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?
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 bakingBraeburn - Sweet and crisp, bakes up firm and juicyCortland - 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.
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.
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.
More Great Apple Pie Recipes
Apple Slab Pie Mile High Deep Dish Apple Pie Sour Cream Apple Pie Apple Cranberry Currant Crumble Pie Apple Crostata
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
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. Sprinkle with brandy (if using) and vanilla extract and stir to coat all the apples. 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. 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. 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.
