This Easy Apple Pie has a flaky homemade pie crust and a cooked apple pie filling. It is a pie made in a tart pan, which makes assembly neat and easy. This apple pie with a precooked filling can be made ahead of time and stores well.
Table of contents
- Easy Apple Pie
- How to make pie in a tart pan
- Tips for easy to work with pie dough
- Precooked apple pie filling
- How to lattice a pie
- Best apples to use for apple pie
- How to avoid a soggy bottom crust on a pie
- How to reheat a pie
- Freezing Pie Dough
- FAQ for Apple Pie
- For more pie recipes, check out:
- Recipe For Easy Apple Pie
Easy Apple Pie
Hi hi! Just popping in (the day before thanksgiving sorryyyy) to share the recipe for this super easy apple pie! I had some leftover filling from making apple hand pies and some homemade pie dough in the freezer, so I figured I might as well go for it.
This is a super easy apple pie - making it in a tart pan means that there is no need to worry about a top crimp, and you get an amazing crust to filling ratio. This apple pie has an easy homemade pie crust, and a precooked apple pie filling.
How to make pie in a tart pan
I used a removable bottom tart pan to make this apple pie - rather than a more standard pie pan. I love using a tart pan for a few reasons:
- It is super easy to get nice clean edges on a tart pan. Instead of trimming like a pie crust, you can just press the pie crust against the sharp edge of the tart pan and it cuts away cleanly.
- A tart pan gives a great crust to filling ratio. A tart pan is shallower than a pie pan, so you get a thinner layer of filling to go with the flaky lattice pie topping.
- Removing this apple pie from the pan is super easy. My favourite way to remove a tart from a pan like this is to use a bowl. Turn the bowl upside down, and then press the tart down onto it. The outside ring will drop off, leaving the tart on the base. You can either slide the crostata off, or serve on the base.
If you would like to make this in a pie dish it should work just fine. Just work out the capacity of your pie pan compared to the tart pan and scale accordingly for the filling. The crust recipe will stay the same.
Get all my tips and tricks on how to make a perfect homemade pie crust on my pie crust recipe post
Tips for easy to work with pie dough
I use a little tip that my baking bestie Erin Mcdowell taught me - to laminate my pie dough after making it but before rolling it out for use. What this does it pops a few layers within the pie dough. This makes it homogenous and easy to work with but also still nice and flaky. So you get the best of both worlds - flaky AF pie dough which is super easy to work with. Here's how you do this:
- Make your pie dough - For this recipe I make the dough then form it into a rectangle. Then I wrap tightly in plastic and chill for only an hour. This gives the butter time to chill down enough that it won't melt everywhere when you roll it out.
- Roll out and perform turn 1 - Roll the dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Then brush off any excess flour and perform a letter fold - where you fold it like a business letter.
- Perform turns 2 and 3 - Repeat the process again two more times. Your dough should be super homogenous at this point!
- Divide and shape - At this point I split the dough in two and shape each into a disc rather than roll out and laminate each piece individually. Works much better. If you're using it for a lattice top, shape into a rectangle. Starting with the shape you are wanting to achieve makes rolling out much easier!
- Chill again - Either chill your dough for at least 2 hours or overnight, or freeze for another time.
Precooked apple pie filling
This apple pie use a precooked apple pie filling, which I borrowed from this apple butterscotch pie that comes from Erin's Pie Book (I used the exact same one for my apple hand pies) Using a precooked filling is super beneficial for a few reasons. It takes the guesswork out of the filling. By precooking your filling, you know how thick it is going to be before it goes into the oven, so you don't have to worry about it not thickening up enough in the oven.
The precooking of the apple means that the filling is easy to work with, and means you don't have to worry about the fruit cooking properly in the oven. The precooked filling is super easy to make:
- Combine melted butter, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a pan and cook until the sugar and butter have melted and the apples have started to soften.
- While that is cooking, combine the flour and sugar in a bowl. This removes any lumps from the flour to prevent any lumps in your filling.
- Add the flour mixture to the pot and cook until it thickens.
- Transfer to a pan and leave to cool until you are ready to assemble. To cool it down fast, spread it onto a sheet pan, which increases the surface area and helps it to cool quickly.
How to lattice a pie
I finished this Apple Pie with a simple lattice top, but just doubled up on the strips and treated each pair of strips as one. Lattice on pies are super simple to do, you just follow the pattern:
- Lay out all the vertical strips on the pie filling. Make sure that the spacing is even between them. This will form your foundation.
- Lift every second strip up and fold it back - so strips 1,3,5,7 etc.
- Place a strip of pie dough down and carefully unfold the strips and place them back down.
- Fold back every strip again but starting with the alternate set of strips - so lift up strips 2,4,6,8 etc and fold them back.
- Place another strip of pie dough and reset your strips.
- Repeat the process, alternating which strips you fold back. I like to start in the middle and work my way down, and then start in the middle and work my way toward the top of the pie.
Use the longest strips in the middle of the pie. You can use shorter strips as you get closer to the edges of the pie. If you have any strips which have messy parts on them, arrange them so that the mess part is covered by another strip of pie dough (if you like, messy parts on pies are also fine!)
See the video below for a visual guide on how to lattice a pie.
Best apples to use for apple pie
I like to use a mixture of apples when I make apple pie - differing textures and flavours. For this easy apple pie I used braeburn and granny smith. I prefer to peel my apples, but you are welcome to leave the skins on if you like!
How to avoid a soggy bottom crust on a pie
The most important step in avoiding a soggy bottom on a pie is getting a super solid bake on it. This means baking the pie until it is very golden brown, in order to ensure that the crust is fully cooked on the bottom.
If your top crust is browning too quickly, as soon as it has reached your desired level of golden brown, cover the pan with foil. This stops the crust from browning any further, but gives the bottom of the pie some time to bake up properly and to get crisp and golden brown.
This pie does not need a blind bake. If you were to blind bake it, you would have a hard time sealing the top crust to the bottom one. Don't be afraid to bake until very golden brown - all that colour is flavour.
If you have added sugar to the top of your pie and then you add foil, it may come out a tiny bit moist on the top of the crust in the oven - just take off the foil and pop it back into the oven quickly to crisp up again.
I gave this pie a good 1 hour 10 minutes in the oven - 20 minutes at a higher temperature then 50 minutes at a lower temperature and it was very golden brown. You can do less if you like, but it is really important to get that solid bake on the crust in order for it to be sturdy.
How to reheat a pie
If you make a pie ahead of time, you can reheat in a 350°f / 180°c oven. Just pop it in there for 15-20 minutes. Cover with foil if needed to stop any further browning.
You are just looking to reheat the filling slightly and re-crisp the crust a little.
Freezing Pie Dough
I am lazy (or I am efficient?) and prefer to make all my pie dough in one go so I only destroy the kitchen once. Making a whole bunch of dough only takes a tiny bit longer than one or two batches, so I just get it all done.
I get the dough up to the point where I have performed the folds and shaped it into a disc, then I wrap it well and throw it into the freezer. It can keep for up to 3 months - if you're worried, wrap it then pop it into a ziploc bag just for double protection against the freezer smell.
FAQ for Apple Pie
- What tools and equipment do you use?
You can see a full list of all the tools I use here. I use a bicycle cutter to cut the pastry strips. - Which pan did you use?
I used a removable bottom tart pan. - Can this be made ahead?
I always make my pie dough ahead, and the apple filling can be made ahead too and stored until ready to use. Make sure that you cool it uncovered as if you cover it, the moisture can make the filling a little loose. - What can I use instead of turbinado sugar on the top?
You can just leave it off - regular sugar will burn.
For more pie recipes, check out:
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Answers to your baking questions
Over the years, many of you have asked me questions about:
- baking in grams
- adjusting oven temperatures
- what kind of salt to use
- and many more!
I've curated and answered them all for your easy reference in this frequently asked questions post!
Recipe For Easy Apple Pie
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Easy Apple Pie
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: One 9" pie 1x
- Category: Pie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Apple Pie has a flaky homemade pie crust and a cooked apple pie filling. It is a pie made in a tart pan, which makes assembly neat and easy. This apple pie with a precooked filling can be made ahead of time and stores well.
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- One full batch Homemade Pie Crust, one piece shaped into a disc, and one into a rectangle
Apple Filling
- 60g unsalted butter
- 800g peeled and diced apple (weight is of diced apple, not whole fruit)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 200g light or dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 60g granulated sugar
- 55g all-purpose flour
Instructions
PIE CRUST
- Make Pie Crust as directed. I like to make my pie crust the night before or at least 2 hours before to give it time to rest.
APPLE FILLING
- Place the butter into a medium pan. Add the apple, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the butter and sugar has melted. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes until the apple has softened slightly.
- Combine the sugar and flour in a bowl. Add to the apple mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened up.
- Transfer to a sheet pan and leave to cool uncovered at room temperature.
ASSEMBLY AND BAKING
- Unwrap the disc of pie dough and place onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out, turning the dough 45˚ often as you are rolling to keep it even. You want the circle to be slightly larger than your pan. Transfer to a 9” loose bottomed tart pan,, and arrange to ensure that the dough is well settled. Leave the overhang settled over the edge of the pan. Place into the fridge while you roll out the second piece of crust for the lattice.
- Take the rectangle of dough and roll out into a large rectangle approximately the same thickness as the base. The dimensions aren’t super important here but in order to maximise dough, keep one edge of it to just over 9” (so that you don’t have too many long strips hanging over the edge of your pie and wasting dough).
- Using a pastry wheel and a ruler, cut strips of pie dough to your desired thickness. I made quite thick strips for this one. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the fridge until you are ready to use.
- Transfer the filling to the lined tart pan, smoothing to make sure it is nice and even.
- Remove the pan with the lattice strips from the fridge and lattice the pie as desired. For this apple pie I made a regular lattice, using two thin strips to make one larger strip. To set this up you lay a set of horizontal strips across the pie, then for the second set of strips, you place them at a 90 degree angle. (See video for explanation). If you run out of strips you can trim any overhanging, press together, re roll and chill for 5-10 minutes and cut yourself some more.
- Once you have finished your lattice, carefully trim the outside edge so that is is flush with the side of the tart tin. To do this I usually just use the sharp edge of the tin and press against it to cut the pie dough cleanly (only do this if you have a tart tin with the sharper edges, otherwise you can fold excess under and crimp, or if you are using a pie pan, just trim the edges and press down to seal.
- Place the finished pie in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. While it is chilling, preheat the oven to 425°f / 220°c, and arrange a baking rack in the bottom third and middle third of the oven.
- When you are ready to bake the pie, brush the top well with egg wash, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Place on a baking sheet and place on the lower rack, and bake for 20 minutes, until the pastry is turning golden brown and looks set. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 375°f / 190°c, move the baking sheet with the crostata on it to the middle rack, and bake for a further 40 to 50 minutes, until the pastry is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Tent the top with foil at any time if you are worried it is browning too quickly. It is important you get a good bake on a fruit pie. If you don't you run the risk of a soggy bottom, so make sure it is very well baked.
- Remove the baked pie from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the pan and slicing with a sharp knife. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
- Store leftovers lightly covered at room temperature.
Notes
Apple filling from 'the book on pie' by Erin McDowell
Keywords: Pie, Apple Pie, Thanksgiving, apple pie tart
Comments
can't wait to make this!
★★★★★
beautiful lattice!!
★★★★★
I tried out a few pie dough recipes prior to the holiday. Erin's was far and away the best dough. I followed directions to a "t", and it was perfect. It rolled out so smoothly ,and baked up so flakey and lovely. You could clearly see layers. Thank you Erin, this recipe is definitely a keeper.
