Homemade Apple Pie

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil offers a dairy-free option with healthy fats.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey is a natural sweetener that can enhance flavor.

vanilla extract

🥗Healthier: vanilla bean

💰Cheaper: vanilla essence

Vanilla bean adds a richer flavor, while essence is more affordable.

pie crust

🥗Healthier: whole wheat crust

💰Cheaper: store-bought crust

Whole wheat crust adds fiber and nutrients.

Make the pie crust according to the directions. Refrigerate until ready to use. I use a 9 inch deep dish pie plate.

Peel, core, and slice all of the apples to about 1/8 inch thick. You want to try to slice them all about the same thickness so they cook evenly.

Add the lemon juice to a very large bowl and toss the apples in the juice as you slice them, leaving the apple slices in the bowl for later.

Add the sugars, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the apple slices and gently toss to coat them all with the mixture. Be careful not to break the apples as you toss them.

Pour the apple mixture into a large 5-quart skillet.

Cook the apples (covered with a lid) over medium heat for about 20 minutes. You want the apples to be fork-tender but still hold their shape. The apples won't soften more in the oven, so how they are when you stop cooking them is how they'll be in the pie. Cook them to how you like them.

Remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the vanilla extract.

Spread the apple filling evenly onto a sheet pan or any pan with a lip around the edge and refrigerate it until completely cool. Depending on how cold your fridge is, it'll take a couple of hours or so to cool fully. You could also pop it in the freezer to cool more quickly, but you won't want it to be frozen when you go to use it later.

Roll out one of your pie crusts and add it to a 9-inch deep dish pie pan.

When the apple filling is completely cool, add it all to the pie crust.

Top the filling with the other pie crust. I did a lattice design, but feel free to do it however you like. If you don't do a lattice or a design that is naturally vented, just be sure to score the crust so that steam can escape while it bakes. Fold and crimp the edges of the pie as desired.

Place the pie in the fridge or freezer for 20-30 minutes to get it cold and firm.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. While the pie is chilling, place a baking sheet in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes to get nice and hot.

Before putting the pie in the oven, brush the crust of the pie with the beaten egg and sprinkle the top with the coarse sugar.

Put the pie into the oven on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is starting to brown.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for an additional 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the juices of the pie are bubbling. If the crust begins to brown too much, you can cover it with a pie crust shield or use foil to tent the top of it. Just be sure it's vented for the steam to be released.

Let the pie cool on a wire rack to room temperature, for about 4 hours. The filling will thicken as it cools. If you cut it when it's still hot, the juices will pool.

When the pie is cool, slice and serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens