My husband made his very first baked apple pie, and it was truly delicious. We picked the apples New Jersey style at Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick/Califon, and have never felt more American. This recipe comes from my father-in-law, and he makes the most wonderful apple pies every Thanksgiving.

A 9-Inch Double-Crust Pie

  • Pie Dough: Use your favorite pie dough recipe for a 9-inch double-crust pie or follow the Fool-Proof Pie Crust recipe below.
  • Filling: Prepare 5 to 6 cups of peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples.

Ingredients:

  • ½ to ⅔ cup white or brown sugar (adjust depending on tartness of apples)
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 to 1½ tablespoons cornstarch (use more for juicy apples)
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1½ tablespoons butter (to dot over the apple mixture)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional:

  • For a unique flavor, add 1 teaspoon fennel or anise seed if serving with cheese.
  • If apples are very dry, add 2 tablespoons water or cream.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine and sift together sugar, salt, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg over the sliced apples. Gently toss to coat.
  3. Line the pie pan with the bottom pie crust, fill with the apple mixture, and dot with butter.
  4. Sprinkle the apple mixture with lemon juice, lemon rind, and vanilla.
  5. Cover with the top crust, cut slits for steam, and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
  6. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
  7. For a finishing touch, you may brush the crust with milk and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon before placing in the oven.

Alternative Topping:

For a single-crust pie, follow steps 1-4 and then top with your preferred streusel instead of a crust.

Fool-Proof Pie Crust Recipe

(Makes enough for 4 pies)

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1¾ cups shortening
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and salt.
  2. Cut in shortening until the mixture is crumbly.
  3. In a separate small bowl, beat together water, egg, and vinegar.
  4. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and mix until well moistened.
  5. Divide the dough into 5 portions and shape each into a flat round patty.
  6. Wrap each patty in plastic wrap or waxed paper and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Dough can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for longer storage.

Baking Tips:

  • Add more flour if needed for rolling.
  • The dough will remain flexible and easy to handle.