Pie Day (3.14) feels like the perfect excuse to celebrate one of the most beloved desserts of all time: apple pie. There’s something timeless about it- the warm spices, the tender fruit, and the buttery crust that somehow makes a kitchen feel instantly cozier. It’s the kind of dessert that invites people to linger a little longer at the table, forks poised for “just one more bite.”
For this pie, I like using a mix of apples to create the best balance of flavor and texture. Tart Granny Smith apples bring brightness, while Gala and Fuji apples add natural sweetness and soften beautifully as they bake. Together, they create a filling that’s perfectly tender without losing that lovely apple bite.
What really brings everything together is the sweet, spiced sauce. Butter, flour, and brown sugar melt into a rich, caramel-like base, while cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves add warmth and depth. As the pie bakes, the sauce thickens around the apples, coating every slice in a glossy, fragrant filling that bubbles gently beneath the crust.
Whether you’re celebrating Pie Day or simply craving a classic dessert, this apple pie delivers everything we love about homemade baking: a flaky crust, cozy spices, and the comforting sweetness of apples baked to perfection. Because some traditions, like apple pie on March 14th, are just too good to pass up.
Apple Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pie crust
- 2 lbs apples- I use a mix of Granny smith, Fuji and Gala peeled and cored, about 6-7 apples
- 113 g unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp clove
- 1/4 cup water
- 220 g brown sugar
- 1 recipe for crumb topping for pie
Instructions
For the Sauce
- Measure out your sauce ingredients ahead of time to ensure adding easily.
- In a small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. 113 g unsalted butter
- Once the butter has melted, add in the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Whisking constantly, stir for 1 minute.3 tbsp flour1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon1/2 tsp ground nutmeg1/4 tsp clove
- Add in the water and brown sugar to the flour mixture. Whisk to bring everything together. Let mixture come to a boil, while gently whisking. Reduce heat to medium low (low if your stove top cooks hot) and cook for 3 minutes, whisking gently.1/4 cup water220 g brown sugar
- Remove mixture from heat and set to the side to cool a little.
For the Pie
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Peel, core and slice your apples and place them in a large bowl.2 lbs apples- I use a mix of Granny smith, Fuji and Gala
- Place your prepared pie crust on a baking sheet to reduce the risk of any sauce falling onto the bottom of your oven.1 Pie crust
- One your apples are sliced, immediately pour your sauce mixture over top of the apples, stirring to coat completely.
- Place your apples into your prepared pie crust and immediately place into the oven.
- Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes.
- At this point, pull your pie out of the oven and top it with the crumb topping. Rotate the pie and put it back in the oven for 30 minutes.1 recipe for crumb topping for pie
- Pull pie out of the oven and allow it to cool completely before slicing into it. If cut into before cooling, it will likely appear soupy. Once it cools, it should set up wonderfully, giving you a decadent pie with an amazing saucy filling.
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