Description
Grandma’s classic apple pie delights taste buds with its golden, flaky crust and cinnamon-spiced filling. Warm slices pair perfectly with vanilla ice cream, inviting friends and family to savor this timeless dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (1.4 kg) apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji)
- 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
- 6–8 tbsps ice water
- 2 tbsps cornstarch or flour
- 1 ½ tsps cinnamon
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp milk or water
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Pastry Preparation: Whisk flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Integrate chilled butter cubes using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice-cold water, blending until dough forms. Divide into two disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up.
- Apple Filling Creation: Combine sliced apples with sugars, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Let mixture rest to release and concentrate fruit juices, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Crust Assembly: Preheat oven to 375F. Roll out one pastry disk on a floured surface and carefully transfer to pie dish. Trim excess edges with precision. Spread macerated apple filling evenly, dotting with butter fragments for additional richness.
- Pie Topping and Finishing: Layer second pastry disk over filling, sealing edges with a decorative crimp. Cut strategic venting slits across the top. Brush with egg wash to achieve a golden, glossy exterior.
- Baking Process: Position pie in preheated oven. Bake for approximately 55 minutes, monitoring crust color and filling bubble. If edges brown too quickly, protect with aluminum foil. Remove when crust turns amber and filling becomes gloriously bubbly.
- Serving Recommendation: Allow pie to cool and set for 2 hours. Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a sublime dessert experience.
Notes
- Select Butter Quality: Choose high-fat, cold European-style butter for flakier, more robust pastry texture that elevates entire pie experience.
- Prevent Soggy Crust: Sprinkle thin layer of breadcrumbs or ground almonds beneath apple filling to absorb excess moisture and maintain crisp bottom crust integrity.
- Control Apple Texture: Mix apple varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for balanced sweetness and structural consistency, preventing mushy or overly firm filling.
- Modify Dietary Needs: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend and use coconut oil instead of butter for dairy-free, wheat-sensitive individuals without compromising delicious traditional flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg