The Best Homemade Thanksgiving Apple Pie Recipe

It’s time to use that bowl of apples and create a delicious Apple Pie. Follow my step by step instructions to create the perfect pie this holiday season.

This apple pie recipe is my go-to recipe for fruit pies. As soon as the air turns crisp and you hit up the apple picking orchards, you come home with loads of apples. Well let’s put your apples to use with this easy recipe for homemade pie!

Lucky for you, this classic apple pie recipe is not only delicious, but it is an easy recipe as well. This recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, but can be made any time you are craving apple pie.

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What are the best apples to put into pie?

There is no hard fast rule on what you have to put into making your apple pie, but there are more traditional apples that are generally used. The more tart apples like granny smith apples or golden delicious go well in an apple pie.

This is because that tart flavor combined with the sweetness of the sauce mixture makes for a flavorful bit of delicious pie. That being said, if you are craving pie, and don’t have the “correct” apple don’t let that stop you.

Go ahead and just use the apples you have in the same way that the recipe states. Sweet apples, like pink lady, are just fine to use as well. If you are worried about the apple pie being too sweet when using a sweet apple, then you can lower the amount of sugar that you add.

What goes well with apple pie?

Whenever I think of eating homemade apple pie I think of pairing it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Though vanilla ice cream is not necessary to enjoy this yummy pie, it definitely complements the flavor.

Honestly, on my pie plate I will have a handful of thanksgiving pies; pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie and cherry pie. A slice of each fresh pie to test is my favorite thing to do on thanksgiving day.

Should I cook the apples before putting them in the pie?

Nope! In this simple apple pie recipe you will put the apple slices in raw and uncooked into the pie pan. They will do all their cooking in the oven. You will also put the hot sauce mixture in with the apples and mix it up. This starts the softening of the apples before they are actually in the oven.

Apple pies have a longer cook time, about 45 minutes, and this is because those apples need time to soften and get juicy!

What pie crust should I use to make Thanksgiving apple pie?

Pie crust is a finicky thing. If you are intimidated by making your own pie, don’t feel bad if you choose to use store-bought pie crust. No one will judge you. I am all about you trying new things and feeling successful.

And if pie crust is what is stopping you from trying this recipe then buy it! I personally will go through the trouble of making homemade crust because I just love how much more flaky and puffy the buttery crust is.

The pie crust recipe I have been using lately is this one. When you are making pie crust the trick is to keep the butter cold and to chill the dough. When making the recipe you will use cold water and cold cubed butter (do NOT use room temperature butter) to add to the flour.

Using a pastry blender or a food processor helps to incorporate the fats into the flour. You will want to make sure that you have enough water but not so much that the dough is super sticky. When the water and fats are incorporated into the flour you will cut your dough in half and make two disks.

Then you will wrap each of the dough disks in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This will make the dough much easier to work with later. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough and a pizza cutter for slicing the strips of crust dough for making the lattice on top of the pie.

How do you make homemade thanksgiving apple pie?

Honestly making the pie filling is easier than making the pie crust, so you are in the home stretch!

Preparing the apples

Normally apple pie filling will have apple slices that are thinly sliced. If the slices are too thick then you risk you apples not cooking all the way through. Another thing you will want is for your slices to be without peels.

You could use this apple peeler, corer, and slicer tool to do this. I use the older version and its going on over 15 years! It is an affordable kitchen gadget that saves a lot of time, totally a game changer in the kitchen and one of my favorite things to use for cutting up apples. Once your apple slices are ready, you will want to put them in a large bowl.

I will sometimes add a little lemon juice to the apple slices to keep them from turning brown. After you have the slices ready to go you will sprinkle them with the cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss gently to coat the apples.

How to prepare the sauce

In a medium sauce pan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, cook for one minute while whisking constantly. Mix in the water and sugar, raise the temperature and bring to a boil. Once the sauce mixture is at a boil, reduce the heat back down to medium low and simmer the mixture for 2-3 minutes.

Make sure that you are whisking this mixture the entire time. The sugar in this could easily burn or stick to the bottom of the pan if you aren’t frequently mixing. After it has been simmering for 2-3 minutes remove from the heat.

Then you will want to pour it into the large bowl full of apple slices and mix in with the apples. Now your filling is ready to go!

How to make homemade Thanksgiving apple pie

Take out one of your pie crust disks from the fridge and roll it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out in a circular shape that is a few inches longer in diameter than your pie pan. Gently lift your bottom crust and put it at the bottom of your pie pan. If part of it rips you can always press it back on.

The crust is pretty forgiving. Then you will add the filling into your pie pan. I usually will make the filling have a dome shape. This isn’t necessary, but just looks pretty. Next you will bring out the top pie crust from the fridge.

Put more flour on your counter and roll out the crust into a circular shape again. If you don’t want to do the lattice then you will lift the crust on top of your pie. Press the edges of the pie to seal the top and bottom crusts together.

Then you will add 3-4 slits in the top of the pie to allow steam to pass through the crust. Make the egg wash and brush across the top.

How to do a pie crust lattice

Starting with your rolled out top pie crust, you will use a pizza cutter to roll across the crust making thin strips. Then you will place the strips across the pie allowing a little space in between each strip. Once you have strips going across the pie north to south, you will lift every other strip and place a pie crust strip going east to west.

See the picture below. Repeat this until you have a beautiful lattice across the top of your pie. Don’t worry if your strip breaks. You can press it back together easily. Cut off the excess pie crust using a sharp knife. Gently cut along the edge of the pie pan. Press the edges together. Make the egg wash and brush across the top

How long should I bake an apple pie?

Now that your pie is ready to bake you will place it on the center wire rack in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then bake at that temperature for 15 minutes. Once your timer goes off, lower the temperature down to 350 degrees and cook for another 45 minutes. The crust should be a golden brown color and the filling should be bubbling a bit.

Let your pie cool for about 15 minutes before cutting into it.

Can I make my thanksgiving apple pie ahead of time?

Yes! Simply make the pie as instructed. Let it cool completely, and place plastic wrap over the top in two layers. Then add a layer of tin foil and place in the freezer. The night before thanksgiving take the pie out of the freezer and place on the counter to thaw. In the morning warm the pie at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until warm.

Other ways to enjoy apples is to dehydrate them and make apple chips! Check out my recipe here.

Save this yummy recipe for later and comment below on how it went for you! Happy baking!