Apron Strings Recipes
Mom’s Apple Pie
by Paula Jones
When I saw this snappy little apple and pear apron, I knew I had to have it. It reminds me of apple pie. Not any apple pie, mind you, my mom’s apple pie! I haven’t gone a Thanksgiving without it, and I don’t plan on starting.
I can remember my Mom making this pie from the time I was little. She’d put on her apron (a cute little half apron with big pockets and a ruffle at the bottom - oh so stylish) and pull out her big lime green Tupperware bowl…you know the one.
Mom would start by peeling the apples, slice them up (by hand) and fill up the giant lime green bowl - I swear this is a Hulk-sized bowl! Then came the sugar and spice - oh so nice! Next up it was my turn! I got to stick my hands in and toss them all around. Yes, you’ve got to get in there and get dirty. No spoon is going to do that for you!
Mom’s pie crust is full of buttery homemade goodness (two sticks of buttery goodness to be exact). She rolled out the crusts with the ancient – oops, I meant to say “vintage” - wooden rolling pin that’s seen many a piecrust and threatened many who have tried to get their mitts on the apple filling before it was done!
Oh, the smells are intoxicating while it’s baking to bubbly perfection. It’s enough to drive you crazy and then that first bite: warm and toasty, the crunch of the apples, the sweetness of the sugar and cinnamon, the ooey, gooey sauce dripping down. Whew! Okay, it’s a recipe and not a romance novel… As you can tell, I love my Mom’s pie!
I must admit that I don’t cut my apples by hand. “Did you hear that? That was my Mom gasping!” My apple corer makes my life so much easier.
Now, when I put on my snappy little half apron (an updated version of my Mom’s classic) and pull out the ancient rolling pin that was so lovingly gifted to me, it takes me right back to Mom’s kitchen!
Mom’s Apple Pie
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
FILLING:
8 apples - peeled & sliced (half Granny Smith, half Macintosh)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter – chilled and sliced
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons flour
DOUGH:
2 1/2 cups All Purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks of butter, cold & cubed
1/4 - 1/2 cup ice water
Egg - lightly beaten for egg wash
Cinnamon sugar for dusting
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400ºF
In a food processor combine the flour, salt, sugar and pulse. Add in the butter and slowly gradually add the ice water. Pulse until dough just comes together. Don’t overwork the dough or it will make a tough crust.
Remove the dough from processor. Cut into two equal sections. Pat sections into discs and wrap in plastic wrap and place into refrigerator. Chill for 1 hour. (can be frozen for future use)
In a small mixing bowl bowl, combine cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar & flour, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, add the peeled and sliced apples. Sprinkle spice and flour mixture over apples. Toss to coat.
Remove one chilled disc of dough from the refrigerator and roll out on a lightly floured surface, large enough to cover your pie pan. Shape to fit, cutting off any excess.
Pour apple mixture into pie pan and add your sliced butter to the top of the mixture. Remove second dough disk from refrigerator and roll out large enough to fit the top of your pie with an overhang. Place pie dough on top of apple mixture and crimp edges to seal. With a knife, add four slits to your piecrust. Lightly brush egg wash onto top of dough. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar.
Place onto a baking tray into preheated oven for approximately 50 minutes or until golden brown & bubbly. Allow pie to rest until cool before slicing. Refrigerate any uneaten portions.
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Reader Comments:
I tried this recipe today as a trial run for my Thanksgiving dinner and it is so easy and absolutely delicious! This is a great recipe!
Christina of SC on November 22, 2009 09:47 PM
My 6 year old son loves your apple pie, I tell him if he’s good in school I will bake him one, so lets just say he keeps me baking, thank you so much for sharing your recipe for this great pie
mpmissey68 on November 21, 2009 06:58 PM
Sounds awesome!! Always in the market for new recipes. Can’t wait to try it.
Delaine Dickerson of Waynesboro, MS on November 19, 2009 10:46 PM
Oh my my, this recipe looks divine! I was visualizing myself helping my own mother in the kitchen as a young girl. I have such fond memories of that. I do love apple pie, but nothing compares to a home made apple pie. This looks delectable and it will be a centerpiece on my own Thanksgiving table. I can not wait to try this recipe, thank you for sharing Paula!
Anna Shingleton of Dallas Texas on November 19, 2009 11:52 AM
I remember my mom’s pie, but never got her to write it down before she died-boohoo!!! But I will try this one out and see what happens, I love apple pie!!!
Earlene of Wisconsin on November 18, 2009 07:31 PM
I love how this recipe mixes the Granny Smith Apples and Macintosh Apples. This allows for the pie to be sweet and tart at the same time. I adore this recipe!
