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A steaming bowl of butternut squash soup garnished with fresh herbs.

Quick way to grow: 5 Secrets for Perfect Apple Pie

Discover the five essential secrets to baking a perfect apple pie every time. This recipe guides you through creating a delicious, flaky pie with a perfectly spiced apple filling.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Crust
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
  • 0.5 cup ice water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
For the Filling
  • 6 medium apples (such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For Assembly
  • 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar for sprinkling

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • pastry blender or fingertips
  • plastic wrap
  • rolling pin
  • 9-inch pie plate
  • knife
  • wire rack

Method
 

Make the Pie Crust
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
Chill the Dough
  1. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the Apple Filling
  1. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss gently to ensure the apples are evenly coated.
Assemble the Pie
  1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate, trimming any excess dough to about a 1/2-inch overhang.
Add Filling and Top Crust
  1. Pour the apple filling into the pie crust. Roll out the second disk of dough and place it over the filling. Trim the top crust to a 1/2-inch overhang, then fold both crusts under and crimp the edges to seal.
Bake the Pie
  1. Cut several slits in the top crust for ventilation. Brush the top with beaten egg and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375°F (190°C) and bake for another 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Cool and Serve
  1. Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This ensures the filling sets properly.

Notes

For an extra touch, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Adjust sugar to your preference based on the sweetness of your apples.