Easy Homemade Apple Pie – warm gooey cinnamon-laced apple pie filling made with fresh apples, brown sugar, and fragrant nutmeg cushioned in a flaky, golden pie crust for the perfect homemade apple pie.
A delicious apple pie is a must for the holidays, but sometimes you just don’t have time to make it from scratch. This recipe will show you how to mix store-bought ingredients with fresh apples to create an amazing homemade apple pie that tastes just as good as one made from scratch!
If I had to choose one dessert recipe to always have on hand for the holidays, it would be this easy homemade apple pie recipe with fresh apples and store bought crust. It is the best apple pie recipe that you will ever make!
This easy apple pie recipe is what I like to call semi-homemade. Making pie dough from scratch can feel intimidating to most people so why not cheat a little? This recipe is simple to follow and is a definite people-pleaser. And an added bonus? – Your house will be full of deliciously, sweet, apple-cinnamon aromas.
Why You Should Make This Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
- The crust for this apple pie is store bought! You won’t have to spend hours mixing and making the crust, and your kitchen won’t be covered with flour. But if you would like to completely make it homemade. You can use my easy pie crust recipe that is easy to make.
- It’s an ideal dessert. Warm, homemade apple pie makes anyone feel cozy, comforted, and at home.
- With these sweet, cinnamon apple flavors, your family will ask for this pie every year! And with a recipe this easy, you won’t mind making it.
Equipment You’ll Need To Make Homemade Apple Pie
- Potato peeler (or apple peeler)
- Sharp knife
- Large skillet with lid
- Cookie sheet (for cooling apples)
- Lined baking sheet (for baking pie)
- Tin foil
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
- 5½ lbs apples (about 13 large apples).
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (only use 2 tbsp if you are using fresh lemon juice).
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 5 tbsp flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla
Storing Your Apple Pie After Baking
This easy homemade apple pie with fresh apples and store bought crust can be stored at room temperature. Make sure that it is covered, and it will last for up to two days. If you have sliced your pie, you will want to store it in the fridge. When stored in the fridge, your apple pie will last for up to 5 days. Just remember to keep it covered with foil or saran wrap when you are not serving.
Tips For Making The Perfect Apple Pie
- For the best apple flavor in this pie, I’ve found that it’s best to use a mixture of different kinds of apples. If you only want to use one kind, I recommend granny smith.
- Red Delicious apples are not a good choice for this recipe, they do not bake well (they get mushy when they are heated).
- Make sure that you do not slice this homemade apple pie while it is too hot! You’ll want it to cool and settle to have the best texture.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you want a lattice top on your pie, you can cut the top crust into strips prior to baking and set them on in your desired design. You’ll still want to make sure that you put foil around the edges so that they do not burn.
- Are you on the salted caramel bandwagon? Drizzle a little salted caramel sauce on top of the apples before putting the crust on top.
What To Serve/Pair With Your Homemade Apple Pie
- Who doesn’t like a fresh, homemade apple pie a la mode? YUM! Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra tasty treat. If you have even more of a sweet tooth, top with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Okay, I might sound crazy, but I have friends who swear by SLICED CHEESE with their apple pie. If you’re feeling adventurous, melt a slice on top. Be sure to come back and tell me how you like it!
- If you are a fan of apple flavors, pair this homemade apple pie with an apple martini. If you’re more on the cinnamon side, pair this pie with a cinnamon whisky or a hot toddy.
Easy Homemade Apple Pie FAQs
Do I have to pre-cook the apples?
Yes. For this pie, you will need to cook the apples before putting them into the crust. This helps them cook better, and also helps them soak up the spices without turning your pie crust into a soggy mess.
Do I have to peel the apples?
Yes. When using fresh apples to make apple pie, you will want to make sure that you peel and remove the skin of the apples completely. It makes it much easier to chew – the skin can get a little tough when it is cooked.
What brand of crust should I buy?
The store bought crusts that are available to you will vary by location, but one of the more common brands that I have had the best experiences with is Pillsbury. You may have to experiment to find the pie crust that has the best flavor.
If I’m in a hurry, do I have to cool the apples?
Yes. For this easy apple pie recipe, the apples have to be cooled before they are put into the crust. If you dump them in the pie crust steaming hot you will most likely end up with a soggy/steamed crust instead of a nice, crisp baked one. If you are in a hurry, put them on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for faster cooling.
Why do I have to use lemon juice?
The lemon juice will keep your apples from oxidizing (it keeps them fresh and prevents them from turning brown). Not to mention it just adds a slight tartness, it’s almost undetectable by the palate but it does add to the over flavor profile of an apple pie.
Don’t forget to come back and tell me how your Homemade Apple Pie turned out!
More Easy Pie Recipes
- The Most Amazing Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe
- Easy Mixed Berry Pie Recipe
- Homemade Peach Pie Recipe
- No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
Homemade Apple Pie
Ingredients
- 5½ lbs Apples About 13 large apples.
- 3 tbsp Lemon Juice Only use 2 tbsp if you are using fresh lemon juice.
- 1 cup Brown sugar
- ¾ cup Granulated sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
- 5 tbsp Flour
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Peel and core apples. I use a potato peeler but you can also use an apple peeler. Slice the apples into ⅛-¼ inch slices. Place sliced apples into a large skillet and pour the lemon juice over the top. Mix the apples until they are coated in lemon juice.
- Place the pan on the stovetop and set it to medium heat.
- Cover the apples with packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, flour, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Once the sugar is melted and all the apples are covered, cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer. Stir the mixture every couple of minutes to prevent the apples and sugar from burning. Continue to do this for about 20-25 mins or until the apples and nice and tender.
- The apples need to cool before placing them in the pie crust. You can either keep them in the pan, or place them on a cookie sheet and place it in the freezer until the apples have had a chance to cool down.
- Place the apples in the pie crust, and top with the second piece of pie crust, and crimp or fold the edges over the top binding the top and the bottom together. Brush the top of the pie with egg and milk mixture. You can also sprinkle raw sugar over the top if you would like.
- Place the pie back into the refrigerator until the oven is preheated to 425°.
- Place the pie on a lined baking sheet and bake the pie at 425° for 15 mins or until the edge of the crust is slightly golden brown.
- Remove the pie from the oven and cover the crust with tin foil or a crust guard. Place the pie back into the oven and reduce the temperature to 350°. Bake for 40-45 mins.
- Once the center of the pie is a golden brown color remove the pie from the oven.
- Let the pie cool completely before serving. Enjoy!!!
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