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Close-up eye-level shot of a rustic apple pie in a white ceramic dish, showing the sparkling sugar on the lattice crust. (Apple Pie Recipe)

Rustic Apple Pie Recipe with a Perfect Lattice Crust

The ultimate Rustic Apple Pie Recipe! Learn to make a stunning homemade apple pie with a flaky, all-butter woven lattice crust and a perfectly spiced, tender apple filling.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 411

Ingredients
  

For The Flaky All-Butter Crust
  • 2.5 cups (300g) All-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (226g) Unsalted butter, very cold and cubed
  • 1 tbsp (15g) Granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp (6g) Salt
  • 0.5 cup (120ml) Ice water
For The Tender Spiced Apple Filling
  • 8 medium Apples, mixed varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp Peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) Lemon juice
  • 0.5 cup (100g) Packed light brown sugar
  • 0.25 cup (50g) Granulated sugar
  • 0.25 cup (30g) All-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp (4g) Ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp (28g) Unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
For The Topping
  • 1 large Egg For egg wash
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) Milk For egg wash
  • 2 tbsp (30g) Coarse sugar Such as Demerara sugar
  • 0.25 tsp (1g) Ground cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 9-inch pie dish
  • 2 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Rolling Pin
  • 1 Baking Sheet

Method
 

Prepare the Pie Crust
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
  2. Gradually sprinkle in the ice water, mixing gently with a fork until the dough just begins to come together. Divide the dough into two discs (one slightly larger), wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
Create the Apple Filling
  1. In a large bowl, toss the peeled and sliced apples with lemon juice. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the apples and toss to coat evenly.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the larger dough disc and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish. Spoon in the apple filling and dot with butter pieces.
  2. Roll out the second dough disc and cut into ten 1-inch strips. Weave the strips into a lattice pattern over the filling. Trim and crimp the edges.
  3. Brush the lattice with an egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp milk). Sprinkle with a mixture of coarse sugar and cinnamon.
  4. Bake on a baking sheet at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F (190°C) and bake for another 35-45 minutes, until the crust is deep golden-brown and the filling is bubbly. Let cool completely (at least 4 hours) before slicing.

Notes

Keep Everything Cold: The secret to a flaky crust is cold butter and ice water. If your kitchen is warm, don't hesitate to chill the dough between steps.
Don't Fear the Dark: Bake until the crust is a confident, deep golden-brown for the best flavor and texture. If the edges are browning too quickly, cover them with foil.
The Cooling Period is Non-Negotiable: Slicing into a hot pie will result in a soupy mess. Allowing it to cool completely lets the filling thicken and set for clean, beautiful slices.
Mix Your Apples: Relying on just one type of apple can lead to a one-dimensional or mushy filling. The combination of tart and sweet apples is a game-changer.