Apple pie is one of those iconic desserts that represents everything warm and comforting about home baking – there’s something so satisfying about pulling a golden, bubbling pie from the oven with that incredible cinnamon-apple aroma filling your entire house. I love making apple pie during fall when apples are at their best, but honestly, I make it year-round because few desserts bring as much joy and nostalgia as a perfect slice of apple pie served warm with vanilla ice cream. These 10 apple pie recipe ideas prove that America’s favorite pie can be endlessly varied, from traditional double-crust versions to creative toppings that’ll make this timeless classic your signature dessert.

The Classic Apple Pie is where everyone should start – flaky crust, perfectly spiced apples, and pure nostalgic perfection. The Old-Fashioned Apple Pie follows vintage recipes exactly like grandma made, while the Homestyle Apple Pie is comforting and familiar. The Cinnamon Apple Pie amps up those warm spices, and the Dutch Apple Pie adds that amazing crumb topping instead of a top crust. The Caramel Apple Pie drizzles sweet caramel throughout, the Deep Dish Apple Pie is loaded with extra apples, and the Apple Crumb Pie brings that beloved streusel topping. The Spiced Apple Pie includes warming spices like nutmeg and cloves, while the Rustic Apple Pie embraces imperfect, rustic beauty.

What makes apple pie so special is how it’s both impressive and approachable – it looks bakery-worthy but uses simple, familiar ingredients. It’s perfect for holidays, it’s the pie that makes your house smell incredible, and honestly, there’s nothing quite like homemade apple pie to make any occasion feel special. This is the dessert that turns a regular dinner into a celebration and creates memories that last way longer than the pie itself!

1. Classic Apple Pie

Classic Apple Pie carries a kind of comfort that never grows old. There’s something grounding about peeling apples slowly, letting their crisp scent fill the kitchen as butter softens in a pan. It feels like returning to a moment where time slows down—where the warmth of cinnamon and sugar brings quiet joy before the pie even reaches the oven. The crust becomes golden and flaky, the apples soften into a tender, sweet filling, and the house fills with a scent that feels like family, tradition, and a little bit of nostalgia. This pie reminds me that the simplest things often bring the deepest warmth.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts (top and bottom)
• 6 cups sliced apples (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp mix)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 1 egg (for brushing)

Steps

Step 1: Toss the sliced apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Mix gently until everything is evenly coated. As the apples sit, they release a soft aroma that feels warm and inviting, almost like the pie is beginning long before it bakes. The mixture grows glossy as the juices pull together, forming the perfect base for a tender filling.

Step 2: Lay the bottom crust into a pie dish and gently press it against the sides. Pour in the apple mixture, mounding it slightly in the center. Dot the top with butter pieces so they melt through the apples as they bake, creating richness that feels deep and comforting.

Step 3: Add the top crust, sealing the edges and cutting small vents. Brush with beaten egg for color. The pie already looks beautiful, and this moment always feels like the calm before the oven transforms everything into something golden, warm, and fragrant.

Step 4: Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and continue until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles. The scent slowly fills the house, wrapping the evening in cinnamon and butter, giving you that familiar, soothing promise of dessert.

Step 5: Let the pie cool so the filling sets gently. Each slice reveals tender apples wrapped in warm spices—a classic comfort that never fails.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

2. Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie has a way of taking you back to simpler days. The kind where someone hummed softly in the kitchen while rolling dough, and apples were peeled with care at the table. This pie feels warmer, softer, and maybe even a bit sweeter because it carries that quiet charm. The apples bake down beautifully, the spices bloom gently instead of loudly, and the crust takes on that soft-flaky texture that only comes from patience. It’s a pie that feels like it’s been loved for generations, carrying with it a sense of home and a comforting steadiness.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 7 cups thinly sliced apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Mix apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a small pinch of salt. Stir until the apples glisten and the spices coat them fully. As the mixture rests, it begins releasing a syrupy sweetness that hints at the warm, nostalgic flavor this pie always brings.

Step 2: Place the bottom crust in the pie dish and fill it with the apple mixture. The apples stack high but settle beautifully as they bake. Dot with butter pieces to add richness, giving the filling that old-fashioned depth that feels lovingly familiar.

