Recipe: Classic Apple Pie with Tips from Magnolia Bakery (2024)

For the crust:

• 2 1/2 cups

  all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon

  salt

• 1 teaspoon

  sugar

• 2 sticks

  unsalted butter, chilled or frozen

• 1/4 cup

  vegetable shortening, chilled or frozen

• 1/3 cup

  plus 1 tablespoon ice water

For the pie:

• 6 to 8

  medium size Fuji, Jonagold or Gala apples, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices

• 1 tablespoon

  lemon juice

• 1 cup

  sugar plus 2 teaspoons

• 3 tablespoons

  cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon

  cinnamon plus 1/8 teaspoon

• 1/8 teaspoon

  nutmeg

• 1 tablespoon

  butter, cut into small pieces

• 1

  egg

Make the crust:

1. Combine flour, salt, and sugar and mix well. Working quickly, cut butter into 1/2-inch cubes. Add butter to flour. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, break up the chunks of butter until the cubes are the size of large peas. Add shortening and break up any pieces. Drizzle ice water into mixture and mix until just combined. Dough should come together when pressed, but still feel shaggy. If necessary, add an additional tablespoon of ice water and repeat until dough comes together.

2. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Press dough together (don't knead) and be sure to stop handling the dough before the butter heats and it appears shiny. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a flat disk and wrap with plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. Once dough has cooled, turn out onto a floured surface. Use a heavy rolling pin to whack the dough into a wide, flat circle. If the dough appears to be cracking at the edges, stop and wait for it to warm up. Roll out dough in a circular shape until it's about 13 inches around. Gently fold into quarters and place in a 9 inch pie dish. Unfold and press into the pan with your fingertips, taking care not to stretch the dough. Roll out the top crust in the same manner and refrigerate both crusts while preparing the filling.

Make the pie:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Toss apple slices with lemon juice. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add sugar mixture to apples. In a small bowl, separate egg white and mix with 1 teaspoon water. Brush bottom pie crust with egg wash. Pile the apples in the pan, heaping them in the middle of the pan to form a mound. Dot apples with butter. Gently cover the apples with the top crust dough and press (don't stretch) against the apples and bottom crust. With a pairing knife, trim dough flush to pan. Dip a fork in flour and press along crust edges to crimp and seal the crust. Cut several steam vents in the top crust. In a small bowl, combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture.

3. Place in the center rack of oven and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees and place a cookie sheet under the pie to catch juices. Bake an additional 10-20 minutes, or until juices bubble through the steam vents and apples still give resistance when pierced with a knife. Let cool completely before serving.