Textual Chef Textual Chef

Classic Apple Pie

A timeless American dessert with a flaky, buttery crust and spiced apple filling.

110 minMediumServes 8410 cal/serving

AmericanDessertOvenVegetarianHalal-friendlyLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-Free

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for crust)
  • 1 tsp salt (for crust)
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for crust)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
  • 6-8 tbsp ice water
  • 8 medium apples (about 1.5 lbs for half batch), peeled and sliced
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for filling)
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, fresh
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 large egg (for egg wash), beaten with 1 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar (for sprinkling on top)

Instructions

  1. 1

    For the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for crust), 1 tsp salt (for crust), and 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for crust).

  2. 2

    Add 1 cup cold, cubed unsalted butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.

  3. 3

    Gradually add 6-8 tbsp ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring with a fork until the dough just begins to come together. Do not add too much water.

  4. 4

    Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.

  5. 5

    Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the lower third position.

  6. 6

    For the filling: In a large bowl, combine 8 peeled and sliced medium apples (about 1.5 lbs for half batch), 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for filling), 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for filling), 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp ground allspice. Toss gently to coat evenly.

  7. 7

    On a floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 12-inch circle and transfer to a 9-inch pie dish.

  8. 8

    Pour the apple filling into the crust, mounding slightly in the center.

  9. 9

    Roll out the second disk of dough to a 12-inch circle. Place over the filling. Trim excess dough, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhang under itself and crimp the edges decoratively.

  10. 10

    Cut several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Brush the top with 1 beaten with 1 tbsp water large egg (for egg wash) and sprinkle with 2 tbsp granulated sugar (for sprinkling on top).

  11. 11

    Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 425°F (220°C).

  12. 12

    Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for 40-45 minutes more, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling through the slits.

  13. 13

    If the edges are browning too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil.

  14. 14

    Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving to let the filling set.

Questions

Can I make Classic Apple Pie dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Classic Apple Pie gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (for crust), 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for filling). Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Classic Apple Pie keep?

Store it airtight: two to three days at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated. It freezes for up to two months; thaw at room temperature.

Can I halve or double Classic Apple Pie?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,504 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.

More American entries

All American recipes · All Dessert recipes · All Apples recipes