Recipe: Create Lifetime Family Memories With This Apple Pie Recipe

This black history month, the greatest way to spend time in the kitchen with your family is to prepare a yummy dessert, like this easy apple pie that is delicious and a crowd-pleaser. 

Fillings and pie crusts can contain many ingredients beyond apples and cinnamon. Fruit pie is one of those must-have comfort foods in the autumn. 

This scrumptious apple pie recipe is easy to make. Here’s a simple apple pie recipe, easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and easy-to-find ingredients.

Ingredients for Making Apple Pie

• 2 (9″) pie crusts
• 7 large Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored and sliced into ½ inch slices)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar (loosely packed)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (plus the zest of half of a lemon)
• 1 large egg (lightly beaten in a small bowl for egg wash)
• 2 tablespoons sanding sugar (optional)

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Step-by-step Guide on How to Make Apple Pie from Scratch

• The first step is to prepare a flaky pie crust recipe that makes two 9-inch pie crusts, one for the bottom and one for the top. Before rolling out the pie dough, let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. You can also choose to buy a ready-made pie crust from your local store and follow package directions.
• Peel, core and slice the apples of your choice
• In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and lemon zest. Gently toss to coat evenly and set aside. 
• Place the oven rack in the centre position and preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Remove the discs of pie crust from the fridge and set them at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. 
• On a lightly floured surface, roll one of the discs into a 12″ circle that is ⅛” thick. 

• Place the crust into the bottom of the deep dish pie plate.
• Add the apple pie filling to the crust, discarding any liquid at the bottom. Then spread the apple slices evenly.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the second disc of pie dough into a 12″ circle that is ⅛” thick. Place the crust over the apple pie filling.
• Using a sharp knife, trim the dough along the outside edge of the pie plate. 
• Lift the edges where the two pie crusts meet, gently press to seal using your finger, and then fold them under. 
• Rotate the pie plate and repeat this process until the edges are neatly tucked under themselves. 
• Place the pie dish onto a baking sheet and gently brush the surface of the dough with the egg wash, sprinkling sanding sugar on top. 
• Using a sharp knife, cut 4 slits in the top of the dough to allow steam to vent.
• You can protect the edges of your pie from over-browning by folding a long strip of aluminium foil in half lengthwise and then folding it in half again lengthwise in order to protect the edges. As the name implies, wrap it around the edges of the pie plate and over the crust.
• A strip of foil around the edges of the pie keeps them from over-browning while baking.
• Bake the pie at 400°F for 25 minutes. Remove the pie shield, lower the oven temperature to 375°F and bake an additional 30-35 minutes.
• You’ll know the apple pie is done when the top is golden brown and the juices are bubbly. Cool at room temperature for at least 3 hours.

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Best Apples for Apple Pie Recipe

Making apple pies require that you use the best apples you can find.  Fortunately, there are so many apple varieties to choose from when making apple pie. 

You can use any sweet-tart and crisp apple, and adjust the sugar accordingly; for example, you may want to use a full cup of sugar for tart Granny Smith apples, but slightly less for sweet Golden Delicious.

Below, I make a list of common varieties of apples that you can find at your local grocery or fruit store for making apple pie recipes.

Granny Smith

Due to their super tartness and firmness, these apples are ideal for apple pie recipes. In contrast to other varieties of apples that may mush during baking, firm apples hold up well during the process. 

Honeycrisp 

This is another great choice when it comes to apple pie. This variety is super crisp, tart, and sweet, and holds up great during the baking process.

Jazz  

These types of apples have a crisp and sweet apple variety. They’re ideal also for making apple pie recipes.

Golden Delicious 

Among the most common apple varieties, this is widely available. It holds up well during the baking process, however, it may be a little softer than the others.

Braeburn

These apples are crisp and don’t get mushy.

Jonagold

Jonagold is a little tart and sweet like granny sweet. The sweetness is also amplified by baking.

Pink Lady 

Just like Jonagolds, these varieties are sweet, tart apples, and hold their shape.

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Are Apple Pie Recipes Healthy?

Apple pie, like other desserts, contains a lot of sugar and calories. As such, eating it frequently is not healthy. You need to watch how often you eat it. The key point is consuming in moderation like once in a while at a family gathering is ideal to share a few bites.

To be on the safer side, it’s also best to make apple pie yourself or at home, you can moderate the ingredients.

So keep in mind “moderation in all things”. 

Take a look at the nutritional value of apple pie below:

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Here’s a step-by-step video of making the apple pie recipe described above. This video is courtesy of ThatGirlCanCook

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