Do-it-yourself Apple Pie | Life Love & Sugar

This Do-it-yourself Apple Pie makes use of the proper mixture of tart and candy apples, heat spices, and flaky pastry to create the tastiest dessert you’ll be able to think about. It’s a fool-proof recipe that will provide you with the most effective apple pie! Learn to make this apple pie from scratch!

The Finest Do-it-yourself Apple Pie

This Do-it-yourself Apple Pie goes to grow to be your go-to apple pie recipe! It’s completely scrumptious, straightforward to organize forward of time, and bakes fantastically. It additionally solves frequent pie issues equivalent to having an undercooked filling or experiencing the dreaded pie hole!

After testing LOTS of apple pie recipes, I can say with whole certainty that that is the BEST! With this apple pie, you’ll expertise easy and traditional flavors which can be something however boring. The apples are tender with out being mushy and have sufficient sauciness to carry issues collectively with out being runny.

The apples on this recipe are pre-cooked. Earlier than you run, hear me out! Whereas it’s frequent so as to add raw apples to apple pie, it’s additionally frequent to expertise epic failures when making apple pie. Despite the fact that it’s an additional step, precooking your apples eliminates these points. 

Plus – and that is my favourite half – precooking the apples really makes prepping your pie forward of time even simpler. You’ll be able to prep your pie crust and the filling a number of days forward of time after which assemble and bake the day you need to serve it.

As with all home made pie recipe, this apple pie is a labor of affection and time. However the satisfaction you’ll expertise once you take that first chew of apple goodness can be price each minute!

What Makes This the Finest Apple Pie Recipe?

After I develop a pie recipe like this, there are a number of must-haves and finest practices. Listed below are a few of the issues that make this apple pie recipe the most effective you’ll ever style:

• Basic Apple Taste. The very best apple pie recipe tastes like … apples. Including a little bit of cinnamon and a contact of nutmeg compliments the apples. Greater than that may take away from the traditional apple taste of an apple pie. We additionally don’t use butter on this recipe since it could possibly uninteresting the style of the apples.
• Use Two Sorts of Apples. Most apples are tart or candy. Since we’re in search of a mixture of these two flavors, we’ll use a few totally different apples on this recipe. We’ll peel and pre-cook them to make sure the apples keep tender and retain their form and texture.
• A Scrumptious Pie Crust. A foul pie crust can spoil even the most effective filling. This recipe makes use of my favourite pie crust!
• No Pie Hole. This pie gained’t have that bizarre empty area between the filling and the crust. 
• Lemon Juice, Please. Opposite to butter, lemon juice really brightens apple taste. Simply ensure to not add an excessive amount of, otherwise you’ll find yourself with a pie with an excessive amount of lemon taste that tastes extra tart than candy. This pie simply makes use of a little bit of lemon juice and no zest. I discover the zest to be too robust and overpowering with the apples.
• Simple to Prep Forward. Making apple pie from scratch takes time. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s straightforward to separate up and do a few of the heavy lifting forward of time.

What are the Finest Apples for Apple Pie?

If you need an apple pie with a fancy taste, you’ll need to use a mixture of apples; ideally a mixture of tart and candy. Granny Smith apples are a preferred tart possibility that pairs properly with candy apples like Honeycrisp, Brauburn, or McIntosh apples. For this recipe, I used Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.

Tart apples have a tendency to carry their form properly however produce a pie that’s manner too tart. Candy crimson apples have nice taste for pies however can get a bit mushy when cooked. We mix the most effective of each worlds for a pairing that creates wonderful style and good texture.

Pre-Cook dinner Your Apples for the BEST Apple Pie

The worst issues that may occur to your apple pie are undercooking the apples, winding up with a soggy filling, or having a pie hole that varieties between the filling and the higher crust. Pre-cooking your apples solves each single a kind of issues.

Pre-cooking your filling helps you management the feel of the apples and be certain that the filling is thick sufficient. Consider it or not, your apples won’t cook dinner extra once you bake the pie later. It’s loopy, I do know! However no matter stage of tenderness you cook dinner them to is the place they may keep.

