Many people, new to baking, find out that just having an apple pie recipe does not guarantee a stellar outcome to their first baking experiment. Even if you have made a pie before and are using the same recipe, it is possible to get varying results. This article will help you know how to make an apple pie successfully.

Regardless of the reason, you want to make an apple pie this article will give you some tips to help increase your chances of reaching a satisfying baking result. If your results the first time are not perfect, just remember it takes practice to be perfect at anything.

Perfect Ingredients Means a Perfect Pie
Your best chance for an excellent baked apple pie starts with selection of the best possible ingredients for your pie. Only use the freshest ingredients you can find. That means spices that are fresh, not dried and crushed and real butter, not trans fats or vegetable shortening.

The use of quality components is important because, like a chain that is only as strong as its weakest link. Any baked goods are only as good as the least fresh or lowest quality ingredients. For example, do not start out with canned sliced apples instead of slicing up fresh apples yourself.

Some types of apples are better for apple pie than others are. Make sure the apples you select are fresh, organic apples that are firm and in season. Do not use any apples with a bruise or defect spots because those change the flavor of the pie.

Have at least two different types of apples for your pie, three varieties is even better. This allows you to have layers of slightly different tastes from top to bottom in the pie. Find out at your local farmers market which apples from your area are considered the best for fresh baked apple pie.

Peel and core your apples and then keep them fresh looking by placing them in a large bowl of organic apple cider mixed with 1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice. After all the apples are peeled and cored, drain them very well and toss in the large bowl with spices that you choose to include in your pie. This is one of the secrets of knowing how to make an apple pie that looks and tastes great.

Choosing Spices
Spices do not remain fresh for long periods, especially if ground. If fresh are not available in your area by the best brand names you can find. Some of the best supermarkets have spices in bulk foods sections that may be the freshest you can find. Check each spice with your nose. A spice should carry its own scent easily.

The most common spice for apple pies is cinnamon. There are many types of cinnamon and you should use two or three in your pie, just as you used more than one variety of apple. Cinnamon from Indonesia or India is the best. Chinese Tung Hin cinnamon is also a good choice to mix with the cinnamon from Indonesia and India.

Pastry Decisions
If you have never baked before you may be using a premade piecrust. Make sure you follow the directions that came with the piecrust. The place your apple pie filling in the pie and place 2 tablespoons of butter, cut into 10 small pieces throughout the filling.
Then add the top crust and crimp around the edges to seal in the flavors of the pie filling. The top of the crust should be brushed with melted butter and a little sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top. An apple pie should bake for about 40 minutes at 400 degree Fahrenheit unless you are at a high altitude, in which case it could take longer.

If you have worked with these instructions carefully on how to make apple pie , your efforts should be well rewarded.

How to Make Apple Pie should start with only the best apples.  The average shopper will have not realize how many types of apples there are until they begin shopping for them, and then they will be overwhelmed and confused as to which ones to pick.  There are definitely apples that make a better pie, and many people choose to use a few different types of apples in their pies.

The overwhelmingly popular choice is a firm, tart apple such as Macintosh, or a blend of tart and sweet apples such as Gala, Winesap, and Granny.  Mushy apples like Golden Delicious and Red Delicious do not seem to be popular choices for apple pies, but you can choose slightly underripe or overripe apples for different textures.  Choosing the best apples from those in season is the first step in learning how to make apple pie.

The secrets do not end here.  The rest of the filling contains sugar, but some also use a dash of lemon juice or finely chopped lemon rind to give a good balance of sweetness and tartness to the other ingredients.  Fillings will include cornstarch, small amounts of cinamon,  nutmeg, cloves or raisins.

Add the sliced apples after all filling ingredients are mixed to achieve uniform coverage of the apples and filling.  Honey or maple syrup can be added in place of sugar.   Lots of people learn how to make apple pie fillings without any recipes at all.

The crust is where those who know how to make apple pie really excel.  The overwhelmingly popular crust choice is lard rather than shortening.  A mixture of 1/3 butter to 2/3 lard is a good ratio.  Work with these ingredients only when they are cold, and slice them into smaller pieces before mixing them with flour.  The bits of butter and lard will become coated with flour, giving them the appearance of cracker crumbs; at this point, add cold water.

The crust must be  worked gently and quickly, and it must be kept chilled to achieve the perfect light, flaky, tender crust sought after by anyone who knows how to make apple pie.  Once the pie crust is ready, it must be transferred to the pie pan.  The best way to do this is by folding the crust over on itself, laying the folded crust in the pan, then opening it back out.  Add the filling, then add a touch of unsalted butter to the top, just before adding the top crust.

The final well kept secret of knowing how to make apple pie is using a ceramic hollow venting tube called a pie bird, which keeps the filling inside.  Once the pie bird is in place, put the pie in the oven anywhere from 350 to 400 degrees, and bake until it’s golden brown and bubbling.

Don’t forget the ice cream!