How do you make good apple pie?

Making a Delicious Apple Pie: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ingredients:

For the Filling:

* 6-8 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a mix)

* 1/2 cup granulated sugar

* 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

* 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

* Pinch of salt

* 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

For the Crust:

* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

* 1/2 cup ice water

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Filling:

* Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

* Peel, core, and slice apples.

* In a large bowl, combine the sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

* Add apple slices and toss to coat evenly.

* Fold in the butter pieces.

2. Make the Crust:

* In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.

* Cut in the chilled butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

* Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together.

* Divide the dough in half, flatten each disc into a circle, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. Assemble the Pie:

* Roll out one dough disc on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle.

* Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges.

* Fill the crust with the prepared apple mixture.

* Roll out the remaining dough disc and cut into strips for a lattice top.

* Weave the strips over the filling, then trim and crimp the edges.

* Brush the crust with a mixture of 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon milk for a golden brown finish.

4. Bake the Pie:

* Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 375°F.

* Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for another 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

* Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before serving.

Tips for an Amazing Apple Pie:

* Choose the right apples: Use a mix of sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor profile.

* Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the crust tough.

* Keep the butter cold: Cold butter will help create a flaky crust.

* Don't skip the chilling step: This allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a tender crust.

* Blind bake the bottom crust: This prevents a soggy crust.

* Use a pie shield: This will prevent the crust from browning too quickly.

* Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Variations:

* Add a sprinkle of oats to the top crust for a crunchy topping.

* Include a tablespoon of lemon juice to the filling to prevent browning.

* Substitute some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a more rustic crust.

* Experiment with different spices, such as cardamom, ginger, or allspice.

Enjoy your homemade apple pie!