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–+ servings

German Apple Pie From Scratch

Carissa Erzen
This delicious German apple pie is a crowd-pleasing dessert that's sure to impress! The warm spices and apples are perfect for Fall, or any time of the year.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 3 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, German
Servings 10 slices
Calories 487 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Pie Crust

  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt (use table salt or fine sea salt)
  • 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (cubed and kept cold in the fridge) (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup ice water (kept cold in the fridge)

Apple Pie Filling

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 4 pounds apples, peeled and cored and sliced ¼-inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (use table salt or fine sea salt)
  • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions
 

Prepare the Pie Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon.
  • Toss the cold cubed butter into the dry mixture. Squeeze each piece of butter between your fingers and your thumb to flatten and break it down a bit. The butter pieces end up looking like thick cornflakes.
  • Add the ice cold water one tablespoon at a time and mix with a fork until it holds its shape when squeezed in the palm of your hand.
  • Divide the dough into a larger disc and a slightly smaller disk. Wrap both dough discs individually in plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days.

Prepare the Pie Filling

  • In a large pot, heat the butter on medium heat.
    Peel and core the apples and slice them into ¼-inch thick slices.
  • Add the apple slices, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until the apples begin to soften after about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest and cornstarch to create a thick liquid.
    Add that into the pot and bring to a boil for 1 minute to activate the cornstarch.
    Set the apple pie filling aside to cool and thicken.

Assemble and Bake the Pie

  • On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin roll out the larger disc of dough into a ½-inch thick circle.
    Grease a 10-inch pie dish with a little butter. Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough into the pie dish.
  • Spoon the apple pie filling into the pie crust.
    Put it back in the fridge to keep the butter in the pie dough cold.
  • Optional: Roll out the smaller disc of dough into a ½-inch thick circle. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough. Dust with flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to the cookie cutters.
    Place the cut-out pieces of your top dough around the edge of the pie. Place them right up to the edge and overlapping onto the pie filling.
  • Place your pie back in the fridge to keep the butter cold while the oven preheats to 425°F.
    Bake the pie on the center rack at 425°F for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the pie crust begins to turn golden.
    Lower the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for another 25 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
  • Let the pie cool for at least 1 hour. Enjoy!!

Notes

  • Storing Dough: You can store unbaked pie dough in the fridge wrapped in plastic cling wrap for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Storing Pie: Let your pie cool completely to room temperature, then wrap loosely with plastic cling wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: Wrap an individual slice in aluminum foil and place in a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 375°F. Keep the pie in the oven for 10 minutes after the oven finishes preheating. Unwrap and serve your warmed pie with an intact flaky crust.
  • Pie crust: You can substitute store bought pie crust for the homemade pie crust.
  • Heavy cream: For a more authentic German flavor, pour one cup of heavy cream on the apple filling in the unbaked pie, then continue with the recipe instructions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 487kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 327mgPotassium: 271mgFiber: 6gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 705IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 3mg
Keyword apple pie, butter pie crust, fruit pie, homemade pie, pie dough
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