Description
A Classic Baked Spiced Apple Pie featuring a flaky homemade crust and a warm, flavorful filling of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves-infused apples. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, this pie offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart tastes, ideal for any occasion or holiday dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
- 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
Filling
- 6 to 8 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Topping
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the pie.
- Prepare Dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the diced chilled butter and use a pastry blender to combine the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in ice water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms. Divide the dough into two halves, shape each into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Make Filling: In another large bowl, combine the sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Toss thoroughly until the apple slices are well coated with the mixture.
- Roll Out Bottom Crust: Roll out one dough ball on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Carefully place the rolled dough into the pan, trimming any excess edges for a neat fit.
- Fill Pie: Pour the apple filling into the crust and evenly dot with small pieces of unsalted butter to enhance flavor and richness.
- Roll Out Top Crust: Roll out the second dough ball and cover the apple filling with it. Trim the excess dough, seal the edges by pressing and crimping to prevent leaks, then cut several small slits on top to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and milk. Brush this mixture over the surface of the pie crust to achieve a shiny, golden finish when baked.
- Bake Pie: Bake in the preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crust is beautifully golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove pie from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack to allow the filling to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Choose a mix of tart and sweet apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for balanced flavor.
- Ensure the butter and ice water are very cold to achieve a flaky crust.
- Cover the edges of the pie with foil if they brown too quickly during baking.
- Allow the pie to cool completely for the best slicing results.
- Leftover pie can be refrigerated and reheated gently before serving.