As for the pie hole, that occurs as a result of uncooked apples cut back in quantity whereas a pie bakes. That is regular and anticipated however annoying. For the reason that crust stays in place, you wind up with a spot between the apple filling and the higher crust. The apples are already diminished by pre-cooking the filling, so there gained’t be a pie hole. 

All this to say, don’t skip the step of pre-cooking your apples! By taking the time to do issues proper, you’ll wind up with a tasty pie that’s additionally lovely!

Prep Your Apple Pie Forward of Time

One of many nice issues about this pie is that on the day you want it, you gained’t be caught peeling and slicing apples. If you happen to’re making this as one in all your Thanksgiving desserts, that’s a HUGE bonus! Listed below are a number of time-saving suggestions:

• Make the Filling Forward of Time. The filling might be made 2-3 days forward of time and refrigerated, or it may be positioned in a ziplock bag and frozen for as much as 3 months. 
• Assemble and Refrigerate. You’ll be able to assemble all the pie forward of time and refrigerate it in a single day. 
• Assemble and Freeze. You’ll be able to freeze the absolutely assembled apple pie minus the egg wash and sugar. Wrap it in foil and place all the factor in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze the pie for as much as 3 months. While you’re able to cook dinner it, thaw the pie within the fridge and bake it as traditional. You can too bake it from frozen so long as you add about 20 minutes to the cooking time. You’ll additionally need to cowl the pie close to the tip, so the crust doesn’t burn.

My favourite methodology is making the filling forward of time and prepping the pie crust within the pie plate. I maintain the filling and the pastry within the fridge till I’m able to assemble and cook dinner. This fashion, I can bake the pie early within the day and nonetheless give it loads of time to chill and set earlier than serving.

Recipe Substances

Do-it-yourself Pie Crust (You’ll Want Two Crusts)

• All-Objective Flour: Pie crust is a superb time to make use of high-quality flour if you wish to put money into one, however any flour ought to work simply advantageous.
• Salt
• Butter: Additionally one other time to make use of nice high quality butter. Make certain it’s chilly, chilly, chilly. You’ll be able to even pop it within the freezer to make sure it’s tremendous chilly.
• Ice Water: Once more, chilly, chilly, chilly. We need to maintain our butter from getting heat as we make our dough. If it melts, you gained’t get little pockets of butter that result in flaky layers.

For the Apple Filling

• Granny Smith Apples
• Honeycrisp Apples: If you happen to can’t discover Honeycrisp apples, you should utilize some other candy apple that you simply like. Simply ensure it’s not tart like Granny Smith.
• Lemon Juice: Use contemporary lemon juice if potential.
• Gentle Brown Sugar
• Sugar
• All-Objective Flour: To assist thicken the filling.
• Salt
• Spices: Floor cinnamon and nutmeg
• Vanilla Extract
• Egg
• Coarse Sugar (optionally available)

How you can Make Do-it-yourself Apple Pie

To Make the Pie Crust

For the Apple Pie Filling

• Put together the Apples. Peel, core, and slice all of the apples to about 1/8 inch thick. You need to try to slice all of them about the identical thickness in order that they cook dinner evenly. Use a mandoline when you have one for finest outcomes.
• Add Lemon Juice. Add lemon juice to a really giant bowl and toss the apples in as you slice them. Combine all of the apple slices within the bowl together with your arms in order that they’re evenly coated with the lemon juice.
• Add the Dry Substances. Add the sugars, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the apple slices and gently toss to coat them. Watch out to not break the apples as you do that.

• Cook dinner the Apples. Pour the apple combination into a big 5-quart skillet and cook dinner it over medium warmth for about 20 minutes. You need the apples to be fork-tender however nonetheless maintain their form. The apples gained’t soften extra within the oven, so that is how they’ll be within the pie. Cook dinner them to how you want them.
• Add the Vanilla. Take away the pan from the warmth and gently stir within the vanilla extract.

