There is nothing like homemade apple pie!
The love she put into her baking was extraordinary and I feel the same when I bake for my family.
I reminiscence on all those great baking years with her.
Although many years have passed without her, I rekindled many beautiful days using mom's recipe and know she is with me watching.
This is one of her best pie recipes, which I want to share with you, hope you will enjoy it as much as we do.
It's so hard smelling this bake and not wanting to dig right in!
When we go home to visit my hometown (Utica, New York), we always make a special trip to the Orchards to buy our apples.
Our favorite kind is McIntosh for making pies.
They're a little tart but the perfect baking apple in my opinion but you choose whatever you like!
When I see them hit the stores in Florida, I am like a kid in a candy store and I miss our Utica, fall foods, and fruits.
Scroll down to see why this is the best apple pie recipe ever!
Homemade is the best!
We had trees growing in the backyard of McIntosh apples, a favorite tart apple that made the best pies, but they weren't always kept up every year and needed lots of care.
Lucky for us we had an abundance of apples to choose from being from Upstate New York to purchase.
Mom made so many fresh apple recipes, but this pie was a must-have every fall during apple season.
Just thinking about it makes my mouth water for some.
Tips:
- always use baking apples
- substitute water for a favorite liquor for a different flavor, nut flavors are the best
- do not overwork the dough once it holds together
- use fork tines to crimp edges to seal the top crust
- always preheat the oven before baking the pie
- poke holes on the top of the crust for the pie to have steam escape
- place the pie on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper for spillovers
Central New York Style Pies
My hometown Utica, New York was notated for great apple orchards.
We would buy bushels of them from the Twin Orchards in New Hartford every year.
There were so many kinds of apples I have a whole list you can use in this APPLE TIPS here.
When there is a holiday like Thanksgiving, I love to dress up my apple pie with some leaf cookie cutters you can find in my Amazon Store link above.
Cinnamon and Sugar
I love this topping on the pie and to make it just a little crunchy on top I add some cinnamon and sugar, milk, and butter and sprinkle it on top before baking.
It just browns perfectly and the leaves look so defined.
Our apple pie homemade just shouts fall dessert.
Keep It Simple
I really don't spend the time crimping the edges like I should, I usually use a fork.
The pie is gone so fast, I concentrate more on the top of the pie to look pretty.
Best Apples To Use
- Honey Crisp
- Granny Smith
- Gala
- Pink Lady
- Northern Spy
- Jonagold
- Braeburn
- Crispin
- Macoun
- Cortland
- Rome
- Mcintosh
Apple Pie Pin for later
Intimidated by Homemade Pie Crust?
I know pie crust can be a little intimidating, but mom's recipe always came out great.
The dough is easy to handle and flaky perfection however if you really aren't in to making homemade pie crust, just use refrigerated pie crust or frozen, it will work just find in a pinch.
Other Fruits You Can Mix In:
- peaches
- blueberries
- raspberries
- pears
- mango
- pineapple
Mix and Match Fruits
Not an apple lover? No problem.
Fresh fruits can be mixed or substituted as above in the list provided.
If you love apples don't miss trying mixing apples with blueberries or berries along with them or just make this basic recipe with another fruit you prefer, it's very versatile.
Tools
- measuring spoons
- bowls
- apple corer
- paring knife
- cookie sheet
- deep-dish pie plate
- fork or crimping tool for the crust
- pastry brush
Other Favorite Pies
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Mom's Best Lemon Meringue Pie
Boston Cream Pie
Easy Homemade Scratch Pie
One last way to make an apple pie that I love to do.
Make a slab pie in a large rectangular shaped baking pan and actually after it cools drizzle a little powdered sugar and water frosting on top with cinnamon, ( our apple blueberry slab pie are not as thick as a regular deep dish).
Our instructions are step by step just like mom used to make our apple pie the old-fashioned way back in the 1940s, hope you enjoy it as much as our family does.
We would love to hear your comments!
Homemade Apple Pie
Yield: 8
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 55 MinTotal time: 1 H & 15 M
This is the best homemade apple pie made with fresh Upstate New York apples! Mom's recipe is made with crust and filling from scratch.
Ingredients
- Pie Crust:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cups shortening
- 4 1/2 tablespoons ice water
- Optional: butter, milk, and cinnamon sugar for the crust see below.
- Apple Filling:
- 1/4 cup of flour (Wondra which is a fine flour works the best that we use)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon or more to taste
- 1/4 cup of water (or use bourbon, amaretto or another liquor you prefer
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 8 to 10 medium-sized baking apples ( we use McIntosh) peeled, cored, and sliced into large pieces
- 3 tablespoons sliced butter
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg grated or ground
Instructions
- Dough Instructions:
- In a medium-sized bowl add the shortening and flour with salt and using a pastry cutter or fork mix until its sandy looking.
- Add the ice water and mix until it forms a ball.
- Roll out the dough on a floured board and fit into either a 9-inch pie plate deep dish or any other shape you prefer.
- Note: I always use a little oil spray on the pan I am using.
- Brush the bottom of the dough with melted butter.
- Apple Filling:
- In a large bowl add the peeled and sliced apples with cinnamon sugar, water, flour, and butter mix all together.
- Pour into the bottom pie crust.
- Roll out a second crust for the top.
- Optional: Brush with milk, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, dot with cold butter.
- Poke holes on top of the pie with a fork tine.s and sealed the edges by crimping them with the fork also.
- Place the pie on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 degrees for around 55 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
- The pie can be served alone, with your favorite ice cream or Wisconsin style is with sharp cheddar cheese.
- Our pie is Central N.Y. State style.
Notes:
Tips:
- always use baking apples
- substitute water for a favorite liquor for a different flavor, nut flavors are the best
- do not overwork the dough once it holds together
- use fork tines to crimp edges to seal the top crust
- always preheat the oven before baking the pie
- poke holes on the top of the crust for the pie to have the steam to escape
- place the pie on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper for spillovers
Apple Pie Pin for later
Try Some Other Favorite Pie Recipes