★★★★★
I made this pie tonight and it was amazing!! Everyone loved it and the pie crust is literally the best crust I've ever had and is going to be my go-to for any pies I make from now on!
★★★★★
I made this for thanksgiving and it turned out great. It took about 10 smaller size apples (honey crisp and Granny Smith combo). I used dark brown sugar and it became the most prominent flavor, so I’d recommend adding more spices or using light brown. It also made a good bit more “sauce” than would fit in the tart, but that could be saved for drizzling on top later. Overall, I loved the cooked filling and tart concept!
★★★★
I usually don’t care for pie at all. There’s just usually too much filling and I end up eating around it for the crust anyway. However, I couldn’t resist making this because of the more crust to pie filling ratio. Plus I had leftover filling from the apple hand pies, too. This. Is. So. Dang. Good! So worth the effort to make it.
★★★★★
I’ve never been a fan of apple pie due to the filling to crust ratio. When I saw this recipe-I knew it was the one! I made both the filling and crust the night before and assembled/baked the pie the next day. Laminating the dough made for a perfectly flaky, tender, crisp, crust. The brown sugar and butter apple filling was deliciously sweet and thick. No soggy, liquidity bottoms here. 🙂 This recipe is perfect, through and through. The pie came out a beautiful, deep, appetizing golden brown. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
★★★★★
This recipe is THE BEST apple pie recipe ever. It is simple, yet so so flavorful. The dough is easy to work with. The instructions are super clear, and my guess, fool proof. Can't wait to try one of the other pie's on the blog.
★★★★★
can this recipe be made in half for a smaller pie?
Yes you can just scale to suit! I have a pan calculator on my site 🙂
When you say to chill it for at least 30 minutes before baking, is it possible to chill it for longer (to make it ahead) or freeze it? Not sure how that would change the directions, and I understand if you haven't tested it to know. I was thinking about making the pie ahead of time so I have less to do on the day I plan to eat it. 🙂
I would make the whole pie and bake ahead of time (the day before is fine) then refresh in the oven before you eat it!
Was terrified to try making my own pie pastry, and also worried that the bottom would be undercooked….but I made a double batch (2 x pies) and they’ve turned out AMAZING. Absolutely delicious & the whole fam approves!
★★★★★
I just realized I totally missed the part you had about freezing the pie. Ignore my previous comment. Thank you for being so thorough with the directions!
If only I could upload the sound of the perfect crisp pastry when you cut into it.
Stress free recipe where everything can be done ahead of time! Turned out amazing.
Added a smidge of lemon juice to the filling but that could be my taste.
This pie is in the oven as I type this and it looks so fabulous! I think I made too many layers because it’s puffing out of the tin! But still looks fabulous. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Yayyy the limit does not exist for flakiness! Enjoy!
I’ve made the apple pie filling from this recipe 3 times now and it turns out perfectly every single time! I add in candied pecans for a little extra texture and sweetness, YUM! I do use a separate pie crust recipe since I’m gluten-free but I still use the lamination process from Erin’s recipe for my dough and it works beautifully. I have a feeling this will be my forever go-to apple pie recipe!
★★★★★
This apple pie is pure perfection. It was the easiest thing to do and probably the best apple pie I’ve ever made. I only added more cinnamon to the filling than the recipe calls for, but that’s my preference. Erin’s recipes truly never disappoint.
★★★★★
I made this last night for the first cold night of autumn, and it was perfect!
★★★★★
I am not usually a pie gal but this recipe is phenomenal. The pastry is super easy to work with and turns out tender and flaky. Will definitely be a go to recipe from now on. I did halve the sugar for the filling as my family don't like super sweet things but otherwise so so so delicious.
★★★★★
Everyone thought I was an expert baker when I turned up with this for a friendsgiving dinner!!! Was easy enough to make and so so tasty
★★★★★