How To Make Perfect Apple Pie From Scratch Step-By-Step

December 23, 2011
By Melanie Mendelson

If you never made a real homemade apple pie from scratch before, the task of making an apple pie might seem complicated.  These step-by-step instructions will make baking the apple pie really easy! In fact, you can use these step-by-step pictures and instructions for making any kind of double-crust fruit pie.

baked apple pie - fresh out of the oven!

For the detailed ingredients of this apple pie, see the best apple pie recipe.

Step 1 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Make The Dough

The first thing you need when making an apple pie is to make the dough for the pie crust.  Follow my very easy recipe for making pie crust dough in the food processor. With the help of the food processor, making your own pie dough from scratch takes just 5 minutes!

Prepare the dough according to the food processor pie crust recipe, shape it into 2 disks and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Here’s the picture of the 2 disks of dough in the ziploc bags, ready to go to the refrigerator:

pie crust dough disks refrigerated in a ziploc bag

Step 2 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Roll The Bottom Crust

Put the disk of pie dough on a floured surface.  Roll it with a rolling pin until it makes a 12-inch circle.  Yes, I use a ruler to measure it :)

Here’s the picture of a dough disk:
disk of pie dough

Here’s the picture of it getting rolled with a rolling pin:

rolling the pie dough with a rolling pin

And here’s the picture of the rolled dough circle that will be a bottom crust.  Notice some imperfections – if the dough tears, just fix it by pinching the dough with your fingers :)
pie dough rolled into a circle

Step 3 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Put The Bottom Crust In A Pie Pan

Spay the non-stick 9-inch round pie pan with a cooking spray, or grease it with butter. Put the dough circle than you just rolled into a pie pan.  Press the dough into the sides of the pan, forming a bottom crust.

Here’s the picture of the brand new bottom crust:

pie dough bottom crust in a pie pan

Put the pie pan in the refrigerator while you  prepare the apple pie filling.

Step 4 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Make The Apple Pie Filling

Peel and slice the apples.  Sprinkle the apple slices with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.  Toss to combine.

Here’s the picture of the apple pie filling – apple slices tossed with sugar and spices:
apple pie filling

Step 5 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Put The Filling Into The Bottom Crust

Put the apple slices into the pie pan, into the bottom crust.

Here’s the picture of the apple filling added to the pie pan:
apple pie filling added to the apple pie

Step 6 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Roll Out The Top Crust

Put the second dough disk on a floured surface and roll it into an 11-inch circle.

rolling the top crust dough

Step 7 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Add The Top Crust

Carefully lift the dough circle and put it on top of the apple pie.

Here’s the picture of the top crust added to the apple pie:adding the top crust to the apple pie

Step 8 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Seal The Edges

Pinch the edges of the pie, so the top and bottom crusts are sealed together.  Go around the pie, pinching the dough together.  Here’s the picture of the process:

pinching the edges of the apple pie to seal

Here’s the apple pie with sealed edges:

sealed apple pie

Step 9 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Brush, Sprinkle and Cut The Slits

Brush the top of the apple pie with the whisked egg white.  Sprinkle with some sugar.  Cut 4 slits in the top crust.

cut the slits in the apple pie top crust

Step 10 Of How To Make Apple Pie: Bake The Pie

Put the apple pie in a preheated oven and bake 20 minutes at 425F and another 30 minutes at 375F.

Enjoy your freshly baked homemade apple pie!  For a complete recipe, don’t forget to check out my easy apple pie recipe.

homemade baked apple pie

13 Responses to How To Make Perfect Apple Pie From Scratch Step-By-Step

  1. Tina@flourtrader on December 23, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Your apple pie does look delicious! I really do need to start working with pastry and pies more often. Your tutorial here does make it look easy as well as inspiring. I always worry about over browning or the crust shrinking or forming big bubbles. Your are welcome in my kitchen anytime Melanie-great post!

  2. Manju on December 23, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    It actually seems pretty simple when you explain it that way :) Happy Holidays to you!

  3. Biren @ Roti n Rice on December 23, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    I love homemade apple pies. They always taste so much better than store bought ones. That’s a great tutorial!

    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

  4. Thu on December 23, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Great step by steps, thanks for sharing.

    Happy Holidays to you as well!

  5. Words Of Deliciousness on December 23, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Great job on instructions of making a pie from scratch. You make it look so simple. Happy holidays!!!

  6. Liz on December 23, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    Mmmmmm….I LOVE apple pie…probably one of my favorite desserts! Yours looks perfect! Happy holidays, Melanie!

  7. Ann@Anncoo Journal on December 24, 2011 at 2:22 am

    Perfect pie for Christmas :)
    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

  8. yummychunklet on December 24, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Since my family celebrated together for Thanksgiving, I get to experiment with fun new kitchen gadgets and recipes for Christmas. This one is on my list!

  9. Joyti on December 25, 2011 at 3:43 am

    Delicious. Hope you have a lovely holiday :)

  10. Von on December 25, 2011 at 6:50 am

    It’s been agessss since I last made an apple pie…… Yours looks so good- especially the pastry!

  11. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com on December 27, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    Homemade apple pies are the best pies I’ve tasted, by far. This looks so drool-worthy :) thanks for sharing the recipe!

  12. Nami | Just One Cookbook on December 29, 2011 at 4:48 am

    You make it sounds so easy and it’s perfect for me! This looks delicious and nice step-by-step instructions!

  13. sally on January 17, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Beautiful pie! It makes me hungry.

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