Grandma's homemade apple pie is one of the absolute pie classics from my childhood. The combination of tender shortcrust pastry, fruity filling, and sweet icing tastes really wonderful! In this post, I'm sharing the (probably) best homemade apple pie recipe with you. Easy while a bit time-consuming. But the result is worth the "effort"!
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Taste and Occasion
This one is not only the world's best homemade apple pie according to grandma's recipe - but in this particular case, also one with grandma's apples 😉 . The four of us recently revisited her to help with the fruit harvest. It was fun for us and the kids to empty the plum, mirabelle, and apple trees, which were really overflowing this year. Even if this year, it is actually almost too much. After all, we brought 150 kilos of apples to the juice press. The rest we eat - or bake them as an ingredient in the apple pie.
Ingredients
The apple pie is a classic. In short, the base and top are kneaded dough (which I refine with almonds), and the filling is made of pre-steamed apples, raisins, and lemon juice. On top, there is a layer of icing. For this easy apple pie, I used apples of wide different varieties. Some are small and tart, inside rather white and very firm, others more mealy and soft. Likewise, I don't even know the name of some. Together with a good dose of cinnamon and the wonderful pastry crust, they make a pie to tuck into…. The raisins in the filling are optional, of course. For me, though, they belong in the cake.
How to make the Homemade Apple Pie
Let's get started with this (not really quick but) easy recipe: First of all, knead the ingredients for the dough first with the dough hook, then with your hands to a smooth dough. Form into 3 balls of about the same size and chill them wrapped in foil for about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, soak the raisins for the filling in apple juice. Peel and core apples, cut them into cubes, and mix with lemon juice. Now, steam the apples with the lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon in a small saucepan for about 5 minutes uncovered. If they draw a lot of water, drain it off a little afterward. Stir in the starch.
It's time for preheating the oven to 380°F/190°C. Butter a springform pan and dust with a bit of flour. After this, roll out a ball of dough for the top on a lightly floured work surface (or a silicone baking mat), cut it out with the edge of the springform pan, and put it in the fridge. Now, roll out the remaining dough, line the pan with it, and form a rim about 1 in/ 3 cm high. Prick the bottom several times with a fork. Sprinkle the almonds on top.
After that, mix the pre-steamed apples with the raisins and spread them on the base. Carefully place the pastry cover on top of the cake. Press the edges well. Prick the top several times with a fork and bake the cake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Allow cooling in the pan.
Last but not least: For the icing, mix sifted powdered sugar with lemon juice and spread on the cake.
Top Tip
Although Grandma traditionally just uses powdered sugar for dusting, I usually make the pie with icing. In short, the perfect candy after the exhausting fruit action!
Recipe Card
Homemade Apple Pie
Equipment
- 1 springform pan 10 in/ 26 cm
Ingredients
For the dough
- 300 grams (2 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
- 50 grams (½ cup) ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 180 grams (13 tablespoons) butter, cold and in small pieces
- 100 grams (½ cup) sugar
- 1 egg, medium
For sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons ground almonds
For the filling
- 1200 grams (9 ½ cups) apples, sour variety
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 80 grams (6 ¾ tablespoons) sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, or pudding powder or flour
- 70 grams (½ cup) raisins
- 2 tablespoons apple juice
For the icing
- 100 grams (12 ½ tablespoons) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Knead the ingredients for the dough first with the dough hook, then with your hands to a smooth dough. Form into 3 balls of about the same size and chill them wrapped in foil for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, soak the raisins for the filling in apple juice. Peel and core apples, cut them into cubes, and mix with lemon juice.
- Steam the apples incl. lemon juice with sugar and cinnamon in a small saucepan for about 5 minutes uncovered; if they draw a lot of water, drain it off a little afterward. Stir in the starch.
- Preheat the oven to 380°F/190°C. Butter a springform pan and dust with a bit of flour. Roll out a ball of dough for the top on a lightly floured work surface (or a silicone baking mat), cut it out with the edge of the springform pan, and put it in the fridge. Roll out the remaining dough, line the pan with it, and form a rim about 1 in/ 3 cm high. Prick the bottom several times with a fork. Sprinkle the almonds on top.
- Mix the pre-steamed apples with the raisins and spread them on the base. Carefully place the pastry cover on top of the cake. Press the edges well. Prick the top several times with a fork. Bake the cake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Allow cooling in the pan.
- For the icing, mix sifted powdered sugar with lemon juice. Spread on the cake.
Ingredient substitutions
Variations
If you also have masses of apples, click through our apple pie recipes. In particular, the apple sheet cake as well as the one with cinnamon cream, taste stunning. Another alternative is the German apple strudel. Of course, also with grandma's recipe. Enjoyable apple time to you all!
About Kathrin & Jan
It's like a little miracle to me every time. Seemingly simple ingredients are made into something that can brighten up your life. Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour melt into an airy biscuit, a fine tart, a juicy cake, or a crispy biscuit. Baking simply makes you happy. Welcome and enjoy our blog!
Kathrin & Jan
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