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This amazing apple pie recipe belonged to my grandmother. I have never seen another one quite like it! It will always be my favorite and has won several first place prizes in local competitions. It makes the perfect dessert for family dinners or during the holidays, topped with whipped cream or ice cream, or alongside a slice of Cheddar cheese.
Homemade apple pie is always a good idea — and if you're looking for the best apple pie recipe of all time, you've come to the right place. Grandma Ople's recipe is one of our most popular recipes ever. Try it today to learn what all the hype is about!
How to Make Apple Pie
You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:
Apple Pie Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients to make this top-rated apple pie recipe:
- Apples: This recipe calls for eight small Granny Smith apples.
- Butter and flour: The filling starts with butter and all-purpose flour cooked into a paste.
- Sugars: A blend of white and brown sugar creates the perfect sweet flavor with a hint of warmth.
- Pie crust: Use a store-bought double crust pie pastry or make your own at home.
Best Apples for Apple Pie
This recipe calls for Granny Smith apples for a couple reasons: Their firmness means they will hold their shape during cooking and their tart flavor perfectly balances out the sweetness of the sugar. Some bakers prefer using Granny Smith apples in combination with a slightly sweeter variety, such as Honeycrisp.
How to Make an Apple Pie
Here's a very brief overview of what you can expect when you make this old-fashioned apple pie at home:
- Make the filling: On the stove, make a paste with flour and butter. Add the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Simmer, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the pie: Press one crust into a pie plate. Place the sliced apples on the bottom crust. Use the top crust to make a lattice crust according to the recipe below. Pour the butter-sugar mixture over the lattice crust.
- Bake the pie: Bake the pie in a preheated oven until the apples are soft and the crust is golden brown.
How Long to Bake Apple Pie
You'll bake the pie at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, then you'll reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 35-45 minutes. All in all, the pie will bake for about one hour, give or take a few minutes. You'll know the pie is done when the apples are soft and the crust is a beautiful golden brown color.
Does Apple Pie Need to Be Refrigerated?
Cover the cooled pie tightly with foil and store at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Learn more: How to Store Apple Pie
Can You Freeze Apple Pie?
Yes! Since this apple pie doesn't contain custard or cream, it will freeze quite nicely. Wrap the pie in two layers of plastic wrap and one layer of aluminum foil. Place it in an airtight container or cover in another layer of foil. Squeeze out the excess air and freeze for up to three months.
Cookdap Community Tips and Praise
“After 40 years of apple pie-making and dozens of abandoned recipes, this one is a keeper,” raves Rita Ryan. “It’s become a big hit at holiday feasts and my pie receives frequent invitations to parties and I get to go along too!”
"This is my go-to apple pie recipe," says Jessica Peyton. "I follow the recipe exactly except I stir part of the sauce into the apples before assembling the pie. There's still plenty of sauce to cover the top crust . Everyone raves about it."
"Pouring the sauce on the outside was a leap of faith, but so worth it, it makes the top crust slightly crispy and tastes like a churro," according to one Cookdap community member.
Ingredients
- 8 small Granny Smith apples, or as needed
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 (9 inch) double-crust pie pastry, thawed
Directions
Step 1
Peel and core apples, then thinly slice. Set aside.
Step 2
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Step 3
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir to form a paste; cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add both sugars and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Step 4
Press one pastry into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out remaining pastry so it will overhang the pie by about 1/2 inch. Cut pastry into eight 1-inch strips.
Step 5
Place sliced apples into the bottom crust, forming a slight mound. Lay four pastry strips vertically and evenly spaced over apples, using longer strips in the center and shorter strips at the edges.
Step 6
Make a lattice crust: Fold the first and third strips all the way back so they're almost falling off the pie. Lay one of the unused strips perpendicularly over the second and fourth strips, then unfold the first and third strips back into their original position.
Step 7
Fold the second and fourth vertical strips back. Lay one of the three unused strips perpendicularly over top. Unfold the second and fourth strips back into their original position.
Step 8
Repeat Steps 6 and 7 to weave in the last two strips of pastry. Fold and trim excess dough at the edges as necessary, and pinch to secure.
Step 9
Slowly and gently pour sugar-butter mixture over lattice crust, making sure it seeps over sliced apples. Brush some onto lattice, but make sure it doesn't run off the sides.
