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A freshly baked apple pie, showcasing the best apple pie recipe with a golden crust.

The 5-Secrets Best Apple Pie Recipe

This recipe reveals five secrets to baking the best apple pie, guaranteeing a flaky crust, flavorful filling, and perfect texture every time. Enjoy a classic dessert with a homemade touch.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Perfect Pie Crust (Double Crust):
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
  • ½ cup ice water plus more if needed
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar Secret #1 for flakiness
For the Best Apple Filling:
  • 6-8 medium apples
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour or cornstarch
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • teaspoon ground cloves optional
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Pinch salt
For Assembly and Glaze:
  • 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water egg wash
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar optional

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • pastry blender or food processor
  • large pot or Dutch oven
  • 9-inch pie plate
  • baking sheet
  • wire rack

Method
 

Prepare the Pie Crust:
  1. Whisk flour and salt, then cut in cold butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water and apple cider vinegar to form a dough, then divide, flatten, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Pre-Cook the Apples (Secret #3 for no soggy bottom):
  1. While dough chills, peel, core, and slice apples. Combine apples with sugars, lemon juice, spices, and salt in a pot, cooking over medium heat until apples soften slightly.
Thicken the Filling:
  1. Whisk flour or cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Add to warm apples, stirring until thickened, then remove from heat and stir in cold butter until melted. Let the filling cool completely.
Assemble the Pie:
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll out one dough disk into a 12-inch circle and transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, trimming the edges to a ½-inch overhang.
Fill and Top:
  1. Pour the cooled apple filling into the bottom crust, mounding it in the center. Roll out the second dough disk and place it over the filling, create a lattice top, or use decorative cutouts, making sure to cut slits if using a full top crust.
Seal and Crimp (Secret #4 for a beautiful edge):
  1. Trim the top crust to match the bottom overhang. Fold the top crust under the bottom and crimp the edges together for a decorative seal.
Egg Wash and Sugar:
  1. Brush the top crust with egg wash and, if desired, sprinkle with turbinado sugar for extra crunch and shine.
Bake (Secret #5 for even cooking):
  1. Bake the pie on a baking sheet at 425°F for 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375°F and bake for another 35-45 minutes, until golden brown and bubbling; cover edges with foil if browning too quickly.
Cool Completely:
  1. Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 2-3 hours before slicing and serving.

Notes

For the flakiest crust, ensure all butter and water are very cold. Using a mix of apples provides the best balance of flavor and texture. Pre-cooking the apples prevents a soggy bottom crust, and proper cooling is essential for the filling to set.