Paula Deen’s Apple Pie Recipe With a Crunchy Top

Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

Paula Deen’s Apple Pie is a deliciously classic recipe with a buttery homemade lattice top crust and brown sugar apples.

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You guys, I am absolutely obsessed with Paula Deen’s Apple Pie — and honestly, who isn’t?! There is just something so dreamy about that caramel-y sweet crunch of flaky crust wrapped around a gooey, spiced apple filling. It is the kind of dessert that makes you go back for a second helping before you have even finished your first slice. Getting that perfect balance of apples, sweetness, and crunch can feel tricky, but I promise this original recipe makes it totally achievable. Whether you are serving it at Thanksgiving, a casual Sunday dinner, or just because you deserve something ah-mazing this week — this pie delivers every single time.

Choosing Your Apples

First things first — let’s talk apples! It is so important to choose firm apples that are less likely to turn to mush when baked. The best apples for pie are crisp and crunchy with a low water content. Think Honeycrisp, Cortland, Granny Smith, and Pink Ladies. Granny Smith is my personal favorite because that tart bite plays SO well against the sweet brown sugar filling. When you grow your own apples or pick your own apples at an orchard, you literally cannot beat the freshness! As you are shopping, look for ones that feel firm and smell fragrant. Avoid apples with ugly bruises or soft spots — go for the best quality you can find. Even the highest quality apples can get mealy after being stored too long, so shop fresh and bake soon!

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

• brown sugar
• flour
• cinnamon
• nutmeg
• green apples, peeled and sliced
• lemon juice
• butter, cubed
• unbaked pie crusts
• egg wash for brushing on crust

Must-Read Tips

1. First sweat your apple slices before using them in the pie filling. This will prevent a runny filling and a soggy bottom crust! Read this post to learn how.
2. Using store-bought pie crust dough — like Pillsbury refrigerator pie crust — is totally fine and makes this the easiest crunch top apple pie recipe around. But if you want to make your own, here are my favorite recipes by comfort level:

• Total Novice: No Rolling Press-in-the-Pan Pie Crust*
• Beginner: Easiest All-Butter Pie Crust
• Intermediate: Buttermilk Pastry Pie Crust
• Experienced: Classic 2-Pie Crust Recipe

*You’ll need to turn this recipe into a Dutch apple pie if you opt to use the Press-in-the-Pan pie crust, since this recipe does not make dough that rolls out easily.

Have no fear — it’s easy! Simply replace the remaining pie crust that goes on top with a yummy crumble (use the crumble from this recipe) and adjust the baking time and oven temperature to: 60 minutes at 350°F degrees. Place foil over the crumble topping if it gets too brown during baking.

How to Make the Pie Filling and Crust

Okay, let’s get into the fun part! In a large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a squeeze of lemon juice plus a little lemon zest for brightness. Toss your sweated apple slices in until every piece is coated — this is your apple mixture and it smells absolutely incredible already. I like to add pure vanilla extract right into the apple filling because it takes the flavor to a whole new level. Spoon mixture into your bottom crust in a 9-inch pie pan (a deep-dish pie plate works great too!), then add the top layer of apple slices in a single layer for that beautiful, even bake. Dot cold butter over the top, and then fit crust over everything. If you are using a food processor or the chilled bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, you can whip up a from-scratch crust in minutes!

Building That Gorgeous Lattice Top

Can we talk about the lattice top for a second?! Be still my heart — it is so pretty and honestly not as hard as it looks! Roll your dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Use a pastry wheel to cut inch-wide strips, then weave them over the top of pie in a classic lattice design. Trim pastry around the edges and crimp to seal. Brush crust with egg wash for that gorgeous golden brown finish, then sprinkle a little teaspoon sugar on top of crust for extra crunch and sparkle. Place your assembled pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips — because when that pie filling boils up and bubbles over the top of the pie, you will be SO glad you remembered that step! Transfer to a wire rack to cool after baking. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I literally can’t even.

What Does It Mean to “Sweat” Apples?

The process of sweating apples simply means reducing the amount of juice in the apple slices before they go into the pie. You can easily draw the juice out by coating them in sugar and lemon juice and allowing them to sit for at least an hour at room temperature. Then you will see the juice has gathered at the outside circle of the bowl — you can use this juice later to make cider or syrup, which is honestly such a fun bonus! Then proceed to use the slightly dehydrated apples in your apple filling. If you want to go deep on this technique, I highly recommend checking out Why and How to Sweat Apples for Pie — it is a total game changer for next time you bake!

Gluten-Free and Alternative Crust Options

Good news for my gluten-free friends — you can absolutely make this pie work for you! Swap the all-purpose flour in the crust and filling with a gluten free flour blend. Almond flour and coconut flour are popular choices, though they behave differently than all-purpose, so I recommend adding a small amount of xanthan gum to help bind things together. Whole wheat flour or pastry flour are great swaps if you just want a slightly heartier, nuttier crust flavor. And if you are in a pinch, a handheld mixer works just fine for blending your crust ingredients — no fancy equipment required! When you combine flour and cold butter and work it until crumbly, then add ice water a tablespoon at a time, you will end up with a super flaky, dreamy crust. And in a small bowl combine your egg wash — just one egg beaten with a splash of milk — to brush crust before baking for that perfect golden sheen.

FAQs and Serving Ideas

A few questions I get asked all the time! Can you use a 9-inch pie plate instead of a deep-dish? Yes! Just be aware your apple mixture may be slightly more heaped. Does the filling need to be cooked on medium heat first? In this recipe, no — the raw apple filling goes straight into the bottom crust and bakes beautifully. What about recipe photos — can I share mine? Please do!! I love seeing your bakes. And if you are wondering about uploading & non-users policies when sharing on food platforms, most sites just ask for your email address and to agree to their terms of use and personal information privacy policies — easy peasy. Sites operated under Warner Bros. Discovery, like Food Network (where Paula Deen had her own cooking show!), follow the Discovery Family of networks’ guidelines too. Now — beyond this pie, if you are on the hunt for more tasty treats and easy dinner ideas, I have you covered with everything from healthy recipes to indulgent desserts right here on the blog!

More Recipes You Will Love

If you are obsessed with this pie (same, honestly), you have GOT to check out Paula Deen’s Peach Cobbler Recipe — it has the same cozy, Southern magic and is an absolute crowd-pleaser. And while we are talking about dreamy fruit desserts, my Honey Apple Pie Recipe is a must-try for next time! I also love pairing a warm slice of pie with something like Pecan Pie Bread Pudding for a full dessert spread that will make everyone at your table absolutely lose their minds. 😍 And if you are thinking about holiday baking beyond apple pie, my Snickers Caramel Apple Salad is another apple-forward stunner that comes together in minutes. No matter what you are baking — whether you are into pot recipes, Italian recipes, Mexican recipes, Indian recipes, Thai recipes, Korean recipes, Chinese recipes, Japanese recipes, or Spanish recipes — this little corner of the internet always has something sweet and comforting waiting for you. Now go make this pie! You will not regret it for one single second. 🍎🥧

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