The best Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

Imagine a bustling kitchen filled with warmth. The air is rich with cinnamon, and an apple pie cools on the window. This is Grandma Ople’s famous apple pie, a traditional favorite in many homes. When my sister first made this pie, I was unsure. Could something so simple be the best?

But as she mixed butter and sugar, filling the crust with Cortland apples, my doubts disappeared. It’s these moments that make a recipe more than just a dessert. It becomes a piece of our shared culinary heritage.

Grandma Ople’s apple pie is a blend of butter, sugar, and apples. It has received many enthusiastic reviews. Like Allrecipes member Donna D., who said, “My pie came out perfect and it was all gone by the morning!” It’s no wonder it’s rated 4.99 out of 5, with almost 3,000 votes.

If you’re curious about traditional baking, this legendary apple pie is a great place to start. It’s easy to follow, making it perfect for your holiday dessert table. Whether you’re an experienced baker or new to it, making this classic dish is rewarding.

The History Behind Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

The story of apple pie is filled with tradition and love. Grandma Ople’s recipe is a perfect example. It has been passed down for generations and is loved by many.

What makes it special is the way sugar and butter syrup are poured over the lattice crust. This has made Grandma Ople’s apple pie famous at family gatherings and in cookbooks across the United States.

Grandma Ople’s Legacy

Grandma Ople’s recipe started with simple ingredients. It has grown but kept its core values. It began in a small kitchen and became a treasured family heirloom.

Friends and family have cherished memories of enjoying this pie at family events. This has helped keep Grandma Ople’s legacy alive.

How It Became Popular

Word-of-mouth and online platforms helped make this pie famous. On Allrecipes.com, it has over 12,000 ratings and a 4.8 out of 5 stars. It’s one of the most loved recipes online.

The recipe’s simplicity and unique twist have won many hearts. Allrecipes.com, with 40 million home cooks each month, has helped spread its fame.

Essential Ingredients for Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

For a memorable homemade apple pie, start with the best ingredients. Here’s what you need:

Choosing the Right Apples

Choosing the right apples is key for a great pie. Granny Smith and Opal apples are top picks. They are tart and firm, perfect for baking.

You’ll need at least eight apples. This is about six cups when chopped or sliced.

Other Key Ingredients

Ingredients beyond apples are crucial. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup granulated cane sugar (adjustable based on apple sweetness)
• 1/4 cup gfJules All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

These ingredients make a luscious filling. The sugars, butter, and flour mix for a rich flavor. This complements the apples perfectly. For the crust, use a double recipe of gfJules’ flaky gluten-free crust.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

Making the perfect apple pie at home is easy. This step-by-step apple pie recipe is simple, even for beginners. Follow this guide to make Grandma Ople’s famous dessert in your kitchen.

First, make your dough. You’ll need 2 ½ cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of unsalted butter. Freeze the butter for 15 minutes before starting. A good crust comes from careful details, so take your time.

Mix the flour, sugar, and salt together. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and mix it with the flour until it looks like coarse crumbs. Add ⅓ cup of ice water slowly, a spoonful at a time, until the dough forms. Don’t overwork the dough to avoid it becoming tough.

Once your dough is ready, split it in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour. This step is important for a flaky crust. Enjoy the wait and remember, patience is key.

While your dough chills, prepare the apple filling. Peel, core, and slice 6 cups of apples, like Granny Smith. In a large bowl, mix the apples with lemon juice and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. This will make the apples taste better and prevent them from browning.

Next, roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll it from the center outward for even thickness. Place the dough in your pie dish, letting it hang over the edges. Fill the crust with the spiced apples, packing them tightly.

Make the sugar-butter syrup by melting 1 cup of butter in a saucepan. Stir in 1 cup of sugar and cook until it thickens. Pour this syrup over the apple filling.

To finish, roll out the second dough disk and cut it into strips for a lattice top. Weaving the lattice might seem hard, but do it step by step. Place half of the strips horizontally and the other half vertically over the pie, weaving them alternately.

