If you are looking for how to make the best homemade apple pie, then you’ve landed in the right place 🤍

This apple pie recipe is one I’m particularly proud of, and I’m so happy to finally share it with you.

Fair question if you’re wondering why this is the best apple pie and why I’m so proud of it. 😄

The answer is simple: I’ve tried many recipes with apples over the years — apple crumble, apple cakes, desserts, you name it — all delicious, but none of them give me the same feeling as this one.

Because yes… food is also about feelings, memories and experiences.

When I say “most delicious” or “best apple pie”, I’m talking about a very specific image in my head.

The kind of apple pie your grandma would make at home. The one that already feels warm and cozy just by looking at it. The one you imagine behind the window of a small bakery in a movie scene. That’s what this pie is about.

Try and re-try until you make it

The very first time I made this homemade apple pie, I had spent quite some time reading recipes and comparing techniques.

The result? Way above my expectations. It looked amazing and tasted even better.

A few weeks later I made it again — my husband was still craving it and my parents-in-law hadn’t had enough either. But… something was off. The dough wasn’t as solid, I had leftover dough (which had never happened before), and even though the taste was still good, it just didn’t feel right.

So I waited. Honestly, with very low expectations, until one day I had all the ingredients at home again and thought: let’s give it another try.

And wow… it was even better than the first time.

What made the difference? Patience and attention.

I worked the dough longer, really feeling it with my hands, until it became compact, smooth, and slightly golden in colour. It felt different: easier to shape, a bit sticky but not too much. That’s when I knew it was right.

My point is: if your apple pie doesn’t turn out perfect the first time, don’t give up. Try again. And again. Every time you’ll learn something new.

How long to bake a homemade apple pie

One of the most common questions when learning how to make homemade apple pie is: how long does it need to bake in the oven?

For this recipe, the apple pie needs about 60 minutes at 170°C (340°F) using top and bottom heat.

That said — and this is important — every oven is different. Some run hotter, others a bit cooler.

If you’re making this apple pie for the first time, don’t just put it in the oven and walk away. Keep an eye on it, especially towards the end.

You’re looking for a beautiful golden colour.

It should look baked and set, but not too dark or burnt. If the top starts browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminium foil for the last part of the baking time.

Trust your eyes as much as the timer.

How long is a homemade apple pie good for?

Another question I often get is how long is a homemade apple pie good for?

In general, a homemade apple pie can be stored for 2 to 3 days in a dry, cool place, well covered.

I usually keep mine under a glass cake bell, which works perfectly.

If your kitchen is very warm, you can store it in the fridge — just know that the dough will become a bit firmer. Before serving, you can let it sit at room temperature for a while.

That said… at my place the pie is usually gone within one day 😅 so storage is rarely a problem.

Homemade apple pie recipe

This is the exact recipe I use at home, translated and written in my own words — simple, cozy and made with love.

Ingredients:

• 200 g unsalted butter
  
• 200 g white soft brown sugar
  
• 400 g self-raising flour (or all-purpose flour + 3 tsp baking powder)
  
• 1 egg (half for the dough, half for brushing)
  
• 8 g vanilla sugar
  
• A pinch of salt
  
• 1.5 kg sweet & sour apples (for example Bramley or similar)
  
• 75 g fine granulated sugar
  
• 3 tsp cinnamon
  
• 15 g breadcrumbs

How to make homemade apple pie step by step:

1. Prepare the egg
   Beat the egg lightly and divide it into two equal parts. One half is for the dough, the other half for brushing the top.
   
2. Make the dough
   In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, self-raising flour, half of the egg, vanilla sugar and a pinch of salt. Knead until you get a firm, smooth dough. Divide the dough into three parts. If the dough feels too dry or too sticky, don’t worry — with a bit of patience it will come together beautifully.
   
3. Prepare the apples
   Peel the apples, remove the cores and cut them into slices. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar with the cinnamon.
   
4. Prepare the baking tin
   Grease a springform pan and dust it lightly with flour.
   
5. Line the tin
   Use one part of the dough for the bottom and a second part for the sides. You can roll the dough out or simply press small pieces into the tin with your fingers.
   
6. Add breadcrumbs
   Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the bottom. This helps absorb the moisture from the apples.
   
7. Fill the pie
   Add half of the apples and sprinkle with about one third of the cinnamon sugar. Add the remaining apples and finish with the rest of the cinnamon sugar.
   
8. Make the lattice top
   Roll out the last piece of dough to about 5 mm thickness and cut strips of around 1 cm wide. Place them criss-cross over the pie. Use extra dough to finish the edges neatly.
   
9. Brush and bake
   Brush the dough strips with the remaining half of the egg. Place the pie slightly below the middle of the oven and bake for 60 minutes at 170°C, until golden.
   

Cool before serving… Let the apple pie cool in the tin before removing the ring. This helps it set properly.

If you’re learning how to make homemade apple pie, remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel good, smell amazing, and taste like home.

And if you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it went.