Easy Paula Deen Apple Pie Recipe: Sweet Southern Comfort

Apple pie represents the ultimate comfort dessert that warms hearts and brings families together around a shared culinary experience.

Sweet, fragrant spices dance through layers of flaky pastry, creating a nostalgic sensation that transports you to cherished memories.

Seasonal fruit transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece with carefully selected ingredients and time-honored techniques.

Home bakers can craft this classic treat by combining simple components with love and precision.

Generations of kitchen enthusiasts have perfected the delicate balance between tender fruit and crisp crust.

Warm, aromatic slices promise an indulgent moment of pure satisfaction.

This beloved recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert that celebrates traditional American baking: prepare to delight your senses.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

Step 1: Prepare the Pie Crust Dough

• Gather ingredients: flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Cold butter (cubed)
• Ice water

In a food processor, blend flour, salt, and sugar. Add cold butter and slowly incorporate ice water until dough forms. Be gentle to maintain a tender crust texture. Avoid overmixing.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

Divide dough into 2 equal discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Option to freeze for future use.

Step 3: Create Spiced Apple Filling

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Sugar
• Flour

Peel and slice apples. Combine spice mixture and toss with apple slices until evenly coated.

Step 4: Roll Out Bottom Crust

Remove 1 dough disc from refrigerator. Roll on floured surface until large enough to cover pie pan. Trim excess edges.

Step 5: Assemble Pie Filling

Transfer spiced apple mixture into prepared bottom crust. Dot top with sliced butter.

Step 6: Add Top Crust

Roll second dough disc. Cover pie, leaving slight overhang. Crimp edges to seal. Cut 4 decorative slits on top.

Step 7: Prepare for Baking

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush top crust with egg wash. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.

Step 8: Bake and Cool

Place pie on baking tray. Bake 50 minutes until golden brown and filling bubbles. Allow to cool completely before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Pro Tips for Perfecting Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

• Select Contrasting Apples: Blend Granny Smith's sharp tang with Macintosh's soft sweetness for a complex, balanced filling that dances on your taste buds.
• Protect Butter's Chill: Freeze butter chunks before mixing to guarantee a shatteringly crisp, delicate crust that melts in your mouth.
• Handle Dough Gently: Touch pastry minimally, stopping just when ingredients barely combine to ensure a cloud-like, tender texture.
• Rest Dough Completely: Refrigerate pie crust for at least 60 minutes, allowing gluten to relax and butter to solidify for ultimate flakiness.
• Strategically Ventilate Crust: Create four precise air slits across the top layer, preventing soggy bottoms and releasing steam for a perfectly crisp shell.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

• Sealed Container: Transfer cooled pie slices into an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Seal completely to prevent moisture and odors from seeping in, preserving the pie's delicate texture and flavor profile for maximum freshness.
• Freezer Protection: Carefully wrap the entire pie or individual slices in multiple layers of plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain. Add a final protective layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn and maintain the pie's original taste for up to 3 months. Label with the date to track storage time precisely.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Place pie in the coldest section of the refrigerator, typically the back shelf away from the door. Keep pie flat to prevent filling from shifting and maintain its structural integrity. Consume within 4 days for optimal taste and texture, checking for any signs of spoilage before serving.

Fun Variations on Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

• Southern Peach Pie Remix: Swap apples with ripe, juicy peaches for a classic Southern summer dessert. Use the same spice blend and crust technique for a fruity variation that captures regional flavors.
• Caramel Apple Crunch Pie: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce between apple layers and sprinkle chopped pecans on top before baking. This adds rich sweetness and delightful textural contrast to the traditional recipe.
• Rustic Maple Apple Galette: Transform the pie into a more relaxed, free-form version by rolling the dough into an irregular circle. Replace some sugar with pure maple syrup and fold the edges casually over the apple filling for a rustic, less structured presentation.
• Spiced Chai Apple Pie: Infuse the spice mixture with ground cardamom, ginger, and black tea powder to create a warming, aromatic version inspired by chai tea flavors. The complex spice profile elevates the classic apple pie experience.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

Signature Paula Deen apple pie emerges as culinary royalty, blending southern charm with classic American dessert tradition.

Flaky pastry layers cradle spiced apple treasures waiting to enchant palate pioneers.

Warm cinnamon whispers promise of comfort while golden crust beckons sweet-toothed adventurers.

Homemade goodness radiates from each carefully crafted slice, connecting generations through shared kitchen magic.

