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Recipes » Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie

Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie

October 20, 2019 by Jessica Robinson 26 Comments

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apple pie with homemade crust
apple pie with a lattice crust in a cast iron skillet
apple pie with a lattice crust in a small cast iron skillet
Apple Pie in cast iron skillet

Homemade Apple Pie and the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving. Baked in a traditional pie plate or a cast iron skillet using seasonal, locally grown apples for the BEST recipe for apple pie with homemade pie crust.

Apple Pie with a lattice crust in a 10-inch cast iron skilletGrowing up on a small farm, we always had homemade pies for dessert. My dad is French Canadian and it’s a fact, you must serve bread with dinner and have dessert. After I got married, we moved 6 miles away into our first house. And, I remember he was lost after I moved out. Because I always cooked dinner. So, several times a week he would join us for dinner. And if it was last minute, I’d scramble to whip up something for dessert. Because, you could be for certain he’d expect dessert! Inspired from my rural upbringing, you’ll want to try my Apple Pie recipe.

Love apple desserts? Be sure and try Fried Apple Hand Pies, Apple Fritters, and Apple Crisp. For more great pie recipes for Thanksgiving visit Cook’s Illustrated.

How to make the Best Homemade Apple Pie:

Step 1: Place the apple pieces into a large bowl and coat with lemon juice, tossing with your hands or a large spoon. Set aside.

cut up pieces of apples tossed with cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice in a pale green bowl

Step 2: On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the bottom crust. Spray a 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray or lightly coat with canola oil, using a clean paper towel. Place the rolled out crust in the bottom. Gently press into the pan lightly, using your fingers. Use kitchen sheers to trim the edges of the crust, to about 1/2-inch past the pan rim.

Step 3: Use a slotted spoon to scoop the apples into the pan. Discard the remaining lemon juice. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and instant tapioca.

cut up apples in an unbaked pie shell inside a 10-inch cast iron skillet

Step 4: Roll out the top crust. Cut strips, using a small pizza cutter or pastry cutter. Place strips of pie crust all going one direction over the prepared pie. Pull back every other strip and place another strip of pie crust, going the opposite direction. Gently place the pie strips you pulled back, back into place. Repeat until you have completely covered the pie.

Step 5: Trim the edges of pie crust with kitchen sheers and roll under the crust. Crimp with your fingers or press with a fork. Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Step 6: Place in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 1 hour. When the crust is browned nicely, about half way or three quarters through baking, cover with a piece of aluminum foil. Slice a hole in the center of aluminum foil using a knife or kitchen shears. This will let the steam escape, allowing the pie to continue cooking and while not burning the crust. Use a sharp knife to check the softness of the apples. Let cool for at least an hour before slicing.macoun apples in a apple orchard wooden basket

The Best Apples for Homemade Apple Pie

One of the most popular baking apple is Granny Smith for it’s tart and tangy flavor and firmness. We add a splash of sweetness and texture by mixing Granny Smith apples with either Macoun or Macintosh apples. Try making my fried apple hand pies with homemade apple pie filling.

Traditionally, we always baked apple pies or any sort of pie in a glass pie dish. But, over the last few years, I’ve found that there’s nothing quite like baking a homemade pie in cast iron. The bottom crust and filling cooks perfectly. No soggy bottom crust, ever. If you’re looking for a great cast iron pan to bake a pie in, you’ll find a great selection on Amazon! I’m loving their 2-handle pans! (The 17-inch one is great for homemade pizza and the 12-inch or 10.25-inch are great for pies and everything else!)

Don’t forget to order sheets of parchment paper. They are so much easier to work with than the roll!

How to make Homemade Pie Crust Flaky:

Always keep your pie dough cold. Place it back into the fridge if needed. This keeps the fat particles cold and make the pie dough flaky.

