The Best Homemade Apple Pie

To me, fall and apple pie just go together perfectly.  I had always thought that making a homemade pie was difficult.  It isn't!  Once I made this apple pie, it quickly became a family favorite and I've made it many times.  It's something that everyone in our family looks forward to for dessert.

Here’s a few tips to keep in mind when making your pie:

I add lemon juice to the apple filling.  It prevents the apples from turning brown and it adds an extra tartness to the tart green apples.

Many recipes call for butter to make the crust.  I always use margarine and it works just fine.

The trick to making a perfect pie crust is keeping it cold.  Make sure the butter or margarine is cold, not room temperature.  When adding the water, make sure it’s ice water.  I also make the filling first, then make the crust so that I can keep the crust ingredients cold.  If you choose to make the crust first,  put it in the refrigerator to chill while you make the filling.

Another trick I use when making pie is to set the pie on a baking sheet before placing it in the oven.  If the pie leaks or spills while cooking, the pie filling will drip onto the baking sheet and not in your oven and there’s no mess!

Ingredients

Apple Filling
6 tart green apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoon flour

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Pie Crust
2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 butter or margarine

5 to 7 tablespoons ice water

Directions 

1.  Heat oven to 425 degrees.

2.  To make the apple filling peel, core, and slice apples. Immediately add lemon juice to apples to prevent browning. Toss lightly to coat all pieces.

3.  In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Mix well. Add mixture to apples. Toss lightly to coat all pieces.

4.  To make the crust combine flour and salt. With a pastry cutter, cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly.

5.  Add water one tablespoon at a time and mix after each addition until dough forms.

6.  Divide dough in half. Roll each half of dough on a lightly floured surface.

7.  Place dough on bottom of a pie plate.  Fill with apple filling.

8.  Place second half of dough on top and seal edges.

9.  Bake at 425 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

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