Step 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking until apples are soft, 35 to 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 373 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat19g | 24% |
| Saturated Fat9g | 46% |
| Cholesterol31mg | 10% |
| Sodium124mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate52g | 19% |
| Dietary Fiber3g | 10% |
| Protein2g | |
| Vitamin C5mg | 27% |
| Calcium23mg | 2% |
| Iron1mg | 6% |
| Potassium156mg | 3% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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source by allrecipe
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The tartness of the Granny Smith apples combined with the white andbrown sugar “carmelization” is fantastic. So unlike any other traditional apple pie recipe. YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY IT!
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A really simple delicious pie!
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this is some good pie! What a great flavour and it makes a big pie too! Just as well because you just keep going back for more! Try it, you’ll love it!
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A great treat!
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This pie is BEAUTIFUL and delicious, too. The brown sugar gives it a caramel-taste that is a little different from your every day apple pie.
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This was a great starter pie. The caramel colour made it all the more tasty. This is one you MUST try.
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I didn’t really care for this recipe. It was to sweet and carmelly…
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I make this for my coworkers who inhaled it and begged for more. This pie got rave reviews from them.
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Easy as apple pie! Next time around, I will add a pinch more thickener – it was a bit more runny than I usually care for – it took awhile to set up. Overall, very very good.
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I am soooo glad I tried this recipe!! My family loved it! It tasted sooo good! It lasted less the 4 hours : ) Everyone keeps asking me to make it again. I’m still trying to find a good crust recipe, but I’m sure I will at this site! Do try this recipe, you won’t regret it and your family will gobble it down!
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My husband just loved this apple pie and he is hard to please. He said it was the best apple pie he has ever had. And that goes for me too.
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Thank you, thank you Rebecca and Grandma Ople…. this is one delicious pie. My whole family loved it and I’ll definitely make it again.
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This is wonderful! I won’t dare make it unless I am taking it somewhere for a croud. Otherwise, I might be tempted to eat it all myself!
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This pie is excellent!!!Everyone loved it!!!I even got rave reviews from my in-laws and was asked to make it for a party they are having next weekend. The granny smith apples gave it a little tartness and it wasn’t too sweet. I used Pillsbury pie crusts which made it so easy. I poured the liquid over the apples and then put on the top crust with vents cut in and poured some more liquid over the top crust. This is now our favorite apple pie! This should definately be in the top 10!
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HOLY MOLY! I’ve made pies in the past,
but this one was the prettiest & tastiest
that I have ever made. I made it for a
dinner party & it got rave reviews. I
used Cortland apples because Granny Smith’s
were not in season yet (here in Rochester, NY)
and everyone went WILD with complements.
You have to try this pie!!! -
WOW! What a delicious pie. Perfect a la mode or with whipped cream. I’ve made it several times and it was perfect each time.
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My seven year old son and I spent a great hour this cold afternoon, peeling and slicing granny smith apples, and making a tasty surprise for the rest of my family. As the finished pie called from the counter, I must have been asked one hundred times throughout the afternoon, by every member of the family, if they could cut into the pie. Once we did finally cut into the pie, the results were fantastic. A quote from my mother pretty much summed up the experience “That was the best apple pie I have eaten”…and folks, she’s had a LOT of apple pies!
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I made this recipe first for a church supper and wondered why the Knights (of Columbus) kept one behind when serving everyone else. I made this yesterday for our Thanksgiving dinner and found out why! What an incredible pie! I didn’t have enough Grannys yesterday and substutited Cortand apples, slicing them a little thicker since they are softer and WOW! I don’t think I will ever use another apple pie recipe again! Plus, the presentation is outstanding!! That alone impresses everyone (even if you use a premade pie dough!)!!!Thank you Rebecca!
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very good pie recipe. i used pilsbury pie crusts, and it was very fast. next time, i will toss the raw apples w/some white sugar.
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I made this pie for Thanksgiving, and it was definitely the best apple pie that I’ve ever had! My husband agreed.
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I made this for Thanksgiving and brought it to our friends who are gourmet chefs. It was the hit of the evening. Just the best!
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delicious, I did not need ten apples though, probably only seven or so
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The caramel sauce on the lattice crust makes this pie deliciously different. A really beautiful pie and so good. My family loved it. I also added some walnuts and a few raisins to the apple mixture.
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My husband rated this recipe a “9”, he loved it so much. This is a very different recipe but one I will make over and over again! Thank you
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This was fabulous and easy!! I brushed the top crust with a pastry brush dipped in water and then sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top right before baking. This is the easiest and tastiest apple pie I have ever tasted.
