Best Homemade Apple Pie

This is the Best Homemade Apple Pie recipe, with a flaky homemade pie crust, homemade apple pie filling, and creamy cheesecake layer that takes it over the top. 

Homemade pies are my weakness; I can never resist a buttery crust that melts in my mouth. A slice of warm apple pie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas! This decadent dish combines two of my favorite desserts – cheesecake and apple pie.

Mixing these two in one pie was pure genius because they go so well together. The rich and creamy cheesecake layer is a sumptuous delight sitting on top of the flaky crust holding up the delicious apple filling. Then, it is topped with a crunchy and flaky sugar-coated crust.

I have the BEST apple pie recipe made from scratch here, no kidding! I am mixing two mouthwatering desserts together in a unique way to make life sweeter. Nothing is more impressive than tender, sweet apples sitting on a delicious layer of creamy cheesecake. This will quickly become your favorite apple pie recipe and a great holiday tradition!

 If you have been afraid to make pie crust from scratch, I have got you covered. With my baking expertise, I made sure to have the perfect, easy to follow recipe you, that always turns out perfect. Also, watch the recipe video I have attached to better guide you through the cooking process. 

I have never been a fan of bland crust, I like adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg into the dough, it adds so much flavor. My secret to perfect crust is using a mix of shortening and butter. This makes a crust that is easy to work with and still has that delicious butter flavor we all love.

The cheesecake layer is optional, but if you are looking to take your apple pie to a new level, I am telling you, this is the way to go. The combo of creamy and rich cheesecake, with the buttery crust and the apple filling, is a must-try! This is the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Why you will love this recipe

• Two desserts in one: I wanted to create a unique dessert that will stand out at the holiday table! Apple pie and cheesecake, two favorites in one, making it extra delicious and special.
• Homemade crust: I have nothing against store-bought pie crust, and I encourage you to use one if you want to save time. But, I made sure to test many times this recipe, to make sure you can make a pie crust from scratch.
• Make it in advance: I always try to see how I can save time and effort when making an elaborate recipe like this. Make the apple pie filling two days in advance, make the crust one day in advance and refrigerate. When ready to serve, just assemble and add the cheesecake layer.
• Freezes well: With my step-by-step recipe, nobody can mess this up, so I recommend to make two and freeze one for later!

What you’ll need to make homemade apple pie with a cheesecake layer:

Special items

• Food processor – To mix the crust ingredients.
• Pie pan – For the pie.
• Stand mixer – To mix the cheesecake ingredients.
• Bowls
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients

For the pie crust:

• All-purpose flour – I use all-purpose flour for crusts because it is easy to work with and produces a flaky crust. The protein makes gluten when mixed with liquid, so it holds its shape well.
• Cold butter – It is essential to use cold butter for a flaky and tender crust. The cold butter creates steam as it melts between the layers in the crust.
• Cold shortening – Using cold shortening does the same thing as cold butter helping to make it flaky and tender.
• White ground sugar – Adds sweetness as well as moisture to the crust to keep it from tasting too starchy.
• Ground cinnamon – To give your crust a little warmth and extra sweetness without more sugar.
• Ground nutmeg – Blends well with cinnamon for a familiar holiday flavor.
• Salt
• Cold water

For the cheesecake layer:

• Cream cheese – Make sure it is brick style and room temperature to get a smooth batter and no cracks.
• Large egg – The egg should also be at room temperature to blend more easily and trap air better.
• Granulated white sugar – Adds sweetness, retains moisture, and prevents gluten for extra softness.
• All-purpose flour – To aid in thickening without causing lumps in the batter.
• Heavy whipping cream – Cold heavy whipping cream with at least 36% whipping cream is the only way to get firm peaks for fluffy airy cheesecake.
• Vanilla extract – Use 100% pure vanilla extract for the finest flavor without bitter aftertaste.

For the pie filling:

• Apple pie filling – Buy apple pie filling from the store or use my recipe for homemade apple pie filling.

For the egg wash:

• Large egg – No need to warm it to room temperature. It should be whisked with cold milk until frothy and then spread onto the pie with a pastry brush.
• Milk – Any kind of milk will work fine for this, but I prefer whole milk.

How do you make homemade pie crust?

This is how you make pie dough for the bottom crust and top crust. You can use this easy recipe for fruit pies, like Cherry Pie.

1. Mix dry ingredients: First, mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add dairy: After that, add the unsalted butter and shortening to the flour mixture and use a pastry cutter or food processor to combine everything.
3. Add water: Afterward, add the cold water and mix to combine again. The mixture should resemble coarse sand. It should stick together when you press it with your fingers.
4. Chill: Next, roll the dough into a smooth ball, but make sure you don’t knead it much or work it. After that, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
5. Roll: When ready to use, remove the dough from the fridge and place it on a floured surface or better a lightly floured waxed paper sitting on a flat surface. Flatten the ball into a disk and using a rolling pin, roll it into a circle, starting from the center.
6. Add to pie pan: Finally, using the waxed paper, lift the dough and transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Gently pierce a few holes with a fork, before adding the cheesecake layer and apple pie filling.

How do you make homemade apple pie from scratch?

