Holiday Recipe: Classic Apple Pie with Cinnamon Sugar Crust

The holiday season is here, and there’s NOTHING like the smell of a warm apple pie baking to make everyone feel at home. This CLASSIC APPLE PIE WITH CINNAMON SUGAR CRUST brings the BEST blend of tart apples, warm spices, and buttery crust. It’s the kind of pie that FEELS LIKE A HUG and will make your holiday table complete— let’s get baking!

Ingredients

For the Filling:

• 6–7 medium apples (a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp works great), peeled, cored, and sliced thin
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt

For the Crust:

• 1 double pie crust (store-bought or homemade)

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

• 1 tbsp milk or heavy cream (for brushing the crust)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Filling

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F
2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, lemon juice, and salt. Mix until well coated and let them sit for 10 minutes to soak up the flavors.

Step 2: Assemble the Pie

1. Roll out the bottom crust and place it in a 9-inch pie dish, letting the edges hang over slightly.
2. Pour the apple filling into the crust, mounding it slightly in the center.
3. Roll out the top crust and place it over the apples. Trim any extra dough, fold the edges under, and crimp to seal.
4. Brush the top crust with milk or heavy cream, then sprinkle it with the cinnamon sugar mixture for a sweet, golden finish.

Step 3: Bake the Pie

1. Place the pie on a baking sheet (to catch spills) and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.
2. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for another 30–35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
3. Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before slicing—this helps the filling set.

Serve & Enjoy!

This Classic Apple Pie has all the holiday flavors, with tender apples and the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate holiday treat.

Tips for the Best Apple Pie

• Use a mix of apples: Tart and sweet apples give the pie a great flavor.
• Make ahead: The pie can be baked the night before. Just cover and store at room temperature, then reheat gently before serving.
• For a crispier crust: Add an egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water) before sprinkling with cinnamon sugar for a perfectly golden finish.

Enjoy baking this holiday classic, and remember—it’s also a warm-up for my Annual Pie Party in February! Hope to see you there! 🥧