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It was a bit sour because the paste didn’t get all the way down and the 10 apples are a bit much! My dad liked this but he also loves green sour apples. I hated it and so did my mom!
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I don’t make many pies, and when asked to bring an apple pie for Thanksgiving, I thought I would try this recipe. Not only was it easy, it looked like I’d been making pies for years and tasted great, too! I used Pillsbury crusts which helped cut down on time. I will definately be making this again!!
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This was my first attempt at a fresh apple pie. I have made a total of 4 of them since Thanksgiving. With Pilsbury crusts it was VERY easy and a very beautiful-looking pie. I have tried adding 1 teaspoon cinnamon and like it best this way. I was worried at first that pouring the paste over the top of the crust might not “cut it” but I have had success every single time. One thing I especially like about this recipe is that it is not sickeningly sweet like a lot of apple pies I’ve had. The granny smith apples add the perfect tartness mingled with the sweetness. Everyone that has tried this pie LOVES it.
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This is the first apple pie I have ever made. This is the yummiest pie I have tasted and every one agrees with me so much that I have been asked to make five pies in the last two days.
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I could only fit 4 Golden Delicious apples and 3/4 of the sauce into a Tenderflake Deep Dish pie shell. But it’s definitely a prize-winning pie. Thanks Rebecca.
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Thanks for sharing this recipe. My husband, a big apple pie fan, can’t get over it! We could only fit 5-6 apples, though. We also added a teaspoon of cinammon to the syrup and it went very well.
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Best apple pie I’ve ever eaten! Loved by all. I added cinnamon and nutmeg to butter/sugar mix.
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This is a really great recipe for apple pie. 10 apples was a bit too much for one pie. It was definitely a hit in my house.
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Truely an excellent pie. I add cinnamon & nutmeg.
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I buy apples by the bushel in the fall[mac’s] so I used them. The best apple pie ever at! Everyone loves it. I use the ready made crust.
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This was the first time I made an apple pie from scratch. It was so delicious!!! I also found that ten apples was too much so I simply doubled the rest of the ingredients, including the pie crust and made two pies. It worked out great. My dad really liked it too, but now he doesnt ever want to go back to store bought pie and I agree.
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this was heavenly with a crumb topping
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This was my first apple pie, and all my friends thought it was the best pie I’ve made yet! I did change the recipe a bit–I poured the sugar concoction in the pie before putting the crust on top, just to make it a little more traditional. Skinning and slicing 10 apples is a little tedious, but it’s worth it!
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This is the best apple pie that I have ever made. My whole family loves it!
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I thought that the pie came out quite deliciously… but for someone who had never made a latticed crust before I ended up taking so long that the sugar/butter liquid overcooked and I had to start that part over. I would advise people to get the pie ready before starting the liquid part. Good luck!
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This was, without a doubt, the best apple pie I’ve ever made or eaten. My husband loved it, too. I used the “Baker’s Secret Pie Crust” recipe from this site, and the combination was definitely a winner. I can’t wait to try it again for company.
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I’m a bit of a novice in the kitchen, but when I saw this recipe I thought I’d give it a try. The pie was fairly easy to prepare. I took other posters’ suggestions and used fewer apples, and I also used a ready-made piecrust. It turned out very well. Not too sweet and not too mushy. My boyfriend keeps begging me to make it again- and it was easy enough that I probably will!
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Excellent apple pie. Add a little cinnamon to it and it is to die for. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
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Tastes like a carmel apple. The apples steam inside the pie! Great!
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Great recipe!!! Too many apples though. I could only fit six apples in one deep dish pie shell.
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Excellent recipe. I added 1 tsp. of cinnamon and it was the best apple pie I have ever made.
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3rd time I’ve made this….Best I’ve ever made. Make sure sauce does not thicken too much or will be difficult to pour. Number of apples to use depends on size of apples.
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This was my first apple pie, I made it for easter and it was a BIG hit. I have now been dubbed the “official dessert maker” by my fiancees family. But 10 apples was too much I only needed 6.
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Easy and tasted great!
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After trying another apple pie recipe from the newspaper that came out
terrible, I have to admit, I had my doubts about this one as well. Boy
was I ever pleasantly surprised! This is a great pie, my whole family really
loved it. It even came out great the first time for an inexperienced pie
maker like me. I did use a Pillsbury prepared crust but we all thought the
filling was wonderful, even the kids. Would recommend you give it a try. -
Easy and delicious!
