I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

My BF loves pies. He always raves about his mom's apple pies. I think they're good, but I dont see all the hype. I have my own recipe, which he thinks is okay. I'd like to try a new recipe (yes, I'm actually going to try to compete with his mom's pie!)

One of the main differences is that she makes her own crust and I use Pillsbury refridgerated crust. I've never made my own because it seems difficult

I'm looking for a recipe that's tried and true for both crust and the filling. Something that really WOW's.

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

I made DaniRella's and it got RAVES. I am not a pie fan myself but people who are absolutely loved it! I'm making it again this year.


Copied and pasted from a previous post.

Dont' be scared by the length - I think DaniRella is just wordy...



apple pie

pick up one of those pillsbury pie crusts they sell in the dairy section of the market -- i have made the crust from scratch *and* i have made it with the pillsbury - tastes the SAME and the roll it out yourself pillsbury is so much easier.

6 cups of thinly sliced and peeled apples (i prefer the baking "rome" apples i buy at uncle guiseppe's) but you can use macoon too - those are best. but, anything red is good - just make sure when you pick them that they are all the same variety for the pie. the same type of apples work best vs. a mixture of different kinds.

3/4 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (i like dark brown)
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) of salt
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) of allspice ground
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

heat oven to 425 degrees. place one of the pie crusts (the pillsbury box comes w/ two rolled up - you'll use both) in the bottom of a nine inch glass pie dish. press firmly against side and bottom but not too firm - just so it sticks. take one egg, add a little milk, beat it and then, using a pastry brush, brush dough on the bottom of the lined pie plate with the egg wash -- this will help it get that golden brown look. then, take about 1/4 of a stick of butter (so a cube) and slice it up -- putting it all over the bottom of the pie dish. when the butter melts while in the oven it will add flavor to the rest of the pie...

in a large bowl, gently mix filling ingredients, spoon into crust lined pie plate. i usually put half the ingredients in -- take another cube of butter and slice it -- placing bits of butter througout the pie (now in the apple slices). then, add the rest of the mix and a few more slices of butter on the top and you are good to go.

top with the second crust -- i usually take a knife and slice off the excess of the first pie crust (the one on the bottom) so it doesn't get in the way and discard. b/c the excess from the second crust is plenty for crust. wrap excess top crust edge, pressing edges together to seal. i use a fork to make lines in it as decoration (right before putting it in the oven) but you don't have to. cut four slits in the crust so that it can "breathe" as it bakes. i cut diamond shape holes {} in the crust - one on each side and it looks pretty. then, i just do a thin slit (four total also) in between them -- this gives plenty of breathing room.

take leftover egg wash (you may need to beat one more egg) and top the entire pie crust with it -- the edge, the middle, everything -- this will give it that beautiful golden brown look. take some cinnamon sugar (mix it) and sprinkle on top of the crust and BAKE!

bake 40-45 minutes. i put it in for 20 minutes first -- alone. then, at the second 20 minute mark i open the oven and put a "pie crust shield" (you can buy them anywhere) which goes on top of the pie and protects the crust (b/c it is so thin) from burning. it is so much easier than covering it with tinfoil or something -- this is just an easy to place on pie shield. you can, honestly, do it either way -- have it on for the first twenty minutes, then take off and bake the rest of the way or vice-versa. doesn't matter. just do the 20 and 20 as a reminder to put that shield on.

cool at least an hour or two before serving -- all the juices need to become solid and such. i also take a cookie sheet, wrap it in tin foil and place it underneath the pie in my oven b/c it tends to ooze out some goodness during baking.

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

The secret to pie crust is LARD.

I'm not kidding.

It sounds gross, but it's awesome and makes the best pie crusts ever.

1-LB Lard
5 - Cups All-Purpose Flour
1- Cup of COLD water
Couple of pinches salt

Cut cold lard into pieces and then cut into flour and salt mixture. Add water a little at a time.
DO NOT OVER MIX.
Place in waxed paper. Refrigerate overnight or until cold and then roll out and use.

The filling - after that - is nothing.

I like Ina Garten's pie filling - it's a little zippy:

4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, and cored
1 lemon, zested
1 orange, zested
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 teaspoon to sprinkle on top
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Throw them all together and stick it in the pie crust.

