Why This Old-Fashioned Apple Pie Beats Store-Bought Every Time

I’ve baked more apple pies than I can count over the years.

Family gatherings, school fundraisers, Sunday lunches, special occasions, or simply because there was a bowl of apples sitting on the bench that needed using up. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

A truly good apple pie is all about the pastry.

And after trying countless recipes, this is still the one I come back to every single time.

The filling is delicious, of course. Tender apples, warm spices and just the right amount of sweetness. But what takes this pie from good to unforgettable is the pastry.

It’s buttery, flaky and perfectly short without being dry. It has a rich homemade flavour that you simply don’t get from store-bought pastry. The slight sweetness balances beautifully with the apples, creating that classic apple pie taste most of us remember from childhood.

Yes, making your own pastry takes a little extra effort.

There are a few more steps than grabbing a frozen sheet from the supermarket freezer, and I’ll admit there are days when the shortcut is tempting. But every time I bake this pie from scratch, I’m reminded why it’s worth it.

The difference is remarkable.

The pastry holds its shape beautifully, develops a gorgeous golden colour and adds a rich buttery flavour that turns a simple apple pie into something special.

You can keep it traditional by laying the pastry over the top in one sheet, or dress it up a little for special occasions. A lattice top looks stunning and gives the pie that classic bakery-style finish that always impresses guests.

The best part?

This old-fashioned apple pie tastes like a proper homemade dessert. The kind that fills the kitchen with the smell of cinnamon and baked apples. The kind that has everyone hovering around waiting for it to cool enough to slice.

Once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand why it beats store-bought every single time.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Pie

• Rich buttery homemade pastry that makes all the difference.
• Perfect balance of sweet apples and warming spices.
• Ideal for family gatherings, holidays and weekend baking.
• Looks impressive but uses simple pantry ingredients.
• Delicious served warm with cream, custard or vanilla ice cream.
• Freezes well for make-ahead desserts.

Pin

Print

Apple Pie

Recipe by Stay at Home Mum

2.6 from 5 votes

Course: Baking, Cakes, Desserts, Recipes, Special OccasionsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium

This apple pie is loaded with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples in a flaky crust. Ideal for cosy afternoons or holiday tables, it’s the poster dessert of home-baked warmth and tradition everyone loves.

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

6

servings

Prep time

40

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

320

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

20

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 2 cups Plain Flour

• 1  Pinch Of Salt

• 185 g  Butter

• 1 tbsp  Sugar , Caster

• 1  Egg Yolk

• 5 tbsp Water

• Cheat Filling

• 800 g  Apple Filling

• 2 tbsp  Brown Sugar

• 1 tsp  Cinnamon

• Filling from scratch

• 7  Apples

• 3/4 cup  Sugar

• 1 tbsp  Plain Flour

• 1  Pinch Of Salt

• 1 tsp  Cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp  Nutmeg

• 30 g  Butter melted

Directions

• Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs (don’t overdo this!).
• Add the sugar.
• Make a well in the centre – mix in the egg and water and combine quickly with a knife.
• Gently bring the dough together with your hands.
• Knead very lightly – wrap in baking paper and refrigerate for 1/2 hour before using.
• In a bowl mix the pie apples with the sugar and cinnamon – refrigerate until needed.
• Cut off a third of the dough and reserve (for the lid).
• Roll the pastry out between two pieces of baking paper and line a greased pie dish.
• Add the apple mixture.
• Roll out the lid and place over the top of the pie.  Press the edges together to seal and cut off excess pastry (use to decorate the top).
• Brush the top with some beaten egg white to glaze.
• Bake in a moderate oven for 40 minutes or until pie crust is golden.
• Peel and core the apples and slice thinly.
• Combine the butter, sugar, flour, spices and salt and mix with the apple slices.
• Spoon into pastry.  Finish as per instructions above but cook for 1 hour.

Equipment

• 
  Stainless Steel Anti Slip Mixing BowlView here
• 
  Lecreuset Stoneware Heritage Round Pie DishView here
• 
  Colormix Sili Pastry Brush LimeView here

Notes

• Apple Pie is suitable to freeze for up to four months
• Serve warm with cream or ice cream. Dust with icing sugar for some extra sweetness.
• You can use this recipe to make individual pies too.

More Comfort Food You’ll Love

If you love food that feel like a hug in a spoon, don’t miss these family favourites:

• Old Fashioned Jelly Cakes – soft sponge cakes coated in jelly and coconut, just like Nan used to make.
• Creamy Chicken and Leek Casserole – when you’re craving comfort food for dinner before dessert.
• Sticky Crispy Asian Pork Belly – a restaurant-worthy family meal that’s surprisingly easy to make at home.

Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or simply making the most of apple season, this is one recipe that’s worth keeping in your collection. One bite of that buttery pastry and you’ll never look at supermarket apple pie the same way again.

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

See Full Bio