Step 3: Cover with the second crust, sealing the edges and adding vents. The pie already looks timeless—simple, rustic, and inviting. Brush lightly with egg wash to encourage a soft, golden glow during baking.

Step 4: Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and continue baking. The crust turns golden while the filling bubbles quietly beneath it. The kitchen fills with the unmistakable scent of warm apples and spice—gentle, sweet, and comforting.

Step 5: Cool before slicing. The filling settles into soft layers, offering that calm, old-fashioned sweetness in every bite.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 8

3. Homestyle Apple Pie

Homestyle Apple Pie isn’t fancy—it’s warm, cozy, and made with the same kind of care you’d put into cooking for someone you love. The apples melt gently into themselves as they bake, turning soft but not mushy, and the crust becomes golden with just the right amount of flake. Every bite feels like something meant to be shared at a table with laughter and comfortable conversation. It’s the kind of pie you bring out on a slow afternoon, when the house is quiet and the warmth from the oven feels almost like a second blanket.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 6 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Mix the apples with brown sugar, white sugar, flour, cinnamon, and allspice. The brown sugar adds a deeper caramel warmth as the apples release their juices. As you stir, the mixture feels homey and grounded—simple ingredients coming together with familiar sweetness.

Step 2: Add the apple mixture to the bottom crust. The apples mound naturally in the center, and that little rise always reminds me that homemade pies don’t need to look perfect—they need to feel warm and honest.

Step 3: Add the top crust and seal the edges. Brush with egg wash and cut vents. Even before baking, the pie looks inviting, like something made with gentle hands and a calm heart.

Step 4: Bake at 375°F until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles. The smell fills the house with warm cinnamon and apples, creating that comforting hum of homestyle cooking—a scent that makes you pause and breathe deeper.

Step 5: Let cool before slicing. The filling becomes soft, cozy, and richly spiced—the kind of dessert that feels familiar with every bite.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

4. Cinnamon Apple Pie

Cinnamon Apple Pie brings the spice forward in the most comforting way. The cinnamon warms the apples like a soft blanket, creating a filling that feels bold but soothing. The crust becomes beautifully golden, and each slice reveals apples coated in a generous layer of spice. This pie always feels like fall to me—cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and that quiet shift in the air that makes you slow down. It’s simple, fragrant, and warm in a way that fills both the home and the heart.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 6 cups sliced apples
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Toss apples with cinnamon, sugar, and cornstarch. The cinnamon coats the apples generously, giving them a warm depth that promises bold, comforting flavor. As the apples settle, their juices mix with the cinnamon, forming a fragrant syrup.

Step 2: Add the mixture to the pie crust and dot with butter. The butter melts into the cinnamon syrup as it bakes, creating richness that softens the spice just enough without taking away its warmth.

Step 3: Add the top crust, seal, and vent. Brush lightly with egg wash. Even before it enters the oven, the pie smells faintly of cinnamon, like a whisper of what’s to come.

Step 4: Bake at 400°F for 45–55 minutes until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles. The scent becomes stronger and sweeter as the apples soften, creating a warm cloud of cinnamon that fills the kitchen.

Step 5: Cool before slicing. The filling thickens into a warm, cinnamon-rich layer of tender apples—simple, comforting, and deeply fragrant.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

5. Dutch Apple Pie

Dutch Apple Pie has a wonderful mix of textures—tender apples under a thick, buttery crumble topping. It feels a bit less formal than traditional pie, but warmer somehow, like something you make when you want comfort more than perfection. The crumble turns golden and crisp, and the apples soften into a sweet, cinnamon-kissed filling. Every bite brings a mix of soft and crunchy, warm and buttery. It’s the kind of pie that makes the house smell incredible long before it’s ready, filling the air with sweetness and soft anticipation.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 6 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons flour

Crumble Topping:

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, cold and cubed

Crust:

• 1 pie crust

Steps

Step 1: Mix apples with sugar, cinnamon, and flour. The apples release a soft, fragrant sweetness as they sit, becoming glossy and well-coated—a perfect base for a pie that leans into cozy, familiar flavors.