1. The crust: First decide if you are making your dough for the crust or if you will be using store-bought pie dough. Keep in mind that you will need two dough discs for the bottom and the top of the pie.
2. The filling: After that, decide if you are using homemade or store-bought pie filling. If making the homemade version, choose your favorite type of apples and prepare them for the recipe.
3. Make the filling: Next, add the apple slices to a large bowl and mix with lemon juice and zest. In the meantime, add the rest of the ingredients except butter to a saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the apples and simmer until softened. After that, remove from heat and stir in the butter.
4. Optional cheesecake layer: If you are making this one, in a large bowl beat cream cheese, sugar, and flour until fluffy. After that add the remaining ingredients and beat until creamy.
5. Assemble: Add the cheesecake mixture on top of the bottom layer and freeze for one hour. After that, add the apple pie filling and the top crust.
6. Egg wash: Beat an egg with milk and brush the top and edges of the pie. After that sprinkle coarse sugar on top.
7. Bake: Finally, bake the easy apple pie recipe for about 55 minutes, after which cool on a wire rack.
8. Serve: Serve warm or chilled with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Expert tip

Make the flakiest pie crust

There are many tips online about how to get the flakiest pie crust. But one of the most important things is the temperature and the ingredients. The butter and shortening should both be cold and chopped into small pieces before working them into the flour, so it stays in small lumps. I use both because I like the flavor of the butter but the shortening has a higher melting point, so it keeps its shape longer. The longer the chunks stay solid, the flakier the crust.

The chunks of fat create air pockets that turn into flakiness, which is what makes any pie taste better. Then, after the dough is made, it needs to be chilled for at least three hours but overnight is better. It helps the crust hold its shape and hardens the fat while baking. It also keeps the butter from being absorbed too easily, which is another way to create flaky layers. The dough also relaxes the gluten, so it is easy to roll out and less likely to shrink.

If the crust is not chilled long enough, it will be crumbly and may brown faster. The finished crust may be heavier and doughy with a tougher chew. I recommend to let the dough chill for at least three hours, but I prefer at least six and usually do more like eight or ten. The colder the dough, the less it will shrink when it is placed in the oven.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Caramel apple pie: Add a half cup of caramel sauce to your pie to make an apple caramel pie.
• Dulce de Leche: Add 1/2 cup of dulce de leche to the cream cheese mixture for an apple caramel pie.
• Nuts: Make a crunchier pie by tossing in some chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans.
• Other fruits: Add more fruits to the mixture like pears, peaches, berries, and plums.
• Hand pies: Another option is to make this recipe in individual servings just like these hand pies.
• Vegan pie: Switch out the regular butter with plant-based butter for a vegan pie crust.
• Cookie dough: Instead of pie crust, roll out cookie dough to use for the crust.

Serving suggestions:

• Everyone knows that apple pie goes perfectly with vanilla ice cream. But it also tastes pretty fantastic with this three-ingredient Oreo ice cream.
• Instead of ice cream, serve it with a dollop of my rich and sweet homemade whipped cream.  There are only three ingredients, and it takes 15 minutes to make.
• This pie makes a great hostess gift!! Everyone will love it!
• Make it a picnic or take it to a church potluck with a bunch of apple fennel chicken salad sandwiches and some apple lemonade.
• Serve this pie with apple cider, apple juice, and apple wine for the adults.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best apples for apple pie?

The best apples for this recipe are crisp and tart apples. I like to use a combo of Gala and Granny Smith apples. The best apples to use are those with a good balance of sweetness and tartness, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Braeburn. Also, mixing different apple varieties can enhance flavor and texture. The best apples to use are those with a good balance of sweetness and tartness, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Braeburn. 

Can I make this without the cheesecake layer?

Yes, although the creamy and rich cheesecake layer is my favorite part, if this is not a part that you want in your apple pie, leave it out and add more apple pie filling. 

Do I have to use egg wash?

I think apple pie should be golden brown and a bit glossy to make it look pretty as a picture. An apple pie is a special dessert and should be treated as one. The egg wash allows the crust to turn a beautiful brown color and leaves a shiny finish. It can also act as a glue to hold the crosshatched top together or hold on any decorations. Other substitutes include cornstarch slurry, aquafaba, milk, cream, or olive oil.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Pack this homemade apple pie in plastic or foil and place it in a sealed container and keep it refrigerated for several days. 

How to freeze an unbaked pie?

1. First, layer all the ingredients in the pie dish per recipe directions.
2. Then, wrap the pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap.
3. Properly stored, it will maintain the best quality for about 2 to 3 months.
4. When ready to bake, remove it from the freezer, and transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw gradually for 24 hours.
5. Bake for 60 minutes in a preheated oven.

How to freeze a baked pie?

1. First, make sure the apple pie has fully cooled and is refrigerated for at least 6 hours.
2. Then, wrap the pie tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap.
3. Properly stored, it will maintain the best quality for about 2 to 3 months.
4. When ready to use, remove it from the freezer, and transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw gradually for 24 hours.

More homemade pie recipes:

Recipe tips:

• To save time, buy a premade pie crust from the store but make sure it stays chilled until it is ready to be used.
• I also sometimes use premade apple pie filling in this recipe to speed things up.
• Certain ingredients have to be cold including the butter, shortening, and the ice-cold water.
• Other ingredients have to be at room temperature including the cream cheese and the cream for the cheesecake layer.
• Use a mixture of different types of apples for a delicious taste combination.
• When rolling the crust, work quickly, this is very important. Once at room temperature, the butter will change in temperature and start to affect the texture of the dough.
• Add flour to the rolling pin so the flour does not stick as it warms up.
• Allow the pie to cool for at least 2-3 hours before slicing. This allows the filling to set, making it easier to cut and serve without falling apart.
• Also, if you decide to add the cheesecake layer, you will have to serve this dessert ONLY chilled.