Skip to content

Best Apple Pie with Flaky Butter Crust

This is hands-down the Best Apple Pie recipe. The filling is loaded with just the right amount of apples and sweetness. The flaky butter crust is unbelievably scrumptious.

best apple pie recipe
This is by far the BEST Apple Pie we’ve ever tasted; the filling and crust are perfect for each other.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

Years ago, I began searching high and low for the best apple pie recipe because I honestly didn’t love most apple pies. After obsessive recipe-testing, I landed on this classic apple pie and there’s no turning back.

  • With this recipe, your apple pie will be even better than bakery pies.
  • The filling is magnificent; perfectly balanced in flavor and texture, with just the right amount of sweetness and spices.
  • This apple pie is loaded mile-high with fresh apples, so every slice is teeming with delicious fruit. Kind of like our Easy Apple Crisp.
  • It’s not mushy. Granny smith apples and the right baking temperature/time work together to create a filling that’s tender yet still has shape to it.
  • All your eaters will agree that this all-butter double crust is SO much better than store-bought crust. We use this flaky crust in our famous Peach Pie and our standout Blueberry Pie.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

Best Apple Pie with Flaky Butter Crust

Key Ingredients

apple pie ingredients including apples, butter, flour, sugar, cinnamon.

The Dough

  • Flour: use general all-purpose flour
  • Salt: use fine table salt, not kosher salt. (See when to use kosher salt.)
  • Sugar: granulated sugar gives the double crust sweetness and helps it to brown.
  • Butter: you’ll use a cup of butter; be sure it is chilled.
  • Water: ice water is essential for keeping the butter crumbles cold in the dough.

The Filling

  • Apples: we’ve found granny smith apples keep their shape best during baking.
  • Butter: this helps provide moisture and flavor to the filling.
  • Flour: a bit of flour gives the filling substance and is a thickening agent.
  • Apple Cider: be sure you’re using apple cider juice, and not vinegar.
  • Sugar: use a combination of white and brown sugar for best flavor and color.
  • Vanilla: always use pure vanilla extract, not vanilla flavored extract.
  • Spices: cinnamon and nutmeg provide the warm aromatics.

Variations and Substitions

This American apple pie is as good as it gets, but if you want to switch things up, here are a few ideas:

  • Make a lattice pie crust for a decorative top, as we do with our Best Blueberry Pie.
  • Opt for a crumble pie, with a crumb topping. See our mouthwatering Dutch Apple Pie.
  • Use a variety of hearty baking apples along with granny smith apples, such as honeycrisp or braeburn.

step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar. Using pastry cutter or clean hands, cut in butter until dough mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with small pea-sized butter chunks in the dough. 
  2. Add 1/4 cup of the ice-cold water, and gently knead until dough comes together – if needed, add 1 TB at a time of additional cold water as needed, just until mixture is pliable and holds together.
  1. Divide into 2 even dough balls. Press them into discs with smooth edges, wrap them in plastic and chill.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll first disc to fit bottom and sides of a 9″ pie pan, with 1/2″ overhang evenly beyond pan edges. Roll the other disc to fit over top of pie pan with 1″ overhang all around edges.
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour. Add juice, both sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to low boil and remove from heat.
  2. Combine apples with warm sauce, reserving about 1/4 cup for brushing over top crust. Transfer apple pie filling into the pie pan. Place top crust over filling and tuck excess edges of top crust under edges of bottom crust. Crimp tightly around edges for a tight seal. Cut slits on top.
  1. Brush reserved sauce over top crust. Sprinkle coarse sugar generously in an even layer over crust. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top.
  2. Place pie on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven to 350F and bake about 50-55 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown and crisp. Check halfway through bake time – if edges are browning too quickly, use a pie crust shield or tent loosely with foil.

For complete list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

best apple pie recipe
All-butter crust makes a huge difference in flavor and texture. Always go with real butter!

Prep-Ahead Tips

  • The dough can be made up to 2 days ahead of time when wrapped tightly and chilled in fridge. It will need to soften a bit at room temperature before you can roll them out.
  • You’ll love that this apple pie can be totally made ahead of time.  In fact, it’s best after it’s had some time to sit and set. 
  • Bake it and let it cool overnight or at least several hours, so the filling has time to set and thicken. Do not cut into it until it’s cooled to room temperature.
  • Though we do not recommend freezing, leftover pie reheats beautifully, especially if you’re going for a’ la mode.  Vanilla bean ice cream + warm pie = bliss.
best apple pie recipe
Apple pie is fabulous on its own or lightly warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Favorite Pie Toppings

Commonly Asked Questions

Why does homemade apple pie need to cool completely before slicing?