Step 2: Place apples into the pie crust, piling them naturally. The filling doesn’t need to be perfect; Dutch pie is meant to look relaxed and inviting, with its rustic charm showing even before baking.

Step 3: Make the crumble by mixing flour, brown sugar, and butter until coarse. The mixture feels soft and sandy in your hands, and you know it will melt into crisp, buttery clusters in the oven.

Step 4: Cover the apples with the crumble topping, pressing gently to help it hold together. As it bakes, the crumble browns beautifully, and the house fills with the scent of warm butter, cinnamon, and apples—a smell that feels like a warm memory.

Step 5: Bake at 375°F for 50–60 minutes. Let cool before slicing. The topping becomes crisp while the apples soften beneath it, creating that perfect contrast of texture and warmth.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

6. Caramel Apple Pie

Caramel Apple Pie feels extra cozy, almost like something you make when you want dessert to feel like a warm hug. The apples soften into a tender, buttery filling, and the caramel melts into them, turning gooey and rich. As it bakes, the caramel bubbles gently, blending with the cinnamon and sugar until everything becomes velvety and sweet. The crust turns golden, crisp on the edges, and soft where it meets the warm filling. There’s something deeply comforting about the way the caramel and apples melt together—like both ingredients are softening into something more tender and richer than they were alone.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 6 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ½ cup caramel sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Toss apples with sugar, cinnamon, and flour. As the apples sit, they release their juices, forming a lightly sweet coating that mixes beautifully with the cinnamon. Stir in half of the caramel sauce so the apples become coated in a glossy, fragrant mixture that promises a rich, gooey filling.

Step 2: Place the bottom crust into a pie dish and add the caramel-coated apples. The filling mounds softly in the center, and you can already imagine how it will settle into something warm and tender as it bakes. Dot with butter for richness.

Step 3: Add the top crust, seal well, and brush with egg wash. Cut small vents so steam can escape. These vents allow the caramel to bubble and thicken inside without overflowing, helping the pie bake evenly and beautifully.

Step 4: Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 350°F. As it bakes, the caramel melts deeper into the apples, and the scent becomes warm, buttery, and impossible to ignore. The crust turns golden, slightly crisp around the edges, softer near the filling.

Step 5: Once cooled, drizzle additional caramel over each slice. Every bite feels gooey, rich, and deeply comforting—like the sweeter cousin of a classic apple pie.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

7. Deep Dish Apple Pie

Deep Dish Apple Pie feels bold and generous—full of overflowing apples that bake down into soft, layered sweetness. Every slice stands tall, the apples stacked in thick layers that hold their shape yet melt on the tongue. The extra height gives the pie a beautiful presence, almost like something saved for a special moment. The crust becomes flaky but sturdy, supporting the weight of rich, cinnamon-scented filling. It’s the kind of pie you bring to the table with pride, knowing each slice will feel warm, abundant, and made with care.

Ingredients

• 2 deep-dish pie crusts
• 8 cups sliced apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Mix apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. With more apples, the bowl feels full and generous, and the aroma rises quickly as the spices coat each slice. The apples release a soft, syrupy sweetness that promises a deep, satisfying filling.

Step 2: Fill the deep-dish crust to the top, gently packing the apples so they settle evenly. Dot with butter to help create richness as the juices begin to bubble through the layers during baking. You’ll see the mound rise proudly—exactly what a deep pie should look like.

Step 3: Add the top crust, sealing edges well. Brush with egg wash and cut vents. The tall dome of the pie gives it a beautiful, classic look, hinting at the generous filling inside.

Step 4: Bake at 425°F, then reduce to 350°F, allowing the tall filling to cook slowly. The apples soften gradually, their juices thickening into a layered, tender filling. The crust turns golden, and the smell of apples and cinnamon fills every corner of the kitchen.

