There are certain recipes that feel like a rite of passage. The kind you don’t rush into, and certainly don’t forget. For many of us, apple pie is one of them.

It’s the dessert that shows up on holidays, Sundays, and quiet afternoons when the kitchen feels like the heart of the house. The one tied to memory, flour-dusted countertops, apples piled high, the familiar scent of cinnamon and butter filling the room long before the timer goes off. Oh, and that lattice crust.

This is my best homemade apple pie recipe — the one I return to again and again. It’s classic, unfussy, and rooted in the belief that the simplest recipes are often the most enduring.

Why This Apple Pie Recipe Works

There’s no reinvention here and that’s exactly the point. It’s a classic that doesn’t need variations.

This apple pie strikes the right balance:

Tender apples that hold their shape
A filling that’s warmly spiced, not overly sweet
A flaky, buttery crust that actually tastes like butter

It’s the kind of pie that doesn’t need explanation when it’s served. It just feels right.

The Apples That Make the Difference

For the best apple pie recipe, apple choice matters.

I prefer a mix of apples for depth and texture:

Granny Smith for tartness
Honeycrisp or Pink Lady for sweetness and structure

This combination gives you a filling that’s neither mushy nor overly sharp — just balanced and comforting.

The Best Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

Ingredients

For the filling:

6–7 cups peeled, sliced apples
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For the crust:

1 double batch of homemade pie crust

I always use my homemade pie crust recipe here — it’s flaky, dependable, and worth the extra few minutes.

Instructions

Prepare the crust.
Roll out one pie crust and gently fit it into a 9-inch pie dish. Trim and chill while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling.
In a large bowl, toss the apples with both sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt until evenly coated.
Assemble the pie.
Spoon the apple mixture into the prepared crust, mounding slightly in the center. Dot with small pieces of butter if desired.
Top and seal.
Roll out the second crust and place over the filling. Trim excess dough, crimp edges, and cut a few slits in the top to vent.
Bake.
Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake an additional 35–40 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
Cool before serving.
Let the pie cool for at least an hour. This allows the filling to set and makes slicing easier.

Best Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

Author: Ashley Shoenith

Print Recipe

Description

The best homemade apple pie recipe made with fresh apples and a buttery, flaky crust. A classic, timeless dessert worth keeping.

Ingredients

Scale

For the filling:

6–7 cups peeled, sliced apples
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For the crust:

1 double batch of homemade pie crust

I always use my homemade pie crust recipe here — it’s flaky, dependable, and worth the extra few minutes.

Instructions

Prepare the crust.
Roll out one pie crust and gently fit it into a 9-inch pie dish. Trim and chill while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling.
In a large bowl, toss the apples with both sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt until evenly coated.
Assemble the pie.
Spoon the apple mixture into the prepared crust, mounding slightly in the center. Dot with small pieces of butter if desired.
Top and seal.
Roll out the second crust and place over the filling. Trim excess dough, crimp edges, and cut a few slits in the top to vent.
Bake.
Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake an additional 35–40 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
Cool before serving.
Let the pie cool for at least an hour. This allows the filling to set and makes slicing easier.

Tips for a Truly Good Apple Pie

Don’t overwork the filling. Toss gently to keep apple slices intact.
Let it cool. A warm pie smells wonderful, but a rested pie slices beautifully.
Serve simply. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or lightly whipped cream is plenty.

More Pie Recipes to Love

If apple pie is where you start, it doesn’t have to be where you stop.

A Recipe That Feels Like Home

Apple pie has a way of anchoring a moment. It slows things down. It invites people to gather. It reminds us that some recipes don’t need updating — they just need to be made.

This is the apple pie recipe I hope you keep.