Bake your pie in a preheated oven at 375°F. Blind bake the crust with pie weights for 15 minutes, then remove the weights and bake for another 15 minutes. Cover the pie edges with foil halfway through to prevent burning.

This recipe makes 16 servings, each with 216 calories, 19g carbohydrates, 3g protein, and 14g total fat. Enjoy your slice, knowing you’ve made how to make apple pie just like Grandma Ople!

Now you have a clear, step-by-step apple pie recipe. It’s time to make your own delicious pie. Enjoy the process and the tasty result!

Mastering the Apple Pie Crust

Making the perfect apple pie crust is like an art form. It can really improve your baking skills. Whether you’re new to baking or have experience, making pie crust from scratch is key. It ensures your pie has a flaky, tasty base. We’ll look at homemade vs. store-bought options and share tips for a flaky crust.

Homemade vs. Store-bought

Many pie lovers debate between homemade and store-bought crusts. Homemade crusts are often praised for their taste and texture. Making your own crust lets you use fresh ingredients and avoid preservatives.

Using real butter, a bit of sugar, and salt in your crust adds flavor. Also, keep ingredients cold and handle the dough gently. This makes your crust tender and flaky.

Tips for a Flaky Crust

To get a flaky crust, use the right techniques and ingredients. Here are some tips:

• Keep ingredients cold: Cold butter and ice water create flaky pockets during baking.
• Use the right fat-to-flour ratio: A 1:2.5 butter to flour ratio is ideal for a flaky crust.
• Don’t overwork the dough: Too much mixing makes the crust tough.
• Chill the dough: Refrigerating the dough relaxes the gluten and solidifies the fat.
• Use a mixture of fats: Combining butter with shortening or lard enhances flavor and texture.

Here’s a detailed guide for the perfect apple pie crust:

Mastering the crust is key to a great apple pie. It shows off your baking skills in every bite.

Secrets to a Perfect Filling

The secret to a mouthwatering apple pie filling recipe is all about preparation. Grandma Ople’s method balances sweetness and spices perfectly. This creates a filling that is both rich and aromatic. Let’s explore the key elements to master pie-making.

Mixing Butter and Sugar

Start by mixing butter and sugar for the perfect apple pie filling. This mix creates a caramelized base that brings out the apples’ natural flavors. Use 1/2 cup (100g) of both light or dark brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add 1 tablespoon (14g) of cold butter to get the right consistency and avoid sogginess.

Also, add 2 tablespoons (16g) of cornstarch to thicken the filling. This prevents too much liquid from ruining the crust. The right mix makes the filling rich and delicious, blending perfectly in texture and taste.

Adding Extra Spices

Spices are key to making apple pie irresistible. Adding these spices brings warmth and comfort:

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

These spices, mixed with the buttery-sugar base, make a fragrant filling. The right amount of spices enhances the apples’ flavor without overpowering it.

With these tips and the right ingredients, making Grandma Ople’s apple pie filling is easy. Every bake will be a delicious success!

How to Achieve the Perfect Lattice Top

A beautifully woven lattice pie crust adds beauty and helps steam escape. This prevents the crust from getting soggy. This guide will teach you how to weave a pie topping and achieve a golden-brown crust with an egg wash.

Preparation and Weaving

Start by rolling out your dough and letting it rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This makes the dough easier to work with. Cut each sheet into 12 strips, each 10 inches long and 1 inch wide.

The strips should be between 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick. Place half of these strips across the pie in vertical columns, about 1 inch apart.

Then, take the remaining strips and weave them over and under the vertical strips. Make sure the dough goes over the pie dish rim by about 1/2 inch. This design usually has 4 to 7 parallel strips, depending on their thickness.

Final Touches

After weaving, press the edges to secure the lattice. Chill the pie for about 30 minutes to keep the butter cold. This helps the crust stay crisp.

An egg wash can make the crust golden. But, if using frozen fruit, skip the egg wash to avoid overcooking.