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I have made this 3 times now and each time everyone LOVES it! I too only use 6 large Granny Smith apples, but I also add some cinnimon to the glaze. Its very easy to make. Young and old, Americans, French and Germans all love it!
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great pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I’ve been trying to make a decent apple pie for years. This recipe solved that problem. I’ve made it twice–once with cinnamon and once without. Liked it both ways. Will use someone elses suggestion next time about pouring the butter mixture on the apples before you add the lattice crust. Then spoon a little over the crust once it’s added. Looks great and tastes better!
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Thank you so much for sharing this lovely recipes.It’s absolutely FANTASTIC !
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Neither my family nor I enjoyed this recipe as much as the reviews have reported. I brought it to a pot-luck 4th of July picnic and actually came back with 1/4 of the pie.
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No offense to the creator, but this recipe was not good. It was not sweet, which is a likeble characteristic of apple pie. I can honestly say I won’t be making this pie again.
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This was the best apple pie recipe. My husband and kids loved it so much it was gone within 24 hours. We will definately be making it again.
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I have never made a pie before, and I had a real easy time making this. I added cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little bit of extra sugar. The resulting pie was fabulous.
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I used this recipe and one a pie contest as well!
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This was my first apple pie and it was very delicious.I am trying to get into baking I love to bake.The apple pie turned out great!
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Very unique technique of pouring the mix on top. End results are yummy beautiful.
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It was delicious when I added cinnamon to the recipe. I sprinkled cinnamon over the apples before cooking them. And to the sugar mixture. What is apple pie without cinnamon!?
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Can someone help? I tried this apple recipe and it is quite easy except something is wrong, I think.
when I melted my butter, then added the flour to make the paste, added water and sugars it stay as a paste. I let it simmer as the recipe stated but it never was a liquid, the butter stayed seperated so when I poured (spooned) the butter mixture over the pie and baked it never sunk into the pie, there for the latice work does not show and I am not sure what the pie is going to be like.
Please tell me what I did wrong. Thanks, hopeless apple pie baker. -
kinda messy, but very tasty!
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Just the right amount of sweetness. Not only was this easy to make, but it looked and tasted great! Rather than Granny Smith apples, I used a combination of Empire and Paula Red apples. I brought a slice to a friend who doesn’t like apple pie – turned out to be a bad idea…he loved this pie so much that he’s driving me nuts asking when I’ll bring him more! I’ll definitely make this one again.
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I am a long time baker. This is a great pie. I love the effect on the crust of pouring the sauce over it. Looks very appealing. I made two of these and took them to my office for a co-worker’s birthday. They were fighting over it! I enjoyed the flavor without the cinnamon and nutmeg that apple pie normally has.
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This filling is absolutely delicious! The carmelized liquid really makes this special. I did make a few changes that I thought were very good. I added about 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and a couple of small handfuls of raisins to the apples. Instead of pouring the sugar/butter mixture over the top of the pie, I poured it over the apples while they were still in the bowl (and tossed gently with wooden spoon). I reserved a small amount of the liquid to pour on top of the crust. My husband noticed a difference compared to my last couple of pies. It’s very good! Also, I mixed granny smith and golden delicious apples together and that worked well too!
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This was the first apple pie I EVER made and we LOVED it!!
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This apple pie recipe was very good. I loved how you poured the sauce over the pie. It left the crust carmalized which gave it a great flavor.
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I am a novice pie baker but this pie made me look like a pro. All of my roommates loved it.
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Fantastic pie recipe! Everybody loved it. Make sure to line the bottom of your oven w/ tinfoil…this one is a bubbler!!
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Neither my husband nor I are “fruit” pie lovers, but I made this for company and baked it during dinner so we’d have it warm for dessert. I served it with french vanilla ice cream. It was awesome! My company and my husband gave it rave reviews.
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This was a wonderful recipe! I used a mixture of apples and added 1tsp of cinnamon to syrup.
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Fabulous! I will definately make this again…
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This is the best apple pie I’ve ever made! I used about 6 large granny smiths.
I poured the sugar and butter mix in between the spaces of the lattice, and put
a little on top. Inside is sweet, outside crispy sugary lattice. Great for fall cooking! -
This is one of the best apple pies I have ever eaten. Very good
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I made this recipe twice. First time I poured syrup over crust on top and lost a lot of it over the sides. Next time I mixed syrup with apples and saved a little to put on top. Came out much better the second time. This could use a little more seasoning, perhaps some cinnamon.
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this is agood recipe fast and easy to make the family really likes it. missy
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This is the best apple pie I have ever tasted. I made it and all my friends and family want the recipe!
