Delicious Apple Pie from Scratch
Here is a delicious recipe that is sure to delight your taste buds and fill your kitchen with the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon and apple goodness. Before making this pie, check out my fun facts about apple pie:
- Oldest Recipe: The oldest known recipe for apple pie dates back to 1381 in England. It included apples, spices, and raisins, but it didn’t call for sugar, as it was still quite expensive at the time.
- “As American as Apple Pie”: This phrase solidified the pie’s status as a symbol of American culture. However, despite its strong association with the U.S., apple pie actually has European roots, with its origins traceable to ancient Greek and Roman recipes.
- Apple Varieties: There are over 7,500 varieties of apples grown worldwide, but not all of them are suitable for pie making. Some popular pie apples include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn, known for their tartness and ability to hold their shape when baked.
- National Apple Pie Day: In the United States, National Apple Pie Day is celebrated on May 13 each year. It’s an opportunity for people to indulge in their favorite home-baked or store-bought versions of this classic dessert.
- World Record: The largest apple pie ever made was created by an Ohio-based group in 2010. It weighed over 3.6 tons, contained 2,000 pounds of apples, and was baked in a giant pan measuring 6 feet in diameter!
- Variations Galore: Apple pie can take many forms, from classic two-crust versions to open-faced (like Dutch apple pie with a crumb topping) or even deep-dish varieties. Variations exist around the world, such as the French tarte tatin or the Italian crostata.
- Popularity in Literature and Media: Apple pie has been featured in numerous books, movies, and songs, often symbolizing comfort and home. It appears in the famous song “American Pie” by Don McLean.
- Bake Offs and Competitions: Apple pie is a popular category in baking competitions, showcasing bakers’ creativity and skill. State fairs in the U.S. often hold pie contests where contestants vie for ribbons and titles.
- Frozen Apple Pie: The convenience of frozen apple pies became popular in the mid-20th century, allowing people to enjoy this classic dessert without the time-consuming process of making it from scratch.
- Health Benefits: Apples (the main ingredient) are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. While apple pie is often seen as a treat, incorporating apples into the recipe does provide some nutritional benefits!
These fun facts highlight not only the deliciousness of apple pie but also its rich history and cultural significance around the world.
Delicious Apple Pie
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: MediumServings
6
servingsPrep time
30
minutesCooking time
45
minutesEnjoy the flaky, buttery goodness of homemade pie crust with this easy-to-follow recipe. FYI: Whether you’re baking a classic apple pie or experimenting with different pie fillings, this versatile pie crust will be the perfect base for all your sweet and savory pie creations. Happy baking!
Ingredients
1 recipe for a double crust pie (homemade (see in notes) or store-bought)
6-7 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (use a mix of sweet and tart apples for best flavor)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Additional sugar for sprinkling on top- Pie Crust
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
Pie Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and place a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil on the middle rack of the oven to catch any drips.
Roll out half of the pie crust dough on a lightly floured surface and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish, leaving a slight overhang around the edges. - In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Toss the mixture until the apples are well coated.
Pour the apple filling into the prepared pie crust, spreading it out evenly. Dot the top of the apples with pieces of butter. - Roll out the second half of the pie crust dough and place it over the top of the pie. Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges to seal the pie. Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
Brush the top crust with the beaten egg and sprinkle with additional sugar for a golden, crunchy finish. - Place the pie on the preheated baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. - Pie Crust Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar until well combined.
Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. - Slowly drizzle in the ice water, a little at a time, and gently mix the dough with a fork or your hands until it begins to come together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
- Gather the dough into a ball, divide it into two equal-sized portions, and flatten each into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight, to chill and allow the gluten to relax.
- When ready to use, remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly for easier rolling.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to fit the bottom of your pie dish, about 12 inches in diameter. Gently transfer the rolled dough to the pie dish and press it into the bottom and sides.
- Fill the pie crust with your desired filling, such as apple pie filling, and set aside.
- Roll out the second disk of dough to cover the top of the pie. Carefully place it over the filling and crimp the edges to seal the pie. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
Bake the pie according to your specific pie recipe instructions.
Notes
- Enjoy the flaky, buttery goodness of homemade pie crust with this easy-to-follow recipe. Whether you’re baking a classic apple pie or experimenting with different pie fillings, this versatile pie crust will be the perfect base for all your sweet and savory pie creations. Happy baking!
Try my Espresso Martini for a dessert alternative.
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting
article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for
me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet
will be a lot more useful than ever before.