For more great Thanksgiving desserts be sure and check out Homemade Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pound Cake, and Easy Blueberry Pie.

unbaked apple pie in a cast iron skillet with glass measuring cup of egg wash and wooden pastry brushBaker’s Tip:

Sometimes I just use a simple crust and use a sharp knife to cut air vents in the top. Other times, I love a simple weaved crust. Just take a small pizza cutter or pastry cutter to cut strips of pastry dough. Then weave them back and forth. Tuck under the ends and crimp the edges with your finger or press down with a fork. Brush with an egg wash and bake for a little over an hour. My mom always liked the apples to be slightly soft, so that’s the way we prefer our pie. If you like your apples a little more firm, you can bake for less time. Let the pie cool before slicing, so your filling can set.

How to Thicken Apple Pie Filling:

I use instant tapioca to thicken most of my pie filings. This thickens pie fillings without giving you any taste or unwanted texture. You can also use tapioca flour or cornstarch.

For more Apple recipes:

Apple Fritters

Caramel Apples

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Do you love my recipes?! I’d LOVE to hear from you! If you have a moment, leave a comment with a star rating.

Homemade apple pie with weaved crust
5 from 10 votes
Print

Best Homemade Apple Pie

All American dessert is Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie. Baked in a Lodge cast iron skillet and using seasonal, locally grown apples.
Course Breakfast or Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword apple pie, cast iron apple pie
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 350 kcal
Author Jessica Robinson

Ingredients

  • 6 granny smith apples peeled and cut up
  • 6-8 Macoun or McIntosh apples peeled and cup up
  • 1 cup granulated sugar adjust based on how tart your apples are
  • 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons instant tapioca
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • pie crust either homemade or store bought

Instructions

  1. Place the apple pieces into a large bowl and coat with lemon juice, tossing with your hands or a large spoon. Set aside.
  2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the bottom crust. Spray a 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray or lightly coat with canola oil, using a clean paper towel. Place the rolled out crust in the bottom. Gently press into the pan lightly, using your fingers. Use kitchen sheers to trim the edges of the crust, to about 1/2-inch past the pan rim.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the apples into the pan. Discard the remaining lemon juice. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and instant tapioca.
  4. Roll out the top crust. Cut strips, using a small pizza cutter or pastry cutter. Place strips of pie crust all going one direction over the prepared pie. Pull back every other strip and place another strip of pie crust, going the opposite direction. Gently place the pie strips you pulled back, back into place. Repeat until you have completely covered the pie.
  5. Trim the edges of pie crust with kitchen sheers and roll under the crust. Crimp with your fingers or press with a fork. Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
  6. Place in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 1 hour. When the crust is browned nicely, about half way or three quarters through baking, cover with a piece of aluminum foil. Slice a hole in the center of aluminum foil using a knife or kitchen shears. This will let the steam escape, allowing the pie to continue cooking and while not burning the crust. Use a sharp knife to check the softness of the apples. Let cool for at least an hour before slicing. This will allow the pie filling to set. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.
Nutrition Facts
Best Homemade Apple Pie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 350 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 4mg0%
Potassium 397mg11%
Carbohydrates 92g31%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 71g79%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 197IU4%
Vitamin C 20mg24%
Calcium 29mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclosure: A Farmgirl’s Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Filed Under: Cast Iron Cooking and Baking, Desserts, Holiday Baking, Homemade Pies, Recipes Tagged With: apple pie

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Comments

  1. Traci says

    February 11, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    I can’t believe I’ve never attempted to make apple pie. You make it look scrumptious…and I need the reminder that I can always use store bought crust. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  2. linda spiker says

    February 11, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    That is an amazing pie!! Simple and beautiful!

    Reply
  3. Veena Azmanov says

    February 11, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    5 stars
    Ain’t nothing like the homemade classics!! I love a good old Apple Pie. Always a big treat in our house. This looks delish Yum!

    Reply
  4. Alyssa says

    February 11, 2018 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    I am totally with you on serving bread and dessert with dinner. I’m glad someone else agrees! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jere Cassidy says

    February 11, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    I love that you cook in the sugarhouse. I grew up on a farm with a summer kitchen that we cooked in, which I so miss that atmosphere of farm cooking. I pinned this for later. Baking in cast iron is the way to go.