I use a mix of Granny and Mutsu and will sometimes throw in a mac or a pear in the mix.

Seriously.. try the lard. You will NOT regret it.

Message edited 10/6/2011 8:06:11 PM.

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

Posted by Jenn627

I made DaniRella's and it got RAVES. I am not a pie fan myself but people who are absolutely loved it! I'm making it again this year.


Copied and pasted from a previous post.

Dont' be scared by the length - I think DaniRella is just wordy...



apple pie

pick up one of those pillsbury pie crusts they sell in the dairy section of the market -- i have made the crust from scratch *and* i have made it with the pillsbury - tastes the SAME and the roll it out yourself pillsbury is so much easier.

6 cups of thinly sliced and peeled apples (i prefer the baking "rome" apples i buy at uncle guiseppe's) but you can use macoon too - those are best. but, anything red is good - just make sure when you pick them that they are all the same variety for the pie. the same type of apples work best vs. a mixture of different kinds.

3/4 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (i like dark brown)
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) of salt
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon (AKA a pinch) of allspice ground
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

heat oven to 425 degrees. place one of the pie crusts (the pillsbury box comes w/ two rolled up - you'll use both) in the bottom of a nine inch glass pie dish. press firmly against side and bottom but not too firm - just so it sticks. take one egg, add a little milk, beat it and then, using a pastry brush, brush dough on the bottom of the lined pie plate with the egg wash -- this will help it get that golden brown look. then, take about 1/4 of a stick of butter (so a cube) and slice it up -- putting it all over the bottom of the pie dish. when the butter melts while in the oven it will add flavor to the rest of the pie...

in a large bowl, gently mix filling ingredients, spoon into crust lined pie plate. i usually put half the ingredients in -- take another cube of butter and slice it -- placing bits of butter througout the pie (now in the apple slices). then, add the rest of the mix and a few more slices of butter on the top and you are good to go.

top with the second crust -- i usually take a knife and slice off the excess of the first pie crust (the one on the bottom) so it doesn't get in the way and discard. b/c the excess from the second crust is plenty for crust. wrap excess top crust edge, pressing edges together to seal. i use a fork to make lines in it as decoration (right before putting it in the oven) but you don't have to. cut four slits in the crust so that it can "breathe" as it bakes. i cut diamond shape holes {} in the crust - one on each side and it looks pretty. then, i just do a thin slit (four total also) in between them -- this gives plenty of breathing room.

take leftover egg wash (you may need to beat one more egg) and top the entire pie crust with it -- the edge, the middle, everything -- this will give it that beautiful golden brown look. take some cinnamon sugar (mix it) and sprinkle on top of the crust and BAKE!

bake 40-45 minutes. i put it in for 20 minutes first -- alone. then, at the second 20 minute mark i open the oven and put a "pie crust shield" (you can buy them anywhere) which goes on top of the pie and protects the crust (b/c it is so thin) from burning. it is so much easier than covering it with tinfoil or something -- this is just an easy to place on pie shield. you can, honestly, do it either way -- have it on for the first twenty minutes, then take off and bake the rest of the way or vice-versa. doesn't matter. just do the 20 and 20 as a reminder to put that shield on.

cool at least an hour or two before serving -- all the juices need to become solid and such. i also take a cookie sheet, wrap it in tin foil and place it underneath the pie in my oven b/c it tends to ooze out some goodness during baking.

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

Thank you!!! I think I'm going to try a combination of DaniRella's recipe with Jeannie's crust recipe.

I'll be honest, the lard sounds gross, but I'm totally willing to give it a shot

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

Posted by HomeIsWithU

Thank you!!! I think I'm going to try a combination of DaniRella's recipe with Jeannie's crust recipe.

I'll be honest, the lard sounds gross, but I'm totally willing to give it a shot

Message edited 10/7/2011 12:04:25 PM.

Re: I need an AMAZING apple pie recipe - homemade crust too please

HOLD THE PHONE!!!!

All this talk of pies put me in the mood to make one. I tried something different.. I tried a butter and lard pie crust.

I am in HEAVEN.

You must try this:

They Ain't Kiddin'.. it really is amazing.