Introduction:

There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, flaky apple pie made from scratch. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and baked apples fills the air, while the buttery crust melts in your mouth. Follow these simple steps to create a delicious, homemade apple pie that everyone will rave about.

Ingredients:

For the crust:

– 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoon salt

– 1 teaspoon sugar

– 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

– ¼ to ½ cup ice water

For the filling:

– 6 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (about 5-6 medium-sized apples)

– ¾ cup granulated sugar

– 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

– ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

– Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Making the crust:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.

2. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Gradually add ice water to the mixture while stirring with a fork. Continue adding water until the dough starts to come together.

4. Divide the dough in half and form two discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Preparing the filling:

5. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

6. In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Gently toss until apples are well coated in spices.

Assembling the pie:

7. Roll out one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface into an approximately 12-inch circle.

8. Transfer the rolled-out dough to a 9-inch pie dish, gently pressing it into the bottom and up the sides of the dish.

9. Fill the pie dish with the apple filling, arranging apples evenly and compactly.

10. Roll out the second disc of dough into another 12-inch circle and gently place it over the filled pie dish, trimming any excess dough around the edges.

11. Tuck the top crust under the bottom crust and crimp or press down with a fork to seal the edges.

12. Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.

13. Bake for 20 minutes at 425°F (220°C), then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling bubbles through slits.

14. Allow pie to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Enjoy your scrumptious homemade apple pie straight from the oven, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream! Happy baking!