Apple pie is one of those classic comfort foods that just makes you feel good. It’s easy to make and delicious to eat, and it’s perfect for any occasion. The trick is to have the right ingredients on hand to create a great pie, whether you’re making it for yourself or for someone else.
The apples you use are a big factor in your pie’s success. It’s essential to choose a variety that has the right texture and flavor. There are several types of apples that are great for making apple pie, including Granny Smith, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Empire, Cortland, and Jonagold.
You can also use frozen sliced or cubed apples. These hold up well in pies and other baked recipes.
To make homemade apple pie filling, simply combine a mix of sliced or chopped apples with granulated sugar, light brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice and zest. Toss to coat the apples evenly.
Once the filling is ready, put it into a prepared pie crust. (Alternatively, you can use store-bought pie dough and follow the instructions on the package.) Then, place the pie in the oven to bake until it’s nicely browned and the juices are bubbling. You can also cover the pie with foil for the last 20 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
After removing the pie from the oven, cool it on a rack for about 1 hour before slicing into it. This will help prevent the bottom crust from getting soggy.
If you’re planning to serve the pie with vanilla ice cream, add it just before serving so it doesn’t get too soft. You can also sprinkle it with a little extra sugar or cinnamon before serving to give the pie an additional boost of sweetness.
The best pie filling is made from sweet-tart baking apples. You can find them in the produce section of your grocery store.
They have a crisp, juicy texture and a sweet and tart taste that balances the sweetness of the sugar and helps the apple pie to stay incredibly fresh. Some people like to add other fruits to their pie filling, such as cranberries, cooked sliced quince, dried cherries, or any combination you can think of.
You can also add nuts or spices to your filling to create an even more unique pie. Some of the flavors you can use include cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.
If you’re using an uncooked pie crust, it is a good idea to pre-bake the filling for about 15 minutes. This will keep the filling from separating and becoming too thick.
It’s also a great way to avoid the soggy bottom crust that can occur when you use raw apples. The pre-cooked filling will release its liquid as it cooks down, preventing any gaps between the fruit and the crust.
This apple pie filling recipe is a great way to prep for the holidays! It can be made up to a month in advance and stored in your freezer.