It’s important to allow baked apple pie to come to room temperature completely, to allow the filling to set and thicken.

Which apples are best for baking apple pie at home?

Granny smith apples are perfect for baking, as it can withstand cooking temperatures without becoming overly mushy. It retains its shape well, and gives a great balance of tart and sweet.

Can I leave fresh apple pie out overnight?

Ideally, you would bake the pie in the afternoon or early evening and let it rest at moderate room temperature overnight. Keep leftover pie covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Why do pies sometimes collapse?

Often, pies collapse in the center when cooled too quickly from oven to fridge. Allow baked pie to cool gradually at moderate room temperature.

How can you tell when homemade apple pie is done baking?

The best visual cue for a finished pie is the bubbling of filling juices through the top crust vents. If top crust browns too quickly, cover it loosely with foil and continue baking until apples are soft.


Shop This Recipe

  • apple peeler corer

    Made to last, easy to use, and versatile.

  • ceramic pie dish 10"

    Functional, durable, and beautiful.

  • pastry cutter

    Heavy duty stainless steel for cutting dough

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

best apple pie recipe

Best Apple Pie with Flaky Butter Crust

4.93 from 408 ratings
This is hands-down the Best Apple Pie ever. The filling is loaded with just the right amount of apples and sweetness. The flaky butter crust is unbelievably delicious. Dough can be prepared ahead of time.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

For double crust dough:

  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ tsp table salt, fine
  • 1 TB sugar
  • 1 cup butter, chilled and diced
  • ½ cup very cold ice water

For the filling:

Other:

Instructions

  • Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Using pastry cutter or clean hands, cut in butter until dough mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with small pea-sized butter chunks in the dough. 
  • Add 1/4 cup of the ice-cold water, and gently knead until dough comes together – if needed, add 1 TB at a time of additional cold water as needed, just until mixture is pliable and when you pinch the dough, it holds together – not crumbly nor too sticky. Work dough as sparingly as possible. Small chunks of butter should still be visible in the dough.
  • Divide into 2 even dough balls. Press them into discs with smooth edges, wrap them in plastic, and chill until ready to use (preferably at least an hour, up to overnight.)
  • Take dough discs out of fridge; if it's too firm to roll, let it rest at room temperature 5-10 minutes or until it's malleable but still cold. On a lightly floured surface, roll first disc to fit bottom and sides of a 9" pie pan, with 1/2" overhang evenly beyond pan edges, trimming as needed. Roll the other disc to fit over top of pie pan with 1" overhang all around edges. Cover with cling wrap and place both crusts in fridge.
  • Preheat oven to 425F, with rack on lower middle position. Peel and cut apples into 1/4" slices. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour. Add juice, both sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a low boil stir well, and remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl, combine apple slices with most of the warm butter-sugar sauce, reserving about 1/4 cup for brushing over top crust.
  • Gently transfer apple pie filling into the prepared pie pan, forming a mound.  Place top crust over filling and tuck excess edges of top crust under excess edges of bottom crust. Pinch or use fork to crimp very tightly all around edges to ensure a tight seal. Cut several slits in top crust.
  • If needed, add little water or apple juice to reserved 1/4 cup butter-sugar sauce, to thin it out just a bit. Brush evenly over entire top crust. Sprinkle coarse sugar generously in an even layer over crust. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top, if desired.
  • Place pie on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Then reduce oven to 350F and bake about 50-55 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown and crisp. Check halfway through bake time – if edges are browning too quickly, use a pie crust shield or tent loosely with foil.
  • Cool completely before serving. Cooling on counter overnight is best.  Enjoy…it is totally worth your work!

Notes

  • When measuring flour and dry ingredients, it’s essential to measure accurately; use the scoop and level method explained here.
  • You can use either salted or unsalted butter; the flavor difference is negligible. 
  • Use a pastry cutter to cut cold butter into the flour; if it’s hard to do, use clean hands to combine butter with flour. Be sure to leave some pea-sized bits of butter in the dough. 
  • The key to a flaky crust is retaining small chunks of cold butter intact within the dough at all times and not over-working it.
  • Apples can be peeled and sliced up to a couple hours ahead of time and tossed with with 2 TB lemon juice, to prevent browning. 
  • Serve with Easy Vanilla Ice Cream or 4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce or Stabilized Whipped Cream.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating – we ❤️ hearing from you! 

