Crisp apple slices tossed with cinnamon and sugar then baked between two flaky, buttery pie crusts is one way to describe this incredible Homemade Apple Pie Recipe.
Included with this apple dessert recipe are tips for choosing the best apples for baking and tips on the different types of egg wash for apple pie.
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Recipe at a Glance
- Prep: 20 min | Bake: 50–55 min | Difficulty: Easy
- What it is: A classic apple pie filled with fresh apples, warm cinnamon and sugar, and a buttery filling all wrapped in a flaky pie crust for the perfect fall dessert.
- Why you’ll love it: Simple to make, packed with cozy autumn flavors, and always a family favorite.
- How to make it: Toss sliced apples with cinnamon, sugar, and butter, fill a prepared pie crust (store-bought works great), top with the second crust, and bake until golden and bubbly.
👉Planning your holiday menu? Pair this recipe with ideas from my Simple Thanksgiving Digital Cookbook for stress-free entertaining.
Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This recipe was very easy compared to other pies I’ve made- and it was so good- especially the second day! Thank you!
- Rebecca
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
- Best Apples for Apple Pie
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Do you put Egg Wash on Apple Pie?
- What temperature to cook apple pie?
- How long to bake apple pie at 375°?
- Apple Pie Internal Temperature?
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Recipe FAQ's
- Storage & Prep Ahead Tips
- Looking for MORE Apple Recipes?
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Best Apples for Apple Pie
These are my favorite for baking the best apple pie recipe:
- Jonagold
- Honeycrisp
- Braeburn
- Cortland - are my personal favorite for baking.
- Granny Smith - a lot of people LOVE Granny Smith for baking, but I still find the taste a bit too tart. But that's just my preference. My husband loves Granny Smith apples.
Looking for more easy desserts made with apples? Try my Apple Wrapped in Puff Pastry or my Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with Apples.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
Check out my list...
My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use store-bought pie crust instead of homemade for convenience.
- Swap part of the granulated sugar with brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- Add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins for extra texture and flavor.
Not in the mood to bake a full apple pie? My Apple Tart Recipe is a simpler, equally delicious option!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: First, we need to make the pie dough. Roll out the top and bottom pie crusts. If you need a good tutorial on how to make perfect pie crust, check out my post on Pie Crust Basics.
Step 2: Peel, core, and slice the apples (an apple corer gives even slices), then toss with sugar and spices. Add the apples to the prepared bottom crust , dot with butter, cover with the top crust, crimp the edges, and brush with egg wash before baking.
Do you put Egg Wash on Apple Pie?
Have you ever wondered how some people manage to get the tops of their pies to look beautiful? All you need to do is brush any of the following washes to the top of the crust before baking:
- For a shiny light brown crust: brush with an egg white that has been lightly beaten with a teaspoon of water.
- To get a glossy golden pie crust: brush the crust with an egg yolk and a teaspoon of water.
- For a crisp brown crust: brush the pie crust just with water.
- How to add a little sparkle: sprinkle sugar on top as well.
What temperature to cook apple pie?
Step 3: Bake in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes.
How long to bake apple pie at 375°?
Step 4: Then lower the temperature to 375 and continue baking for 30 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown. To avoid over-browning the crust, shield the edges with strips of foil (about 2-3 inches wide) after the pie has baked for 15-20 minutes. Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
Apple Pie Internal Temperature?
Step 5: The ideal internal temperature for an apple pie is 195°F (91°C). This temperature ensures that the apples are cooked through and tender, but not mushy, and the filling has thickened properly to avoid a watery pie. This is the digital meat thermometer I use for all my baking and cooking.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO cover the edge of the crust with 2- to 3-inch strips of foil after the first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
❌ DO NOT overfill the pie with apples, or the juices may bubble over and make a mess in the oven.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes, you can brush the pie crust with butter before baking. However, using butter will not give you the shininess of brushing with an egg wash.