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i never really cared for apple pie before but it is now one of my very favorites using this recipe super yummy
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WOW! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I first tasted this pie. It was the best apple pie I have ever eaten. And keep in mind that my mother makes darn good pie, but not like this. It was a bit time comsuming with the lattice top, but well worth it. I served it for dessert when company came for dinner and it got rave reviews from everyone. They all loved it. Will definitely make again and again. And i also put in some cinnamon…it’s a must in apple pie! Thanks, Patty
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I unfortunately did not agree with the majority of reviewers on this pie. The caramel filling was a pain to keep in the pie, and did not make it down into the bottom where it needed more flavor. It was a MESS, as well, luckily I put the pie in another pan before baking.
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Pretty good. My first homemade apple pie. I used Baker’s Secret pie crust which made it different than a traditional apple pie (it has cake four in it). Very simple pie and tastes great. Everyone loved it. My sister keeps ranting and raving about my homemade apple pie. Had to give this a 5.
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This was so good, but instead of doing a lattice crust on top, I did a crumb crust and it was amazing. I believe the pre-cooking of the flour, butter and sugar really makes the difference. This one is a winner, thanks a million for the recipe.
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This is great recipe! The sugar/butter liquid is definitely different. You can try all kinds of alternate methods: more/less sweetness, adding cinnamon. I’ll make this again.
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I honestly don’t know what all the fuss is about with this one. To quote my husband, “It was good, but I wouldn’t ask you to make it again.” Definitely not worth the extra bother of making the sauce and the lattice crust. I’m going to take my husband’s advice, and won’t be making it again.
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So good! You can just make the sauce and use it on ice cream if you want! It’s like a buttery carmel sauce. Very easy too! Thanks!
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My husband begs me to make this pie all the time. Very easy and fun to make. The most delicious I have tasted!!
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My wife has never baked a pie in her life, but this was so easy and it tasted wonderful!!!
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I guess I’m the odd-ball but I was very disappointed that the “syrup” got way too thick that I couldn’t pour it over the pie. I would have liked more precise directions with that syrup.
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The results are in! I read everyone else’s reviews and then decided to make the recipe using 7 Granny Smith’s and adding about 2 tsp. of mixed cinnamon and sugar to the apples in the bowl before placing the lattice top. I also used a Pillsbury ready pie crust.
This is one incredible pie!! My husband is on his second piece as I’m typing this and he is an apple pie afficionado! I’m thinking I will probably pitch all of my other Apple Pie recipes in favor of this beauty. It looks good, it tastes good and it took me less than and hour of prep time (I’m new at lattice work)- what could be better! -
I used this recipe with my first attempt at Apple pie, howeve I must admit I prefer the good old fashioned apple pie without the buttery sugar sauce. I found the sauce to sweet and thick and did not care for the overall blended taste. I do believe a true sweet lover would enjoy this pie!
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I have the solution to those of you who either thought it was too messy, or not sweet enough. My solution is to add 2 tsps of cinnamon to the syrup mixture. AND make the syrup mixture TWICE !!! Prior to putting the apples in the bottom of the pie plate put them in a bowl. MAke the syrup mixture and then coat the apples with it. Then put the coated apples in the pie. Do the lattice top. Then make the second mixture of syrup and pour it over the top of the pie. Put the pie plate on a cookie sheet. My husband was taking our 3 boys to the hardware store with him. As he was walking out the door I had him take a bite of the pie. He then wanted another bite. After all the boys were in the car and they all started to back out of the driveway my husband came back for “one more bite” So I definately think we have a WINNER !!!!!!
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This is an excellent pie. My whole family enjoys it. This pie out shines any other pie.
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I made this pie for a local apple pie competition. I received second place for this entry. One of the judges who tasted this bought the whole pie!! Next time I will add tsp of cinnamon to apples. Thanks Rebecca for a great recipe!!
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This is THE best apple pie ever. I also added some cinnimon to it but all over it was fabulous…THANKS
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I came across this recipe and new that it would be a great one to send to my mother. She sells her produce, herbs, baked goods, etc at the local market. She baked it & brought it to the market – now she takes requests for it every Saturday!!
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My daughter didn’t like any pies until I made her this one. I’ve made this pie a number of times, and everyone loves it.
Kathy Anderson -
This is one of the best apple pies I have tasted since my Gramma died in the 80’s. It’s great! I’ll never use another. My whole family loved it. Thanks for posting it.
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