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 853mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1097IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: Bake, Oven

More to Bake and Eat

  • Fresh Strawberry Pie – there’s nothing quite like a fresh strawberry pie.
  • Streusel Pumpkin Pie Recipe – the crispy, highly flavorful streusel makes all the difference in this pumpkin pie.
  • Blueberry Pie – whether you choose to go with regular double crust or a lattice top, you cannot go wrong with this luscious blueberry pie. Great when served a’la mode with vanilla ice cream, too.
  • The Best Apple Pie Bars – if you want a large apple pie that feeds a crowd, look no further than these scrumptious apple pie bars. Yes, they’re 100% okay for breakfast, too.
  • Dutch Apple Pie – try this one if you love a good streusel topping!

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




196 comments

    • Laney
    • 5 stars

    It’s a hit every time

    • Margo
    • 5 stars

    Amazing crust! We weren’t able to wait for it to cool all night.

    • Angelline

    Hey! Thanks for the amazing looking recipe
    Can I use lemon juice in place of the apple cider?
    Merry Christmas!

      • Amy Dong

      You can use apple juice instead of cider – it should be a sweet juice, not a sour one 🙂 ENJOY!

    • Kylie

    Is the butter in the crust salted or unsalted…key detail…

      • Amy Dong

      Kylie, I use salted butter, but you can use either type. Happy Thanksgiving!! 🙂

    • Lisa

    Did u recently add apple cider to the recipe? I’ve used this recipe for years and don’t recall apple cider being an ingredient lol

      • Amy Dong

      Thanks for using this recipe for years, Lisa 🙂 You can use just water in place of the apple juice/cider, but we loved the flavor that apple cider gave. Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂

      • Maureen

      I noticed the recipe changed. I originally printed this in 2020 and make it every year. This year, I was reading the online version and thought I had the wrong recipe. Lol. We will try it the new way this year.

    • Wendy

    Curious can I make this pie crust in the food processor?

      • Amy Dong

      Wendy, yes, you can use food processor, but do so sparingly – you want to be sure there are still pea-sized butter bits intact. Enjoy!

    • Ann
    • 5 stars

    This was so good! I’ll definitely make it again. Winner for sure!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, Ann!!

    • Tommy T

    I can’t wait to make this it looks delicious. I’d like to make one for my doctor’s office, but she out of everyone is gluten free AND vegetarian. So I can’t really make her anything! I wonder if this will be okay with gluten-free flour?

    • Veronika
    • 5 stars

    I’ve always liked apple pie more than pumpkin and I try to make at least one new recipe every year. We loved the flaky buttery crust of this one and the filling was delicious too!

    • Cathleen
    • 5 stars

    Apple pie is my weakness! If there is apple pie I will eat at least 2 slices haha. This one looks perfect, I am all about the flaky crust! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂

    • Enriqueta E Lemoine
    • 5 stars

    What I like the most about this pie is the flaky crust. Next summer, I will bake my blueberry pie with this delicious crust. In the meantime, this will be the apple pie I’ll serve at my Thanksgiving gathering this year.

    • Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
    • 5 stars

    What a truly scrumptious pie! That crust was so buttery and flaky! I honestly don’t know which I liked better – the filling or the pie crust as they both were amazing!!!

    • Dennis
    • 5 stars

    Your apple pie was easy to make and everyone in my family raved about the pie!!

    • Mikayla
    • 5 stars

    What a great pie, delicious and will make a great addition to the holiday table.

    • Giangi Townsend
    • 5 stars

    I made your recipe last weekend and everyone was in awe how delicious it was.
    Rich in flavor and easy to make even a baker novice like me can do it.
    Thank you.

      • Amy Dong

      You’re so welcome, Giangi! 🙂

    • veenaazmanov
    • 5 stars

    Love your recipe and the spice flavor of Cinnamon Nutmeg to the filling. Perfect option for Breakfast treat.

      • Amy Dong

      So happy you loved this, Veena!

    • Yu
    • 5 stars

    This is truly the best apple pie I ever had! Everything loves it and it tastes as good as it looks! Thank you for sharing!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, so happy to hear that! 🙂

    • Beth Dimino
    • 5 stars

    Best Apple pie I’ve ever made. Flaky crust and delicious cinnamon apple filling! So good. I used honeycrisp apples that held up well (sliced not chopped). Really important that the crust dough stays chilled up until filling it with the apple filling.

      • Amy Dong

      Aww, that makes me SO happy, Beth 🙂

    • John Donovan
    • 5 stars

    That butter sugar recipe is super.. only thing is I did try brushing it on the crust as per instructions.. found it made the crust hard and not flaky, so now I use the usual egg wash and crystal sugar sprinkles.

    • Amanda Atamanczyk

    I just made this pie it’s in the oven now. First time ever making a pie. I did follow the steps with a few oops, and I had to substitute healthier alternative to some of the ingredients due to medical and tolerance reasons, but hopefully I chose good alternative we will see.

Get our free email series: 5 Easy Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

Plus our newest recipes each week