Kara's Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

PIE TIME!! The very best part of Thanksgiving dinner. With so many delicious options it's hard to pick a favorite holiday favorite, but I promise you no other flavor comes close to a homemade apple pie and I want you to try my recipe for yourself! Impress your family this holiday with hand made crust, sweet apple filling, and stunning top crust designs!  

Kara’s Homemade Apple Pie Recipe  
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• 4 pounds apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices (I like to mix red and green Granny Smith and Honeycrsip) 
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch 
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cold butter cut into 1/2 inch  pieces 
• 1 egg white, beaten with 1 teaspoon water (this is your egg-wash)
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

​Directions:

• In a large pot stir together apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt nutmeg and cornstarch. 
• Set apple mixture over medium heat, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the apples are tender but not mushy - about 15 minutes. Uncover and look until the liquid has thickened 5-7 minutes more. Remove from heat, stir In lemon juice and let cool for 30 minutes. 
• Heat oven to 400 degrees
• Transfer filling to your lines pie dish, scatter butter pieces on top and gently start your  top design.

Top Design Ideas: 

• cut various sizes of pie crust strips and create a basketweave design
• braid smaller strips of dough to weave with flat pieces of dough
• cut out shapes with pie cutters 
• have fun and get creative here!

 

• Once you complete your top design, brush the entire top crust with egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar
• Place the pie dish on a baking sheet (the filling will sometimes bubble over). Bake for 1 hour and cover the edges with aluminum foil if they become too dark before your 1 hour cook time. 
• Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool for at least an 1-2 hours before serving. You can make this 1-2 days in advance. 
• Ps. don't forget to try my homemade pie crust recipe below for the yummiest results!

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Homemade Butter Pie Crust  

• 2 cups all purpose flour 
• 1/3 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 7 tablespoons cold water

Directions:

• Mix the flour and salt in a medium bowl
• Add the butter using a pastry blender (or two forks) until the mixture has a crumbly consistency 
• Mix in Ice water a few teaspoons at a time
• Gently kneed the dough into a ball
• refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 
• Leave at room temperature for 30 minutes before using. flour your countertop and rolling pin before rolling out your dough

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Weather you're making a basic pie or creating intricate crust art, every great pie begins with great tools!
Click the item to shop my personal favorite baking tools that I can't live without in the kitchen.

Ruffled Pie Dish

Bistro Tile A La Mode Pie Dish

Apple Corer

Dutch Pot

Copper Measuring Spoons

Copper Nesting Measuring Cups & Spoons

Silicone Brush

Mini Silicone Spatula with Copper Handle

Silicone Perfect Pie Crust Mold

Olivewood Fluted Pastry Cutter

Wooden Pie Box Pie Carrier

Courtly Check Bent Pie Server

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