess.

Next, arrange the prepared apple mixture evenly over the crust. To ensure a perfect top crust, return the pie to the refrigerator while you roll out the second piece of dough to the same diameter.

Place the rolled top crust over the apples. Press the edges together to seal, trimming any excess dough. Use any leftover dough to cut out decorative leaves with a small knife. Brush the top crust with beaten egg, arrange the dough leaves on top, brush the leaves with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with a little sugar for added sweetness and a glossy finish.

How to bake the apple pie

Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After the initial baking time, add a pie crust shield or cover the edges with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) and continue baking for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 3 hours. This cooling time allows the filling to set properly, making it easier to slice.

Serve your classic apple pie slightly warm or at room temperature, with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful treat. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Hope you will try it out and enjoy this delightful dessert! If you try it out, make sure to share the photos with me on Instagram. Would love to see how it turns out for you.

For more tart and pie ideas check our full collection of Tart and Pie Recipes.

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