United States / Cakes & baking
Classic American Apple Pie
A classic apple pie is a double-crusted pie filled with sweetened and spiced apples. The exact spices vary by recipe, but cinnamon is traditional.
Ingredients
- all purpose flour12 oz
- butter, cold; cut into 1/2-inch pieces8 oz
- applejack, apple brandy; or hard cider5–7 tbsp
- salt, table salt1 tsp
- sugar1 tbsp
- apples, Honeycrisp; peeled, cored, cut into 12ths6
- granulated sugar, divided1/2 cup
- salt1/4 tsp
- grains of paradise, freshly ground1/4 tsp
- cinnamon, freshly ground3/4 tsp
- apple jelly1/4 cup
- apple cider1 tbsp
- tapioca starch1/4 cup
- lemon juice, freshly squeezed2 tsp
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 9 steps
Combine dough ingredients to get a mealy dough. Split in half by weight, shape into 2 disks, and chill for 1 hour.
Toss apples with ¼ cup sugar and place in a colander set over a large bowl. Let drain for 1 ½ hours.
Transfer liquid from bowl into a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook until reduced to 2 tbsp. Set aside.
Toss apples with remaining filling ingredients. Set aside.
Roll out both disks of crust into rough circles. Place one inside a 9 ½–10-inch tart pan and attach.
Add apples to the crust in a concentric circle, starting from the outside and working to the inside, making the center slightly taller than the outside. Pour any liquid in the bottom of the bowl over the apples.
Top with the second sheet of dough, and seal the edges. Crimp the edges if desired, then snip 3 incisions in the center. Brush top with reduced apple liquid.
Bake at 425°F on the floor of the oven in a half sheet pan lined with parchment for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack, and bake for another 20 minutes.
Remove and cool for 4 hours. Serve.
Region evidence: recipe text — “Classic American Apple Pie”
