This made-from-scratch apple pie combines a buttery, flaky homemade crust with sweet, cinnamon-kissed granny smith apple filling. It's my Southern momma's recipe, and a staple on my holiday table. Bake for 1 hour until golden brown! Yields 8-10 slices of pie.
My Love for Warm Apple Pie
There is nothing more comforting than family recipes over the holidays. Ones like Southern pumpkin pie, baked southern-style cornbread and biscuit dressing, and creamy mashed potatoes - all recipes my mom taught me how to make. The predictability of knowing what dishes will be served year after year is full of comfort and love.
We all have that 1 dish (oh ok, several dishes) that we all look forward to, and my mom's apple pie recipe is one of mine. Actually, I think my husband is a bigger fan of this than I am now. He can't get enough of it!
It all starts with a homemade flake pie crust - two will be needed for the bottom and the top. And the filling is simple - made from peeled and thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, brown and white sugar, and some warm spices all tossed together in a bowl. Then gently layers inside the crust, dotted with LOTS of butter - that is the secret ingredient my mom taught me - topped with another crust and baked in the oven at 375 for 1 hour.
So yum! Co comforting. Everything you want in the fall season and holiday times.
Welcome to My Kitchen, Lets Bake Pie Together!
Before we begin - a word about homemade pie crust. I highly recommend making your own here. The extra effort and time is worth it IMO. BUT - if you are under time constraints OR just don’t want to make your own then the store-bought crust will be just fine. You will need 2 sheets and not the crust in the pie shell. If you use my recipe then that recipe makes two crust which is perfect for this recipe!
🍏Why use granny smith apples? 🍏 Any time my mom baked with apples growing up, she always used Granny Smith. It is because they hold up when baking. They do not become mush or disintegrate into whatever dish you're making but hold their shape, and taste, and their distinct tart flavor stands out and compliments any sweet dessert. I recommend using only Granny Smith apples in this recipe.
⭐️PRO TIP ⭐️- dotting the top of the apple pie with lots of butter before putting the top crust on is the SECRET to the best homemade apple pie recipe! It's my mom's tried and true tip and secret. Don't skip it. If you're going to eat this make it right?!
Serve this with a generous helping of homemade whipped cream. You can serve this warm after it's cooled a bit (letting it cool and set up helps you to be able to slice it easier - otherwise if you cut it straight out of the oven all the filling will just fall out), or at room temp, or this is even delicious cold! Not that I have eaten this cold straight out of the pie plate and fridge before .... 😉
PrintRecipe
Southern Apple Pie with Granny Smith Apples
- Total Time: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
- Yield: 8-10
Description
This made-from-scratch apple pie combines a buttery, flaky homemade crust with sweet, cinnamon-kissed granny smith apple filling. It's my Southern momma's recipe, and a staple on my holiday table. Bake for 1 hour until golden brown! Yields 8-10 slices of pie.
Ingredients
- 1 entire recipe for Homemade Pie Crusts or 2 Storebought Pie Crust Sheets (2 crusts will be needed for this recipe)
- Milk and Sugar - for topping crust
Apple Filling
- 6-8 Good Size Granny Smith Apples
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
- 4 Tablespoons Corn Starch
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ Teaspoon Cloves
- Lots of butter! About 4-6 Tablespoons
Instructions
Pie Crust
- If making a homemade pie crust, follow the instructions for that recipe (make 2 crusts - you will need both).
- Roll half of the dough out into a thin layer that is bigger than a pie plate. Gently lay inside the plate. Roll out the second pie crust thinly as well just a bit bigger than the pie plate and set aside.
Apple Filling
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Peel and thinly slice all of the apples. A mandolin or food processor is the easiest and fastest way to do this.
- Add the peeled and sliced apples into a large bowl. Add in the rest of the filling ingredients and stir to coat the apples completely.
- Carefully layer the apples into the pie shell. Tuck them tightly against the edges and on top of each other. Do not just dump the bowl inside 0 gently arrange them to be layered flat on top of one another.
- Take a couple of tablespoons of butter and cut it into dots. Dot the top of the apples with this butter (about 4-6 tablespoons). This is very important! Do not skip this step.
- Lay the second rolled-out pie crust on top of the apples. Crimp the edges together and decorate the top as you wish. If leaving undecorated, cut a couple of slices at the top of the crust to let the steam escape.
- Brush the top with milk and sprinkle with sugar (demerara or white sugar can be used).
- Bake for 1 hour and until bubbly. If it is getting too brown on top before finishing, lay a piece of foil loosely on top and finish baking.
- Let cool for about 30 minutes before serving. Serve with homemade whipped cream.
Notes
- Wrap any leftover apple pie with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 4 days
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 Hour
- Category: Desserts - Pie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 441
- Sugar: 35.9 g
- Sodium: 240.2 mg
- Fat: 21.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 58.9 g
- Fiber: 2.7 g
- Protein: 3.1 g
- Cholesterol: 43.9 mg