    Reply
  6. Alison says

    April 22, 2018 at 3:47 pm

    oH MY gOSH!! I can’t wait to try your apple pie! I loove apple pies and blueberry pies. Thank you so much

    Reply
  7. Terri Beavers says

    August 5, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    I have everything to make this except tapioca. I wonder if it would still turn out or if I should wait until I go shopping. Apple pie is my favorite pie. I make them every which way but I’ve never made them like this before.

    Reply
    • Jessica Robinson says

      August 5, 2018 at 6:46 pm

      Terri,
      You could probably sprinkle a little flour over the apples before baking. I would toss them with a little flour. But tapioca is the best. Just thickens the apples so they are not runny.

      Reply
  8. Paula Stewart says

    August 5, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    Just love your recipes,It”s good to see that beautiful cast iron great pics Girl !!

    Reply
  9. Noel Lizotte says

    August 5, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    LOL @ Dad expecting dessert! Those old habits die hard … and don’t go down without a fight! I also love that you used a cast iron skillet to bake your pie in!
    Can’t live w/o my cast iron!

    Reply
  10. Janise says

    August 6, 2018 at 1:03 am

    I’m not much of a baker but seeing this Apple pie makes me want to bake!

    Reply
  11. Mitchelle Juaban says

    August 6, 2018 at 1:58 am

    I haven’t tried doing apple pie before. I think it’s high time to try my hands on this since my kiddos love apple.

    Reply
  12. Victor Step says

    August 6, 2018 at 3:00 am

    Ooh, I love apple pie! This one looks super delicious, I shouldn’t have come across the post at night time. Hungry now.. 😀 In any case, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Amy says

    August 6, 2018 at 4:50 am

    Wow, that looks awesome! I am so not a baker, so even this looks intimidating to me, but you make it look so lovely I might just have to try anyways! 😀

    Reply
    • Jessica Robinson says

      August 6, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      Amy,
      For anyone that’s not a baker, an apple pie is the perfect start. Use store bought crust if you’re worried about making it from scratch!

      Reply
  14. Maysz says

    August 6, 2018 at 6:03 am

    Your apple pie makes me hungry! it looks YUMMY <3

    Reply
  15. Amanda maguire says

    August 6, 2018 at 7:49 am

    5 stars
    I’ve never cooked a pie in a cast iron dish. Never thought of it actually. But that makes sense. That pie looks amazing btw!

    Reply
    • Jessica Robinson says

      August 6, 2018 at 5:02 pm

      Amanda,
      It’s how our grandmother’s and great grandmother’s used to cook. The cast iron actually makes the bottom pie crust stay firm and prevents it from being soggy.

      Reply
  16. Princess Quinn says

    August 6, 2018 at 12:09 pm

    5 stars
    This is another great recipe from you. I will bake this for my kids too. Thank you.

    Reply
  17. Evelyn, PathofPresence says

    August 6, 2018 at 1:50 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe looks delightful! I do not bake much but I am willing to give this a shot. Apple pie is America’s favorite, and also my hubby‘s. ☺️

    Reply
  18. Angela Ricardo Bethea says

    August 6, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    5 stars
    Nothing beats a good ole apple pie. Look tasty! Would love to try this one someday.

    Reply
  19. Kaylyn - Life on the Rocks says

    August 6, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    5 stars
    This looks like absolute heaven! Warm it and top with just a bit of vanilla bean ice cream… MMmmmm…

    Reply
  20. Cris says

    August 8, 2018 at 2:41 am

    Looks delicious! Love that to add tapioca to thicken the apples. Yummy!

    Reply
  21. Bushra says

    August 8, 2018 at 4:06 am

    It’s my favorite pie, I should try your recipe
    Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  22. Emily says

    August 8, 2018 at 4:27 am

    OMG you’re making me hungry. I had no idea about keeping the dough cold! Thank you

    Reply
  23. Agnes dela cruz says

    August 10, 2018 at 10:15 am

    Let me prepare a cup of coffee for this one, hehe. That looks scrumptious! I can have this any time of the day, thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

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Meet Jessica

Hi I’m Jessica!

Meals are meant to be shared around the dinner table. My recipes are farm-inspired with a modern twist for active families. All of my recipes use simple and readily available ingredients. Read more →

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