Pre-bake the pie crust for a short time before adding the filling.
You can also try brushing the crust with egg wash to create a protective seal. Make sure you vent the top crust before baking and allow enough time for the pie to cool ample which will help prevent sogginess.
Storage & Prep Ahead Tips
Refrigerate: Store leftover pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Wrap the baked and cooled pie tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw and Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Warm slices in a 300°F oven for 10–15 minutes or in the microwave for 20–30 seconds.
Prep Ahead Tips: Prepare the pie but don’t bake it. Wrap tightly in foil, place in a pie container or large freezer bag, and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to enjoy, bake straight from frozen at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 375°F and continue baking until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Looking for MORE Apple Recipes?
Try my Apple Dutch Pie or Apple Crumb Pie - an older recipe on the site but still so very popular or this fun Caramel Apple Dump Cake recipe.
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📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Apple Pie
Video
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples about 6 medium peeled, cored and cut into ¼ inch thick slices
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 pastry for double pie crust
- 2-3 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces and scattered evenly over the apples before adding the top crust.
Method
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim crust even with edge. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Add the apples and the remaining ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine.
- Spoon the apple mixture into the crust-lined pie plate, then dot the apples evenly with butter.
- Roll out the second pie crust and place on top of the apple mixture.
- Press the edges of both pie crust together to seal and crimp the edges.
- Cut slits in several places in top crust.
- Brush the top of the pie with an egg wash and sprinkle with additional sugar.
- Bake in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes then lower the temperature to 375 and continue baking for 30 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown.
- Cool on cooling rack before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use a mix of apple varieties for the best flavor and texture.
- Slice apples evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Dot the apples with butter before adding the top crust for extra richness.
- Store leftover pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze an unbaked pie wrapped in foil and placed in a pie container or freezer bag for up to 1 month.
- Bake directly from frozen: start at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 375°F until golden and bubbly.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Jen Caliguri says
We loved the flavor of the pie, but mine turned out like apple sauce. Did I slice my apples too thin?
Lois says
Yes, I think you might have sliced the apples too thin. I updated the recipe post with more specific information the thickness of the apple slices. I hope you'll try again!
Jamie says
Instead of flour, can you use cornstarch as the thickener?
Lois says
No. You need to use flour. Cornstarch needs to reach a certain temperature to fully cook out its raw flavor. Since we are not pre-cooking the apples for this recipe there is no way to make sure the cornstarch blends in smoothly. Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Laura says
I use cornstarch in my pies and they always come out perfectly every time! It maybe the type of recipe one uses.
Teresa says
Hello, mine is in the oven so I will leave another comment when I have the finished product. My first time baking a pie and I am 63 lol
Thank you for this recipe.
Lois says
I'm so glad you choose my recipe to be your first! Hope it turned out yummy!
Tamie says
My husband loved it and I’m making it again two weeks later.
Lois says
Thank you for the great review and comment! Enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration!
Carol Doriott says
Used my canned apple pie mix.
Worked perfect. The crust is amazing.
Lois says
Thank you so much for the great comment and 5 star review!
Micaela says
I had a jiffy packet for the crust but used the rest, very good and cooked wonderfully!
Lois says
Glad you tried the recipe and enjoyed it! Thank you for the 5 star review!
Kelly Hankamer says
Not sure what happened? Pie crust great apple filling too watery. Did not add the lemon juice so dont know why?
Lois says
Fruit pies often need a little time to set after baking. Letting it cool allows the filling to thicken. It might be that cutting into it too soon caused the filling to run. I hope you'll try again!
Bruce Kriner says
What type of 🍎 should I use?
Lois says
There's a section in the middle of the blog post titled, "Best Apples for Apple Pie" I hope you'll go back and read it.
Susanne says
Always delicious!
Bell says
First time making it. Easy recipe was very delicious.
Marilyn says
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Chas' Crazy Creations says
This looks delicious and I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.