Homemade Apple Pie Recipe: The Easy Way

1. Pie Crust:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup unsalted butter, fresh and chilled

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

• 4-6 tablespoons ice-cold water

2. Apple Filling:

• 6-7 medium-sized apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• A pinch of salt

• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

3. Egg Wash:

• 1 large egg

• 1 tablespoon milk or cream

4. Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pie Crust:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and sugar evenly until combined.

• Add the chilled, cubed butter to the bowl and use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

• Gradually add the ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, and mix the dough until it starts to come together. Be careful not to overwork the dough. You want it to hold together but not be sticky.

• Divide the dough into two equal parts, shape each into a disc, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Now refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes.

2. Preheat Your Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) while you prepare the apple filling and roll out the pie crust.

3. Make the Apple Filling:

• In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice. Mix everything properly together until the apples are coated evenly.

4. Roll Out the Pie Crust:

• Take one disc of chilled pie dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out with a rolling pin into a circle that's about 12 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer the rolled-out crust to a 9-inch pie dish and gently press it into the bottom and sides.

5. Assemble the Pie:

• Pour the apple filling into the prepared pie crust, making sure to distribute the apples evenly.

• Roll out the second disc of pie dough following the same process. You can either place the whole sheet of dough over the apples as a top crust or use a lattice pattern to cover the pie. To make a lattice, cut the rolled-out dough into strips and weave them over the pie.

6. Egg Wash and Bake:

• In a small bowl, beat the egg with milk or cream to create an egg wash. Brush the top crust (or lattice) with the egg wash to give the pie a beautiful golden color when baked.

• Place the assembled pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake it in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, and the filling is bubbly.

7. Cool and Serve:

• Once the pie is baked evenly, remove it from the oven and let it cool for least an hour before serving. This allows the filling to set and the flavors to meld together beautifully.

• Serve the apple pie warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream for a truly heavenly experience!