Step 5: Cool enough to slice cleanly. Each slice stands tall, revealing beautiful layers of tender apples wrapped in warm spice.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 65 minutes
Servings: 10

8. Apple Crumb Pie

Apple Crumb Pie feels like the perfect blend of comfort and texture. The soft apple filling warms the heart, while the crumb topping adds a sweet, buttery crunch that makes each bite feel layered and satisfying. The crumble browns beautifully in the oven, becoming crisp on top while melting just enough into the warm apples underneath. This pie always feels cozy and relaxed—something you make when you want dessert to taste homemade, warm, and simple. It doesn’t need perfection; its charm is in the mix of tender and crispy, soft and sweet.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 6 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons flour

Crumb Topping:

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter

Crust:

• 1 pie crust

Steps

Step 1: Mix apples with sugar, cinnamon, and flour. The coating becomes fragrant and slightly sticky as the apples release their juice. The mixture promises a warm, tender filling with just enough spice to feel comforting and familiar.

Step 2: Place the apples into the pie crust, letting them mound gently. The filling looks simple but inviting, the kind that will settle into a soft, deeply flavored layer once baked.

Step 3: Make the crumble by mixing flour, sugars, and butter until a coarse, sandy texture forms. The topping feels buttery and soft between your fingers, ready to turn crisp and golden in the oven.

Step 4: Cover the apples with the crumb topping, letting some larger chunks form naturally. As it bakes, the topping browns beautifully, filling the kitchen with a buttery aroma that blends perfectly with the warm apples underneath.

Step 5: Bake at 375°F until the topping is golden and the filling bubbles around the edges. Cool before slicing so the filling sets softly beneath the crisp crumble.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

9. Spiced Apple Pie

Spiced Apple Pie carries a deeper warmth, using a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to create a filling that feels rich and cozy. The spices wrap around the apples like a warm scarf, bringing comfort and a bit of seasonal charm. Each bite feels layered, with sweetness followed by gentle heat and earthiness. This is the pie I make when I want something that feels familiar but just a touch more interesting—warm, fragrant, and full of depth.

Ingredients

• 2 pie crusts
• 6 cups sliced apples
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ginger
• ⅛ teaspoon cloves
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps

Step 1: Toss the apples with sugar, spices, and flour. As you stir, the spice blend wakes up, releasing a warm, fragrant aroma that feels deeper than a standard apple pie. The mixture becomes glossy and richly scented, promising layers of warm flavor.

Step 2: Place apples into the crust and top with butter pieces that will melt into the filling, softening the spices and adding richness. The filling already looks warm and inviting with its darker, spiced tones.

Step 3: Add the top crust, seal well, and cut vents. Brush with egg wash. The spices have already scented the raw pie, giving you a hint of how full and fragrant the baked version will be.

Step 4: Bake at 400°F, then reduce to 350°F until the filling bubbles and the crust browns. The spices blend into a warm cloud of aroma as the apples soften, creating a kitchen filled with cozy sweetness.

Step 5: Cool to allow the flavors to settle. Each slice carries layers of rich spice, warm apples, and tender crust.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

10. Rustic Apple Pie

Rustic Apple Pie has a charming simplicity. Instead of aiming for perfection, this pie celebrates the beauty of uneven folds, exposed apples, and natural shapes. The crust is folded casually around the filling, creating a freeform pie that feels cozy and handmade. The apples soften into a warm, fragrant mixture, their juices bubbling gently at the edges. It’s the kind of pie you make on afternoons when you want baking to feel relaxed—hands-on but not fussy, warm but not too sweet.

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
• 4 cups sliced apples
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Egg wash

Steps

Step 1: Toss apples with sugar, flour, and cinnamon. The mixture becomes lightly sticky as the apples release their juices, forming a simple but fragrant filling. The warm spice makes the apples feel both fresh and comforting.

Step 2: Roll out the crust and pile the apples in the center, leaving a border around the edges. The filling looks humble but inviting, full of natural color and gentle sweetness.

Step 3: Fold the crust edges up and over the apples, leaving the center exposed. Brush with egg wash. This freeform shape gives the pie its rustic charm—imperfect, warm, and honest.

Step 4: Bake at 375°F until the crust is golden and the apples bubble. The exposed apples caramelize slightly, creating a deeper sweetness that smells wonderful as it fills the kitchen.

Step 5: Cool so the juices settle. Each slice has tender apples and a crisp, rustic crust—a pie that feels warm, simple, and from the heart.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6