To finish the apple pie design, remove foil for the last 20 minutes of baking. This lets the edges brown. Let the pie cool for at least 1 hour before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Baking Tips for Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

Baking an apple pie is all about temperature, timing, and making the crust perfect. Here are some tips to help you make Grandma Ople’s apple pie just right.

Temperature and Timing

The best temperature for apple pie is key for that golden brown look. Start by heating your oven to 425°F. This high heat helps set the crust, so it doesn’t get soggy.

After 15 minutes, lower the oven to 350°F and bake for another 45 minutes. This change in temperature helps the apples cook and the filling thicken without burning the crust.

Timing is also crucial. The total baking apple pie time is about one hour. But, always check for a bubbling filling and a browned crust.

Preventing a Soggy Bottom

One big challenge is keeping the non-soggy apple pie crust. A few tricks can help. Blind baking your crust can make a big difference. If you have time, bake the crust for 15 minutes before adding the filling. Use pie weights or beans to keep it flat.

Also, dusting your apple slices with flour helps soak up extra juices. This keeps the bottom of the pie crisp.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the essential stats and steps for baking apple pie:

Serving Suggestions for Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

Enjoying Grandma Ople’s apple pie is just as fun as baking it. Here are some great ways to serve your pie and make it even more special.

With Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream

Wondering how to serve apple pie to impress everyone? Try it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. This mix of warm pie and cool cream is a hit. The creamy ice cream goes great with the pie’s sweet apples and flaky crust.

Pairing with Cheddar Cheese

For a classic twist, try apple pie with cheddar cheese. This combo is a perfect mix of sharp cheese and sweet pie. It’s a great choice for a unique serving idea at your next event. The cheese’s sharpness pairs well with the pie’s apples, making it a memorable dish.

Choosing to serve your pie with ice cream or cheddar cheese can really bring out its flavors. By trying these ideas, you’ll find the perfect match for your taste and make every pie slice extra special.

Why Grandma Ople’s Recipe is the Best apple pie recipe

Grandma Ople’s apple pie recipe is a standout. Many ask why choose Grandma Ople’s apple pie over others. The answer is simple: it’s a perfect mix of sweet and tart.

The syrup technique is what makes this pie special. It involves simmering butter, flour, sugars, and water for a few minutes. This creates a filling that sticks to the apples beautifully. The butter and sugar add a richness that’s hard to beat.

The use of Granny Smith apples is key. They provide the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Adding cinnamon or apple pie spice can enhance the flavor even more.

The crust is another highlight. It can be homemade or store-bought, but it must be flaky and buttery. Baking it at high and then low temperatures ensures a crispy crust. This method prevents a soggy bottom.

Grandma Ople’s pie is a crowd-pleaser. It has a 4.99 out of 5 rating from over 2,900 votes. People love it so much, it often disappears quickly. This shows its popularity and perfection.

This pie is not only delicious but also easy to make. It takes just 30 minutes to prepare and an hour to cook. It can be stored for up to 6 months, making it convenient.

In summary, why choose Grandma Ople’s apple pie is clear. It’s known for its unique syrup, balanced flavors, and flaky crust. Try it and see why it’s a favorite among many. Enjoy every bite!

Conclusion

Grandma Ople’s apple pie is more than a recipe. It’s a piece of American history and a tradition that brings joy. The pie’s crunch and flavor are a testament to homemade baking’s timeless appeal. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas, capturing the warmth of family gatherings.

This recipe is easy to follow, inviting bakers of all levels to create a pie that’s “as American as apple pie.” It uses various apples and balances sweet and tart flavors. The crust and filling are made with care, making the pie delicious and satisfying. It’s not just about taste; it’s about connecting with a legacy that goes back to the late 1300s.

So, preheat your oven and gather fresh apples. Let the aroma of baking apple pie fill your home. By sharing Grandma Ople’s apple pie, you’re treating friends and family to a delightful dessert. You’re also continuing a cherished tradition. Let’s keep Grandma Ople’s spirit alive, reminding us of simpler times and the power of good cooking.