AI-generated image About Apple Pie
Sliced apples are spiced with cinnamon and baked inside a buttery double crust until bubbling, often served warm with a scoop of ice cream. It is a byword for American home baking.
History & Culture
Apple pie’s roots trace back to medieval Europe, where early recipes combined apples with pastry, sugar, and spices. English, Dutch, and Swedish settlers brought their own versions to the American colonies, where the dish evolved with local ingredients like New World apple varieties and cinnamon. Its origins are not American, but the pie became firmly associated with the United States over time.
Regional variations across the U.S. include differences in crust texture, sweeteners, and spice blends - such as the use of nutmeg or allspice in New England or a lattice top in the South. Culturally, apple pie has served as a symbol of American home cooking and patriotism, especially popularized in the 20th century by advertising and wartime rhetoric, giving rise to the phrase “as American as apple pie.” Today it remains a staple at holidays, community gatherings, and diners nationwide.
How to make Apple Pie
AI-assisted, not kitchen-testedClassic American Apple Pie
A double-crusted American apple pie with cinnamon-spiced, tender-yet-firm apple slices in a bubbling, buttery filling. Best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 60 min
- Total
- 100 min
- Serves
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
Recipe ingredients
- 300 g (2½ cups) all-purpose flour, for the crust, plus extra for rolling
- 225 g (1 cup (2 sticks)) unsalted butter, cold, cubed, for the crust
- 5 g (1 tsp) fine sea salt, for the crust
- 120 ml (½ cup) ice water, for the crust, added gradually
- 1100 g (about 2½ lb) apples, mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp or Gala, peeled, cored, sliced 6 mm (¼ in) thick
- 150 g (¾ cup) granulated sugar
- 55 g (¼ cup packed) light brown sugar
- 20 g (3 tbsp) cornstarch, or 30 g / ¼ cup all-purpose flour as a substitute
- 3 g (2 tsp) ground cinnamon
- 1 g (¼ tsp) ground nutmeg, optional
- 1 g (¼ tsp) fine sea salt, for the filling
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 14 g (1 tbsp) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, for dotting the filling
- 1 whole (1 large) egg, beaten with 15 ml / 1 tbsp water, for egg wash
- 15 g (1 tbsp) turbinado or granulated sugar, for sprinkling the top crust
Steps
- 1 Make the crust: Whisk 300 g flour and 5 g salt. Cut in 225 g cold cubed butter until pea-sized pieces remain. Drizzle in ice water 1 tbsp at a time, tossing with a fork, just until the dough holds when squeezed (about 6–8 tbsp total). Divide in half, flatten into discs, wrap, and chill at least 1 hour (up to 2 days).
- 2 Toss the sliced apples with 15 ml lemon juice in a large bowl. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1 g salt; toss until every slice is coated. Let sit 15 minutes.
- 3 Roll out one dough disc on a floured surface into a 30 cm (12 in) round. Fit into a 23 cm (9 in) pie plate, leaving overhang. Chill while you roll the top crust.
- 4 Roll the second disc into a 30 cm (12 in) round. Cut 6–8 steam vents in the center.
- 5 Heat the oven to 220°C / 425°F with a rack in the lower third. Place a rimmed baking sheet on the rack to catch drips.
- 6 Pile the apple filling and any juices into the bottom crust, mounding slightly in the center. Dot the top with 14 g butter pieces.
- 7 Drape the top crust over the apples. Trim overhang to about 2.5 cm (1 in), tuck under the bottom crust edge, and crimp. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
- 8 Bake at 220°C / 425°F for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven to 190°C / 375°F and continue baking 35–45 minutes, until the crust is deep golden and the filling bubbles thickly through the vents.
- 9 Cool on a rack at least 2 hours so the filling sets; serve warm or at room temperature, ideally with vanilla ice cream.
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Where to eat it
An American diner, warm with vanilla ice cream à la mode.
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Apple Pie - frequently asked questions
What is Apple Pie?
Sliced apples are spiced with cinnamon and baked inside a buttery double crust until bubbling, often served warm with a scoop of ice cream. It is a byword for American home baking.
What is Apple Pie made of?
Apple Pie is made with apples, cinnamon, sugar, pie crust and butter.
Where does Apple Pie come from?
Apple Pie comes from United States, and is especially associated with Nationwide. Apple pie’s roots trace back to medieval Europe, where early recipes combined apples with pastry, sugar, and spices.
Where can I eat Apple Pie?
An American diner, warm with vanilla ice cream à la mode.
How do you make Apple Pie?
Making Apple Pie at home takes about 40 minutes of prep and 60 minutes of cooking. The recipe on this page serves 8 and is rated medium. Full ingredient list and step-by-step method are in the recipe section above.
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