I am not kidding when I say this is the best apple pie on the planet. Ask Mr. DD, as he hid it in his closet so he would not have to share it with our boys.
I came across this recipe a few years back and have made it ever since. Before I give you the recipe. I want to share the story of how I came to get this recipe. I will keep it brief, I promise it is a good one, or you can scroll past it! I used to work in retail and when I was the manager of the furniture department(among many other departments) It was a tough job dealing with customer complaints about furniture deliveries. One particular day I received a phone call from an irate jerk of a gentleman. He stated that he was at our store to pick up 2 chairs that were delivered to the store for the customer’s pick up. After he unloaded them into his apartment and began to unbox them, he discovered that they were not the chairs he ordered. After doing some checking on this situation, I found that the associate at the service desk gave the stock associate the wrong order. We still had the customer’s chairs and he had someone else’s order. I made arrangements for us to exchange the customer’s chairs. The problem was that it was not soon enough for this jerk of a customer. He demanded(not nicely) that I get someone to his apartment today or he would be taking these chairs to his apartment dumpster. I could not find anyone with a truck to go to the customer’s apartment and pick up the wrong order and deliver the correct chairs at the drop of a dime. I did the only thing I could think of, I called Mr. DD who has a full-sized van, Mr. DD always comes to my rescue. My husband works from home, and he was available to do this exchange. My husband traveled 30 miles from our home to the store to pick up the correct set of chairs than on to the gentleman’s jerk’s apartment to exchange the chairs. My husband confirmed what a nice guy I was dealing with.
Where the pie comes into the story.
The woman at the service desk who made the mistake was so upset that I had to deal with such a great customer and that my husband was the one who corrected her mistake. The very next day she brought in a homemade apple pie to give to my husband for all that he did. I took this wonderful pie home to Mr. DD and told him it was for him for going out of his way to fix the service gals mistake. After dinner that night he had a slice of the pie and I have never heard my husband rave about a dessert like that. He immediately wrapped the pie back up and took it upstairs to our bedroom closet, he was not sharing this pie with the four boys. I think I did get 1 small slice, but that was it. The rest of the pie was eaten by my husband. I, of course, had to get this recipe and have made this apple pie every year since. Whenever I make this pie to take to a friend’s house or party I have to make 2, one for my husband and the other to share. NO JOKE!
So here it is!
The best apple pie on the planet!
Ingredients
- 1 pastry crust for a deep-dish pie 9-inch (homemade or store-bought)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 6 cups apples, thinly sliced peeled
- 1 recipe crumb topping (see below)
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/4 cup caramel topping
- Crumb Topping
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2cup quick cooking rolled oats
- 1/2 cup butter
Instructions
Crumb Topping
Stir together brown sugar,flour, rolled oats. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until topping is like course crumbs. Set aside.
Pie
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.
Add apple slices and gently toss until coated.
Transfer apple mixture to the pie shell
Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture.
Place pie on a cookie sheet so the drippings don't drop into your oven.
Cover edges of pie with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 25 minutes. Then remove foil and put back in for another 25 to 30 minutes without foil. Remove from oven. Sprinkle pie with chopped pecans then drizzle with caramel on top. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Note: This pie won Emeril Lagasse’s 2001 Apple Pie Contest.
This post contains affiliate links. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.
Tip: I will never make an apple pie without one of these, affiliate link—–> Apple and Potato Peeler, Clamp Base
I made the very first apple pie without an apple peeler/corer. I said I will never make another one until I purchased a peeler. I have to say this was the only kitchen gadget my husband did not complain about me purchasing. I have made every other apple pie with this thing. It is the BEST! It makes the entire process of making the pie so much easier. I am ALL about the easy!
Tip: I place a paper towel under the grip and on the counter to catch all the apple juice and to make clean up easier. One scoop and all the apple skin and cores are cleaned up. Again Easy! Did I mention I am about the easy!
I also make my crust. I did not share the how-to on this one but here is the recipe for the crust.
Homemade Pie Crust
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups lard/Crisco
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Instructions
Mix together flour, salt, Crisco, and sugar until crumbling.
In small bowl add: egg, water and vinegar
Slowly add liquid to dry mix. Mix only long enough to make the dough wet.
So what do you think? Feel like some apple pie? Let me know of any better pie crust recipes, I am always looking for the best.
You might like these other great apple recipes!
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Carol says
I just love the recipe for this pie and the story behind it! I worked in many different areas where I dealt wirh public and I can verify that people are juat plain idiots when it comes to what they figure their rights are! And then you get those sweet people who can just be that ray of sunshine in your day and make it all ok again. I wonder what emergency that idiot had that he could not wait for the correct chairs?! LOL But another thing that happened that actually came out of the covid years. There is so much less customer service now than pre covid and nothing people can do about it. So the customer just basically has to suck it up if the manpower doesn’t exist. No good in even complaining because unlike before, there is probably nobody that ill be able to satisfy complaints. I have seen several instances where it was actually really important to solve customer problem but nobody available to help, so patience is the whole key. And the sky won’t fall.