• Cool the Apple Filling. Unfold the apple filling evenly onto a sheet pan and refrigerate till fully cool. If you happen to’re in a rush, you’ll be able to pop the pan into the freezer for a short while to chill extra shortly, however don’t let it freeze!

Assemble the Pie

• Roll Out the Backside Crust. Roll out one of many pie crusts with a rolling pin. You need the crust to kind a circle a bit bigger than the pie pan. Place it into your ready 9-inch deep dish pie pan and easy it up the edges and backside.
• Add the Apple Filling. When the apple filling is totally cool, add all of it on prime of the pie crust. Easy the filling so it varieties a fair layer.

• Add the High Pie Crust. High the filling with the opposite pie crust. I did a lattice design, however be at liberty to do it nonetheless you want. If you happen to don’t do a lattice or a design that’s naturally vented, simply be sure you rating the crust in order that steam can escape whereas it bakes. Fold and crimp the perimeters of the pie as desired.
• Chill the Pie. Place the pie within the fridge or freezer for 20-Half-hour to get it chilly and agency.

Cook dinner the Pie

• Preheat the Oven. Whereas the pie is chilling, preheat the oven to 425 levels F. Place a baking sheet within the oven for about 20 minutes to get good and scorching.
• Cook dinner. Put the pie into the oven on the preheated baking sheet and bake for quarter-hour or till the crust begins to brown.
• Cut back Warmth. Cut back oven temperature to 350 levels Fahrenheit and bake for an extra 35-45 minutes, or till the crust is golden brown and the juices of the pie are effervescent. If the crust begins to brown an excessive amount of, you’ll be able to cowl it with a pie crust protect or use foil to tent the highest of it. Simply ensure it’s vented for the steam to be launched. 
• Cool. Let the pie cool on a wire rack to room temperature, for about 4 hours. The filling will thicken because it cools. If you happen to minimize it when it’s nonetheless scorching, the juices will run out.
• Slice and Serve. When the pie is cool, slice and serve.

Ideas for Success

Making an apple for pie for the primary time might be difficult. Listed below are some tricks to easy the experience.

• Peel Your Apples. When you can go away the skins on, I extremely suggest peeling your apples. The feel of your pie can be much better with out them. 
• Vent Your Pie Crust: If you happen to use a lattice crust, then it’s vented naturally. However in the event you selected to totally cowl your submitting, be sure you minimize some slits within the prime in order that it could possibly vent and launch the steam.
• Completely Brown Crust: Bake your pie uncovered till the crust across the edges is sweet and brown, then cowl with a pie crust ring, or use foil to cowl it. If the crust on prime ever will get too brown, you’ll be able to cowl the highest of the pie as properly, simply be sure you minimize some slits within the foil for venting.
• Cook dinner the Pie Correctly: You’ll be able to inform your pie is completed when the filling is effervescent. Don’t take away it from the oven too quickly.
• Let it Cool: If the pie is served straight out of the oven, it’ll be too heat and your filling will spill in every single place. For a filling just like the one within the footage – one which stays in place – serve it at room temperature or simply barely heat. Permit the freshly baked pie to chill for about 4 hours. You’ll be able to’t actually pace this up, so go away time for it.

Storage Directions

Your apple pie might be saved tightly coated at room temperature for as much as 24 hours because the sugar acts as a preservative. After that, you’ll need to refrigerate it for an additional 2-3 days. Warmth slices up as desired earlier than serving.

Can I Freeze Apple Pie?

Sure, cooked apple pie freezes properly. Lower any remaining pie into slices and place them uncovered within the freezer. As soon as frozen, wrap the slices in plastic wrap and place them again into the freezer. You’ll be able to maintain them there for as much as 3 months. While you’re able to eat, let the slices thaw in a single day within the fridge. Warmth them up earlier than serving.

