This Easy Apple Pie recipe is a cozy classic made with just 6 simple ingredients. With a buttery crust and perfectly spiced apples, it’s the ultimate comfort dessert.
This Apple Pie recipe is a great place to start if you’re just learning how to make pie. It’s easy, forgiving, and uses simple basics that you probably have on hand.
Easy Apple Pie Ingredients
I love this easy homemade apple pie filling with perfect sweetness.
- Apples
- Sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon
- Pie dough (you can use store-bought crust or try my no-fail homemade pie crust recipe!
Full recipe quantities listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the article.
Substitutions and Variations
- Brown sugar swap: Replace half the sugar with light brown sugar for a caramel flavor.
- Spice blends: Try nutmeg, apple pie spice or go full-on with the rich spices and make my Chai apple pie!
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free pie dough.
Try my Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Apple Pie Cake and Apple Frangipane Tart, too!
Best Apples for Pies
The kind of apples can make or break a pie. You want firm apples that keeps its shape, and brings both tartness and sweetness. These apple recommendations are perfect for apple crisp, too.
- Granny Smith Apples: My hands-down #1 choice. They are tart, crisp, and sturdy. They hold up beautifully through long baking times.
- Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Fuji or Gala apples: are my top 2nd choices. Firm, aromatic, and naturally balanced in flavor.
Note: Softer apples like McIntosh, golden delicious or red delicious break down a lot and are better for applesauce (and use that sauce in my apple ginger cookies!)
Tools to Grab
- 9-inch pie plate (pie pan)
- Rolling pin
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry brush
- Sharp knife (for venting crust)
- Baking sheet
How to Make Easy Apple Pie: An Easy Guide
Here’s my easy method for a perfectly flaky, golden pie every time.
Make the Pie Filling Mixture
Peel and slice the apples. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to toss them in a bowl with with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt until evenly coated.
Build the Pie
Roll out half the pie dough on a lightly floured surface and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate. Add the apple filling. Roll out the remaining dough and place it on top. Crimp the edges to seal.
Prepare for Baking
Optional, but for the prettiest finish, I like to brush the surface of the dough with egg wash, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and cut small vents in the top crust for steam.
Freeze Before Baking
Freeze briefly while preheating the oven and baking sheet to help the crust stay flaky.
Bake the Pie
Bake at high heat to set the crust, then lower the temperature until the filling bubbles and the crust is deep golden brown. Cover with foil if browning too fast.
Cool and Serve
For best results, let your apple pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. If you like it a bit warm, cool for about 90 minutes, then cut gentle slices with a sharp knife.
4 Common Mistakes When Making Apple Pie
- Not keeping dough cold: Cold butter creates steam pockets for a flaky crust and helps ensure the dough holds its shape through baking.
- Not preheating baking sheet: A hot baking sheet prevents a soggy bottom (and also prevents sugary dripping that makes your oven smoke!)
- Overbaking uncovered: Cover with foil if the crust browns too fast.
- Cutting too soon: Let pie cool to set the filling.
If you want to learn to bake pie for Thanksgiving or the holidays, this easy recipe is a great place to start!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing
Keep leftovers covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Room temp keeps the crust tender because fridge temperatures speed up staling.
Freezing
Assemble the unbaked pie, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding extra time as needed.
Reheating
Warm slices in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes for the best texture.
How to Serve This Easy Apple Pie Recipe
The best apple pie, in my opinion, has a flaky pie crust brimming with tender, sweet apple slices, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- You can also serve it at room temperature with a spoonful of whipped cream.
- Try it with my Chai Coffee for the perfect cozy pairing.
Try my easy pumpkin pie recipe, too!
Other Apple Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 3 lbs apples about 10, peeled, cored, and sliced about ¼-inch thick
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
For the Crust
- Dough for one double-crust pie
For Finishing (Optional, but Recommended)
- 1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water (egg wash)
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, toss apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt until evenly coated.
- Assemble the Pie: Roll out half the pie dough into a 12-inch circle. Fit it into a 9-inch pie plate. Add the apple filling. Roll out the remaining dough and lay it over the apples. Trim, seal, and crimp the edges.
- Prepare for Baking: Brush the top crust with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Cut a few small slits for steam vents.
- Chill the Pie: Transfer the assembled pie to the freezer while preheating the oven.
- Bake: Preheat a baking sheet on the bottom rack at 500°F for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 425°F and bake the pie on the preheated sheet for 25 minutes. Lower the temperature again to 350°F and bake for 30–40 minutes more, until the filling bubbles through the vents and the crust is deep golden brown.
- Cool: Let the pie rest on a rack for at least 2 hours before slicing so the filling can set.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Used Honeycrisp and Granny Smith together and it was the perfect combo. Your pie crust recipe is also my favorite of all time by the way.
My boyfriend literally said ‘this is the best apple pie I’ve ever had.’ Enough said.
I’ve tried a lot of apple pie recipes and this one might be the best.