But getting back to this excellent recipe. Apples are so important, Careful to pick the right apples otherwwise it can create soupy mess. Granny smith, any nice firm apple will work beautifully. I opt for a combination. We all love a nice juicy apple to eat, but they don’t work so well in pies. The other ingredients are in perfect harmony for that wonderful taste, I like just a small bit of caramel otherwise I find it a bit too sweet.
Recipe for the crust is almost exactly my own ,that is just lovely. You might ant to add to mix water, egg, vinegar so that everything is combined and you can also use milk for a nice richer crust. Trust me, I know that it works beautifully. I have been making pies for many years and they are my favourite thing to make.
Designed Decor says
Hi Carol,
Thank you so much for the tips about the milk to make it richer. I will give that a try the next time I make a pie crust. I still have not perfected a pretty crust!
Don says
On the pie crust recipe how many pie crust does this make?
Designed Decor says
Don, it makes 2!
Donna Croce says
I made this pie last night and it was excellent. Only thing was the apples were a bit too juicy (next time I will release the juices first) and it was a bit too sweet. Could that be because the apples were so juicy to begin with? Would love to cut back the sugar. Do you think I can? Either in the filling or the crumb topping?
Deb Pickens says
This looks wonderful. I wonder about adding the pecans to the pie for the last 25 minutes of baking…seems like they would be better toasted. Have you tried this?
Designed Decor says
Deb, You should be able to add the pecans at the end of baking with no problems! I will give it a try the next time, my family has been asking for one!
donna says
They look soooo good but I was wondering if you can make ahead and freeze them?
Designed Decor says
Donna, I have never froze a pie before, but I did a search and there are a lot of sights that tell you how to freeze, thaw and be able to bake. Great idea with freezing them though.
Paula@SweetPea says
Your pie looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe with Throwback Thursday.
Alli says
I’m a lover of all things apple and your pie does look like it could be the best in the world. I must add it to my apple pie recipe collection. Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday.
Denyse @ Glitter, Glue & Paint says
DeDe…I don’t blame your husband. That pie looks so good I would hide it too. lol!! Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday.
xoxo
Denyse
Addicted to Recipes says
I LOVE apple pie, and am so excited that apple season is upon us! This recipe is being featured from Keep Calm and Cook On – September (Apple) edition over at Addicted to Recipes! http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.ca/2013/10/keep-calm-and-cook-on-september-features.html
Marilyn says
OMG this does look like it’s the best pie on the planet! I just pinned this recipe so I can find it (along with everyone else!). Thanks so much for celebrating my birthday with me. Stop by and “pick up” your 10% off coupon for My Spice Sage and check out two promotions..you need to act fast, thought!
Marilyn
jocieopc says
OMG, yummmm! I love apple pie, especially with the oat/crisp top. I have been using my apple peeler/slicer/corer like crazy this fall!
Thanks so much for linking up and linking back last week at the Humble Brag! Even though its Black Friday, hope to see you back tomorrow to link up more great projects. Don’t forget, we will be giving away more free ad space! 🙂
http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/the-humble-brag-link-party-8/
Happy Thanksgiving!
DesignedDecor says
Jocie, thanks for checking out my pie! You won’t be disappointed at all in this recipe!
Marti says
This looks so good! I may have to make these for Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase! http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/search/label/craftshowcase
Marti
DesignedDecor says
Thanks Marti, you won’t be disappointed if you make it!
The Dedicated House (@DedicatedHouse) says
This looks and sounds delicious! You will be one of the features tomorrow at Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on in and grab a feature button for your blog. Can’t wait to see what you bring to the party tomorrow. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
DesignedDecor says
Thanks Kathryn! I am thrilled to be featured! I will be linking tomorrow too!
Stephenie says
I found your website through Pinterest! I really want to make this pie for thanksgiving. I am curious what kind of apples you use? Every time I make apple pie, it comes out watery so I know I’m choosing the wrong apples! Any suggestions would be appreciated. This sounds amazing!
DesignedDecor says
In the fall season I use Honey Crisp! These are the best apples ever! They are available in limited areas and for a limited time frame. You can also try golden delicious, jonagold or gala! Enjoy the pie and please come back after you made it to let me know how you like it!
TidyMom says
oh I bet you aren’t kidding…….this totally looks like one fantastic apple pie!!
Thanks for linking up and good luck!!
DesignedDecor says
It is, TRUST me!