Basic Apple Pie Recipe (Using Fresh Apples)

Your go-to Basic Apple Pie Recipe using fresh apples in a homemade crust with very little added sugar.

Basic Apple Pie Recipe

A basic apple pie recipe is simple and the end results are just plain tasty. It’s a recipe that everyone should have in their collection. This apple pie doesn’t use a lot of added sugar and you don’t have to cook the apples before adding them to the crust. It has about an inch or inch-and-a-half of sliced apples inside the crust, which I think is a nice amount. I think apple pies that are 3 or 4 inches high and stuffed with apples are gorgeous, but I like a more even crust-to-apple ratio myself. When you don’t have that many apples in the crust, you don’t have to precook the apples because there are a lot less in there to shrink and put out extra liquid.

Need a crust recipe to make your apple pie? I got you covered!

I wrote a huge post all about pie crust! This basic apple pie recipe is a staple in our house and I hope you love it. You can find this recipe plus SEVEN other pie recipes in one post if you are looking around for something that looks perfect for your Thanksgiving table.

There’s something magical about pulling a pie made from scratch out of the oven. It seems to take you back to a time when life was simpler and homemade pie was standard fare in American kitchens. Today, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, taking time to make pie is almost therapeutic. It’s a slower process than opening a box of brownie mix, but there’s so much satisfaction in it. Butter, flour, and sugar are the building blocks of all things good, and making a homemade pie is a pretty great way to use them. Plan to take an afternoon to bake and you just might love how grounding the whole process is for you. And you’ll have a beautiful pie to enjoy after dinner or to share with friends, and that’s a pretty great reward, too.

What are the best apples to use for pies?

Try to find a firm apple to use in this recipe. I like a mix between sweet and sour apples. You can use Granny Smith, Jonathan, Jonagold, Winesap, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, or Rome Beauty. I used a mix between Golden Delicious and some kind of tart firm apples from our trees for this pie, and it was great. It’s very forgiving, so experiment!

Should I let the apple pie cool before I serve it?

If you want this pie to slice nicely (and not have some of the fruit ooze out onto the pie plate after you remove a slice), then let it cool to room temperature before serving. Hot apple pie is delicious but the apples will slice and stay inside your pie if you wait. It’s up to you. Sometimes I cut into hot pie and just scoop some of the apples out of the pie plate.

Can I use a store bought pie crust?

If you don’t want to make a Perfect Pie Crust at home, a packaged pie crust will work just fine. Just brush the top with one egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon of water and give it a little sprinkle of sugar (extra chubby or sparkling sugar is really fun if you have it!)

Basic Apple Pie Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8-10 servings 1x

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Description

My go-to apple pie recipe made with fresh apples! Homemade, flaky crust with juicy apple filling. Makes a delicious pie that goes perfectly with ice cream!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1–2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Dash of salt
• About 5 cups thinly sliced apples (peeled and cored), 8-10 medium apples
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• Double pie crust
• 1 egg white + 1 tablespoon water
• granulated or chubby sparkling sugar, optional

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Instructions

1. Mix first 5 ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2. Roll out and place an uncooked pie crust in the bottom of a deep 9-inch pie plate.
3. Place the apple mixture in the uncooked pie shell. Place small pieces of butter on top of apple mixture.
4. Top with second pie crust, crimp the edges, and then cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to vent.
5. Mix the egg white and 1 tablespoon of water together in a small bowl and then brush the top with water and sprinkle with sugar before baking.
6. Bake at 450 for the first 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 and continue cooking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
7. If the edge of the crust starts to brown more quickly than the center, carefully cover the edge with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
8. Let the pie cool for 10 minutes before serving. Can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.

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Notes

• Here’s a post about how to cut apples it you need it. If you peel them first and then cut them this way, it’s the fastest way to get your apples prepped. You’ll want to cut these apples about 1/4 inch thick.
• Try to find a firm apple to use in this recipe. I like a mix between a sweet and sour apple. You can use Granny Smith, Jonathan, Jonagold, Winesap, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, or Rome Beauty. I used Golden Delicious from our trees for this pie and it was great.
• In the world of pies, this one has a very low amount of added sugar. If you are using tart apples you might need to double the amount of sugar. Just taste and see.

• Category: Dessert
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Thanksgiving recipe, Thanksgiving dessert recipe, apple dessert, apple pie recipe, easy pie crust recipe

If you love apple pie, you might also like these recipes:

• 4 Recipes for a Perfect Pie Crust (my guide on all things pie crust!)
• Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
• The Best Pecan Pie Recipe
• Easy Chicken Pumpkin Pot Pie (spoiler alert – it uses pre-made puff pastry instead of a pie crust!)
• The Best Easy Apple Cake
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
• Blueberry Pie Cookie Bars
• Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
• Homemade Coconut Cream Pie
• North Carolina Lemon Pie
• America’s Test Kitchen’s Fresh Strawberry Pie

Nothing says welcome home like a fresh pie on the counter, and this Apple Pie Recipe is just the one to try! You are going to love how easy it is to customize and how quickly it comes together. Happy pie making, friends, from my kitchen to yours!