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Figuring out the best way to cook apples to make apple pie can be a little tricky. It’s the essence of making a delicious pie.

Instead of going about trying and failing, here’s everything you need to know about the process.

How to Cook Apples for Apple Pie

Let’s delve into the details of the best way of cooking apples for apple pie. The ingredients you’ll need are as follows:

Apples (They can be Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.)
Sugar
Water
Spices (cinnamon)
Cornstarch

So, how do you turn those into a delicious pie? Here are the steps:

Peel the apples and cut them into little pieces. You can also slice the apples instead. Then, add them to a pan with some sugar, cinnamon, and some water.

If you like the zesty taste, you can add a teaspoon of lemon juice. Alternatively, you can use a pinch of nutmeg and apple pie spice. During the cold winters, you can also add pumpkin pie spice or other warm spice mixture.

If you want a healthier alternative or to get a caramel flavor, you can switch from white sugar to brown sugar.

Once the mix becomes tender, add some cornstarch to thicken it. Over the heat, the apples release their juices to make the filling saucy.

Can You Make Apple Pie Without Cooking Apples?

Technically, you can. However, if you don’t want your apple pie to turn into mush, you’ll want to do something to the apples before making the apple pie.

There are different ways to prep your apples for filling, though. Some people resort to pouring boiling water over their apple slices and leaving them to soak for 10 minutes.

Others roast the slices to minimize the water content. Finally, you can let the apples sit for half an hour or 40 minutes to dwell in their natural juices.

By all means, it’s important to apply any kind of treatment before cooking the apple pie. That way, you know your filing will be crunchy yet will cook all the way through.

Do You Have to Peel Apples for Apple Pie?

Apple pie makers are divided when it comes to this topic. Some advocate peeling the apples to help them mush together and become delicate enough.

However, others will say that apples lose their nutritional value when you remove the skin. Besides, some like the extra texture and color that the skin of the apples gives to the filling.

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

Most baking enthusiasts will tell you that you should use Granny Smith apples. This is because they have a tart-like flavor, which balances the sweetness.

You can also use Braeburn apples. They’re quite juicy but also crisp, which helps the texture of the filling. Not to mention, they’re bursting with flavor, giving your apple pie a genuine taste.

While some use Golden Delicious apples, they’re not always the best. They do provide flavor, but their juiciness makes them a better fit for sauces. Yet, if you like your filling to be smooth, they’re a good choice.

Finally, Honeycrisp apples are also a good choice for apple pie filling. However, they’re not as available as other kinds.

What Are Some Things to Avoid While Making Apple Pie Filling?

There are a couple of tips and tricks that help you get the best apple pie filling possible. Here are some of the most helpful ones.

1 – Keep the Spices Simple

While you may feel tempted to add a lot of spices to the pie to make it extra flavorful, it doesn’t always enhance the taste.

Overdoing the additions might overcome the apple taste, which is what anyone eating apple pie would be looking for.

You want to add ¼ or ¼ tablespoon of spices and a cup or 1½ cup of sugar.

2 – Don’t Forget the Thickener

Using some sort of thickener, like cornstarch, boosts the consistency and texture of your apple pie. So, make sure you never skip that, otherwise, you’ll have applesauce instead of filling.

You can use flour, but it’ll leave some sort of cloud over the filling. Alternatively, you can use apple jelly or even quick-cooking tapioca.

3 – Leave Your Pie to Cool Before Cutting Into It

It’s tempting to cut into your pie once you take it out of the oven. It smells amazing and looks crisp.

However, this can make your pie’s crust crumble and the moisture escapes, leaving you with hard pie.

So, instead of wasting all the effort you put into perfecting the pie, wait a couple of minutes before digging in.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the dos and don’ts of cooking apples for apple pie, baking one will be easy as pie!

There are plenty of ways to prepare your filling, and all of them lead to a delicious dessert. So, what are you waiting for? Put your baking apron on.

Sarah Bridenstine

Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.