Maple-glazed edges and caramelized fruit promise delectable memories that linger beyond last crumbly bite.

Passionate bakers, share this delightful recipe across social networks – tag friends, comment with nostalgia, and spread delicious love!

Why Paula Deen’s Apple Pie is the Ultimate Dessert for Any Occasion

• Create Classic Comfort: Dive into a heartwarming apple pie that brings nostalgic memories of grandma's kitchen with its perfectly spiced, golden-brown crust and tender, sweet apple filling.
• Master Foolproof Pastry: Discover an easy pie-making technique that guarantees a flaky, tender crust every single time, even for beginner bakers who want to impress their family and friends.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Transform ordinary apples and basic pantry staples into an extraordinary dessert that looks and tastes like it came straight from a professional bakery, with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
• Enjoy Versatile Serving: Savor this pie warm or chilled, as a delightful dessert after dinner, a special weekend treat, or a crowd-pleasing potluck contribution that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Essential Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Apple Pie

• Flour: Base for the pie crust, all-purpose works best for a classic texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the buttery crust.
• Sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness to the pie crust.
• Butter: Creates flaky, rich texture in the crust, cold and cubed for best results.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough without overworking it.

• Apples: Main filling ingredient, choose firm baking varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
• Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements apple flavor beautifully.
• Nutmeg: Adds depth and warmth to the apple filling.
• Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create a syrupy texture.
• Flour: Thickens the apple filling and prevents excess liquid.

• Egg: Used for egg wash to create a golden, shiny crust.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Adds extra sweetness and decoration to the pie top.
• Butter: Dotted on top of filling for rich, buttery flavor.

Paula Deen Apple Pie Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Southern charm meets classic dessert in this Paula Deen apple pie, where buttery crust cradles sweet-tart apples kissed with cinnamon. Warm slices promise comfort and nostalgia you can savor with each delightful forkful.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruit:

• 8 Granny Smith and Macintosh apples (peeled and sliced)

Dough Ingredients:

• 2 sticks (226 grams) cold unsalted butter (cubed)
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) cold unsalted butter (sliced)
• 2 ½ cups (313 grams) plus 3 tablespoons (38 grams) flour
• 1 ¼ cups (250 grams) plus 1 teaspoon (4 grams) sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Spices and Wash:

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ to ½ cup (60–120 milliliters) ice water
• 1 egg (lightly beaten, for egg wash)
• Cinnamon sugar (for dusting)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the pastry foundation by combining flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor. Pulse the dry ingredients until thoroughly integrated.
2. Incorporate cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture, pulsing gently to create a crumbly texture. Gradually introduce ice water, mixing until the dough just begins to stick together without becoming overly worked.
3. Shape the dough into two equal discs, wrapping each in plastic film. Refrigerate for precisely 60 minutes to allow the gluten to relax and butter to firm up, enhancing the pastry’s flakiness.
4. Create the apple filling by blending ground cinnamon, nutmeg, granulated sugar, and all-purpose flour in a separate mixing bowl.
5. Carefully peel and slice apples, then gently coat them with the prepared spice mixture, ensuring even distribution of seasonings.
6. Remove one dough disc from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly dusted surface, extending the crust to completely cover a 9-inch pie pan. Trim excess edges for a clean presentation.
7. Transfer the seasoned apple mixture into the prepared bottom crust, strategically placing small butter pieces across the surface to enhance richness and flavor.
8. Roll out the second dough disc and drape it over the apple filling, creating decorative edge crimps to seal the pie. Create four strategic vents using a sharp knife to allow steam escape.
9. Whisk an egg and delicately brush the top crust, then sprinkle with additional cinnamon-sugar blend for a glistening, caramelized finish.
10. Position the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 50-55 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling filling.
11. Remove from oven and allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack, enabling the filling to set before slicing. Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator.

Notes

• Slice steam vents carefully to prevent soggy bottoms and ensure a crisp, golden-brown top crust that releases moisture perfectly.
• Rest pie dough in the refrigerator to relax gluten, making it easier to roll and creating a tender, flaky texture that melts in your mouth.
• Handle pastry gently, stopping mixing the moment ingredients barely combine to maintain a light, delicate crust that crumbles beautifully.
• Keep butter ice-cold during preparation, which helps create those signature delicate layers that separate and crisp up during baking.
• Blend apple varieties strategically, using Granny Smith for tartness and Macintosh for sweetness, balancing flavors and creating a complex, rich filling.

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 296
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg