Homemade Apple Pie with Rich Apple Filling
Crispy, Buttery Crust Meets Sweet, Spiced Apple Filling: A Delightful Homemade Apple Pie
Experience the perfect harmony of a flaky, golden-brown crust and a warm, sweet apple filling. This homemade apple pie recipe is designed to be approachable for beginners, promising a delicious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Enjoy the comforting aroma and exquisite taste of freshly baked apple pie!
Pie Crust Ingredients- 150g all-purpose flour (for a tender crust)
- 100g bread flour (for added crispiness)
- 220g cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tsp salt (enhances flavor)
- 100g ice water (for dough consistency)
Egg Wash- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water (for shine)
Apple Filling Ingredients- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (firm, tart-sweet varieties recommended)
- 120g granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (prevents browning and adds brightness)
- 1/2 tsp salt (balances sweetness)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for warm spice notes)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water (for shine)
Apple Filling Ingredients- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (firm, tart-sweet varieties recommended)
- 120g granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (prevents browning and adds brightness)
- 1/2 tsp salt (balances sweetness)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for warm spice notes)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the heart of your apple pie: the filling. Thoroughly wash the apples, then peel, core, and cut them into 8 wedges. Slice each wedge thinly, about 8mm thick, resembling ginkgo leaves. In a saucepan, combine the sliced apples, sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium, remove the lid, and let it simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated. This step is crucial for preventing a soggy pie. Once the liquid has significantly reduced, stir in the ground cinnamon. Spread the cooked apple filling thinly onto a wide tray or baking sheet to cool completely. Cooling it quickly helps to further evaporate any excess moisture.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the wonderfully crisp pie crust. Keep the cubed butter very cold by storing it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. Sift the all-purpose flour and bread flour together 2-3 times to aerate them, then place the sifted flour mixture in the freezer for a short while to chill. Ensure your water is also ice-cold. In a large bowl, combine the chilled flour mixture. Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry blender, bench scraper, or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. Gradually add the ice-cold water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing gently with a fork or your hands until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix. Transfer the dough to a piece of plastic wrap, flatten it into a disc, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours. This chilling period allows the gluten to relax and the butter to firm up, which is key to a flaky crust.
Step 3
Once the dough has chilled sufficiently, divide it into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface (use bread flour for rolling), roll out one portion of dough into a rectangle approximately 3mm thick and about three times longer than its width. Cut this rectangle into three equal smaller rectangles. Roll out each smaller rectangle to about 20cm long, 15cm wide, and 3mm thick. Take one of these rolled-out dough pieces and make parallel slits about 1cm apart along one half of its surface, being careful not to cut all the way through. Spoon a generous amount of the cooled apple filling onto the uncut half of the dough. Brush the edges of the dough lightly with the egg wash. Carefully fold the slitted half of the dough over the filling, pressing the edges to seal and create a pocket. Use a fork to crimp the edges firmly, resembling a hand pie or empanada shape. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and filling. Feel free to get creative and form the pies into triangles, half-moons, or any other desired shape!
Step 4
After shaping all your apple pies, carefully transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops of the pies evenly with the prepared egg wash. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color and a lovely sheen as they bake. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Bake the pies for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and the crust is beautifully crisp. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them. Serve your delicious homemade apple pies warm for the best experience. They are also wonderful served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