Print

Recipe

Do-it-yourself Apple Pie

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  Writer: Lindsay
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  Prep Time: 2 hours quarter-hour
• 
  Cook dinner Time: 50 minutes
• 
  Complete Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
• 
  Yield: 10-12 slices
• 
  Class: Dessert
• 
  Technique: Oven
• 
  Delicacies: American

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Description

This Do-it-yourself Apple Pie makes use of the proper mixture of tart and candy apples, heat spices, and flaky pastry to create the tastiest dessert you’ll be able to think about. It’s a fool-proof recipe that will provide you with the most effective apple pie! Learn to make this apple pie from scratch!

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Substances

For the Pastry

For the Apple Pie Filling

• 2 1/2 kilos Granny Smith apples, earlier than peeling and coring
• 2 1/2 kilos Honeycrisp apples*, earlier than peeling and coring
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup (112g) packed mild brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (104g) granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup (43g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp floor cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp floor nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 giant egg, crushed
• Coarse sugar, optionally available

*I used Honeycrisp apples, however primarily you need to be sure you use an apple that isn’t tart just like the Granny Smith apples. You need a mixture of tart and candy/flavorful apples.

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Directions

For the Pie Crust

To Make the Apple Pie Filling

1. Peel, core, and slice the entire apples to about 1/8 inch thick. You need to attempt to slice all of them about the identical thickness in order that they cook dinner evenly.
2. Add the lemon juice to a really giant bowl and toss the apples within the juice as you slice them, leaving the apple slices within the bowl for later.
3. Add the sugars, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the apple slices and gently toss to coat all of them with the combination. Watch out to not break the apples as you toss them.
4. Pour the apple combination into a big 5-quart skillet (I take advantage of this skillet however this one would work properly too.)
5. Cook dinner the apples (coated with a lid) over medium warmth for about 20 minutes. You need the apples to be fork-tender however nonetheless maintain their form. The apples gained’t soften extra within the oven, so how they’re once you cease cooking them is how they’ll be within the pie. Cook dinner them to how you want them.
6. Take away the pan from the warmth and gently stir within the vanilla extract.
7. Unfold the apple filling evenly onto a sheet pan or any pan with a lip across the edge and refrigerate it till fully cool. Relying on how chilly your fridge is, it’ll take a few hours or so to chill absolutely. You could possibly additionally pop it within the freezer to chill extra shortly, however you gained’t need it to be frozen once you go to make use of it later.
8. Roll out one in all your pie crusts and add it to a 9-inch deep dish pie pan.
9. When the apple filling is totally cool, add all of it to the pie crust.
10. High the filling with the opposite pie crust. I did a lattice design, however be at liberty to do it nonetheless you want. If you happen to don’t do a lattice or a design that’s naturally vented, simply be sure you rating the crust in order that steam can escape whereas it bakes. Fold and crimp the perimeters of the pie as desired.
11. Place the pie within the fridge or freezer for 20-Half-hour to get it chilly and agency.
12. Preheat oven to 425 levels Fahrenheit. Whereas the pie is chilling, place a baking sheet within the preheated oven for about 20 minutes to get good and scorching.
13. Earlier than placing the pie within the oven, brush the crust of the pie with the crushed egg and sprinkle the highest with the coarse sugar.
14. Put the pie into the oven on the preheated baking sheet and bake for quarter-hour or till the crust is beginning to brown.
15. Cut back oven temperature to 350 levels Fahrenheit and bake for an extra 35 to 45 minutes, or till the crust is golden brown and the juices of the pie are effervescent. If the crust begins to brown an excessive amount of, you’ll be able to cowl it with a pie crust protect or use foil to tent the highest of it. Simply ensure it’s vented for the steam to be launched.
16. Let the pie cool on a wire rack to room temperature, for about 4 hours. The filling will thicken because it cools. If you happen to minimize it when it’s nonetheless scorching, the juices will pool.
17. When the pie is cool, slice and serve. 

Modified from The Meals Charlatan and Cooks Illustrated

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Notes

Retailer the pie at room temperature for as much as 24 hours, then refrigerate it. The pie needs to be good for 3-4 days.

Key phrases: apple pie, apple pie filling, finest apples for apple pie, home made apple pie, thanksgiving desserts