Beth Comella of Augusta, GA on November 18, 2009 05:23 PM
This looks fabulous. I believe you’ve just given me one of two pies I’ll make for our Thanksgiving dinner. I’m so happy I found this recipe via your Torta di Noci picture at Tastespotting. (I’ll save the torta for Christmas!)
debbie of milwaukee, wi on November 18, 2009 04:46 PM
Wow… what a mouth-watering article! It made me want to immediately put on my own little pink & brown paisley apron and get to bakin’ this great-lookin’ apple pie! The writer’s vivid description of her Mom’s famous recipe definitely enticed me to try this one out VERY SOON!
Shannon of Memphis, TN on November 18, 2009 01:23 AM
I absolutely LOVE homeade apple pie. Thanks Paula for a fabulous recipe and keep them coming.
Excellent !!
Melissa Staie of Villa Rica, Ga. on November 17, 2009 09:51 PM
Looks delicious and yummy. Wish I was at your house tonight bella mia!!! 
bacio!
Katie of Firenze on November 17, 2009 05:32 PM
Looks delicious and yummy. Wish I was at your house tonight bella mia!!!
bacio!
Kate Greenaway of Firenze on November 17, 2009 05:31 PM
This recipe is perfect for the holidays! I love how you combined Granny Smith and Macintosh apples to make the pie tart and sweet. The crust is just like I remember it buttery and flakey. This is the perfect apple pie to impress your guest.
Beth Comella of Augusta, GA on November 17, 2009 05:16 PM
This pie looks delicious. We are headed to the store right now to get the ingredients to make it!!!
John Ek of Austin on November 17, 2009 04:17 PM
I’ve never made apple pie before but this recipe (and the cute story that went along with it) has me wanting to try it. So this Thanksgiving I’ll be adding Paula’s Mom’s Apple Pie to the menu!
Daenel Vaughn-Tucker of Pennsylvania on November 17, 2009 03:47 PM
Paula’s pies are absolutely wonderful! I am so lucky to be close enough to her to be able to sample her cooking! I love to be at her house when she is baking as the aromas stir up memories of grandma and family meals like nothing else can! This recipe is a must have and I look forward to passing down memories to my kids about mama baking Aunt Paula’s pie in the kitchen!
Barbie of youngsville, nc on November 17, 2009 03:35 PM
This recipe sounds definitely worth trying! I do pride myself on my pastry, but yours is a little different. I love experimenting. Also, I usually use Fiji + Granny Smith… never used MacIntosh, so that’ll be a fun tweek, too!
I also absolutely love that Cinnamon sugar dusting on top of the crust… what an awesome final touch!
Monica Funston Treadway of Silicon Valley, CA on November 17, 2009 01:08 PM
What a lovely memory! We love apple pie here in our house! Can’t wait to give this a try! YUM!
Mylynka on November 17, 2009 01:03 PM
I know the lime green Tupperware bowl!!
My husband loves apple pie; it’s his favorite dessert. I’ve always used Granny Smith apples but the idea of half MacIntosh sounds good.
I really appreciate the inclusion of a crust recipe - especially one that uses a food processor. I’ve not used mine for pie crusts yet and can’t wait to “give it a whirl” hahaha.
Thanks for this article - love the subject and especially the conversational, personal style.
Leslie
P.S. I have a dented silver tea kettle my grandma gave me and it’s precious just like your rolling pin.
Leslie Ward of West Virginia on November 17, 2009 12:12 PM
I’m like this about my grandmother’s chocolate chess pie - but this makes me want to go home and bake this apple one right now! YUM.
Anne T. of Athens, GA on November 17, 2009 12:09 PM
Love the story behind this pie…and from the looks and sounds of it, it’s one i will be making myself…Soon!
Susan Whetzel of Pearisburg, VA on November 17, 2009 11:55 AM
Whew, that description was enticing enough to make even this non-baker try this recipe. There is nothing as comforting as the aroma of home made apple pie baking!
lisa Bailey on November 17, 2009 11:53 AM
Paula,
First of all, that picture is adorable!! I love the apron! The recipe is great! I love that it uses full fat butter, just the way it should be! Beautiful!
Diana @ Spain in Iowa of Iowa on November 17, 2009 11:45 AM
mmmmmm…... I can smell it cooking already!!!! Can’t wait to try your “Mom’s pie”!!!
Brandon Bentley of Atlanta Ga. on November 17, 2009 11:43 AM
Beautiful memories of baking with your mother… And, your pie looks absolutely delicious! It reminds me of pies I have made with my mother, as well - apple is my all time favorite!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction on November 17, 2009 11:33 AM
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Great recipe, made my first ever homemade pie crust with it and it worked!!! My only question is - 1 TBSP of each cinnamon and nutmeg? Is that correct? I found it a bit overpowering…
Sarah of Kanata, Canada on June 29, 2010 05:43 PM