Do You Know the Best Apples for Homemade Pie? (2024)

Out of all the different types of apples, there are certain kinds that are best for making apple pie. In fact, making many of our favorite apple desserts—including tartlets, cobblers, and baked crisp—call for a hand-picked selection. So, before you head out for one last apple-picking trip, read this list of the best apples for apple pie.

The key to making a perfect homemade apple pie is to look for an apple with sweet-tart flavor and firm texture that won't turn into applesauce after it bakes. Here's an extra tip: you can mix and match more than one apple on the list below for a combination that perfectly hits the mark. This also allows you to customize your apple recipe to your family's liking. Prefer your pie a little sweeter? Add more Envy apples to the mix. Looking for an apple with unique flavor? Braeburns have a subtle hint of citrus and spice that works well with recipes that call for cinnamon or nutmeg.

Still not sure which apples are best for your particular pie recipe? The best way to decide is to try them for yourselves. So read on for more apple suggestions, then give it a go! (Oh, and make sure you have the perfect pie crust before you begin.)

Which kind of apples are best for baking apple pie—and why?

Ree Drummond's favorite is Granny Smith for her Caramel Apple Pie. Since the caramel sauce is ultra-sweet, she likes the fact that Granny Smiths have a bit of tartness. "They're firm and hold their integrity through the baking process. Plus, they're just so darn purty," she says.

If you want to mix and match for a balanced flavor, be sure to use both sweet and tart apples. For instance, these apple pie bars use both Granny Smith (which are tart) and Honey Crisp (which are sweet). Also consider balancing the texture. A mix of crisp and soft apples will give you a more nuanced texture, making each bite more interesting. Here are the best varieties of baking apples you will commonly find.

Crispin

This sweet, refreshing apple is also called Matsu. What makes it so ideal for baking is the fact that it can hold its shape without becoming mushy even after it's baked. Just like its relative, the Golden Delicious, this apple has a yellow-green skin and crisp texture (hence the name!).

Honey Crisp

There's a reason why honey crisp apples are a favorite for snacking—the extra-sweet flavor and crisp texture make them ideal for basically any situation, including baking! You'll often find that honey crisps are harder to find, but during the fall months, you should be able to get your hands on them. Looking for another reason to love honey crisps? Ree uses them for her apple peanut butter delights.

The Pioneer Woman Stainless Steel Apple Slicer and Corer

Granny Smith

These green-skinned apples are Ree's favorite pick for apple pie. Plus, they are easy to find year-round, so you can get your pie fix whenever the mood strikes! Their signature tart flavor is delicious on its own, but if you prefer a pie that's a little sweeter, Granny Smith apples are great when paired with some of the sweeter apples on this list. They're even delicious when combined with sweet pears, which is why Ree uses them in her recipe for apple-pear pie.

Envy

Crisp and sweet with an almost honey-like flavor, Envy apples are a smart choice for baking classic pies, rustic apple galettes, and every fall dessert in between. Why? Not only does their firm texture hold up to baking, Envy apples also keep their beautiful color—from the red peel to the pale yellow flesh—when baked. In fact, these apples can stay fresh-looking for up to 10 hours after being sliced, so you can work ahead without fear of them immediately browning.

Gala

Gala are great multi-purpose apples and a delicious pick for apple pie. They have a mellow sweetness to them and they don't get too soft in the oven. Best of all, this variety of apple is usually available year-round. Look for the red and yellow striped apples at most grocery stores and farmers' markets.

Braeburn

Braeburn apples are perfectly balanced: not too sweet and not too tart! They have a unique flavor that's almost citrusy and spiced, but turns deliciously sweet when cooked. They're great for baking because they release very little liquid when baked, so your pie won't be too runny.

Do You Know the Best Apples for Homemade Pie? (3)

Pink Lady

We love Pink Lady apples: They have a nice, rosy color (hence the name!) and they're super crisp, so they're ideal for getting that picture-perfect slice of pie. Pink Lady apples have a sweet-tart flavor that's refreshing when eaten raw as a snacking apple, but that also works well in baked goods.

Golden Delicious

Golden Delicious apples stand out on the shelf thanks to their sunny yellow color, and you can usually find them throughout the year. These apples are pretty mild in their flavor, so they work well in pies that have some extra sweetness and spice. Unlike Granny Smith apples, Golden Delicious apples tend to break down more when cooked, so they're a good choice to combine with other firmer apples on this list.

Northern Spy

These large, round apples aren't always readily available throughout the year, but when they are, they're one of the very best for pie! They have a mostly sweet, very lightly tart flavor and they're nice and firm. Look for them in the later months of fall and you’ll be baking apple pie for all the cold-weather holidays.

Jonagold

Jonagold apples are a cousin of Golden Delicious and they have some of the same pretty golden hues in their skin. They're a nice mix of sweet and tart, so they work well on their own in a pie. The firm-fleshed apple is a great choice for baking in all forms. They're mostly found at farmers' markets during apple season.

Cortland

These apples don't brown as quickly as other varieties—you can slice them and set them aside while you roll out your dough. Cortland apples have a very sweet, slightly tart flavor that's similar to McIntosh and works well when baked in an apple pie. Look for the large, often flat-shaped, apples throughout the fall season.

Rome

This classic heirloom apple was once called the "Queen of the Baking Apples" because of its thicker skin and medium-firm flesh that holds up in the oven. Their spherical shape also make them quite easy to peel. Rome apples tend to have a very mild flavor though, so they are best paired with more flavorful apples for balance.

Do You Know the Best Apples for Homemade Pie? (2024)

FAQs

Do You Know the Best Apples for Homemade Pie? ›

Granny Smith Apples

What's the best apple to use for apple pie? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
  • Cortland. ...
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy.
Oct 8, 2021

What are the top 5 apples for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

Are honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

Are Gala apples good for apple pie? ›

Gala: If you want extra sweetness without the soft texture, choose Gala apples for your pie. As with Golden Delicious apples, bakers sometimes reduce the sugar in their recipes due to this variety's extra-sweet flavor.

What are the top 3 best apples? ›

10 Most Popular Apple Types—and Which Ones Are Best for Baking and Snacking
  • 01 of 10. Granny Smith. undefined undefined / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 02 of 10. Golden Delicious. liaminou / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 03 of 10. Red Delicious. LiveFree / GETTY IMAGES. ...
  • 04 of 10. McIntosh. ...
  • 05 of 10. Honeycrisp. ...
  • 06 of 10. Gala. ...
  • 07 of 10. Pink Lady. ...
  • 08 of 10. Fuji.
Oct 6, 2023

What is the sweetest apple to bake with? ›

Honeycrisp (Sweet)

They're extra juicy and very crisp with a honey-sweet flavor that translates wonderfully into baked goods. AND they are the star of the show in my Honeycrisp apple sangria.

Can you leave the peel on apples for apple pie? ›

Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple's nutritional value once the peel is removed. Making sure you are using the correct apples – peeled or unpeeled – is a more important part of crafting the perfect apple pie.

Why is my apple pie watery? ›

One of the chief reasons bakers end up with apple soup under the crust is failure to bake their pie long enough. There's almost no such thing as over-baking an apple pie; I've baked apple pies for 2 hours and longer, and they turn out just fine.

What type of pie pan is best for apple pie? ›

Like glass dishes, ceramic pie dishes conduct heat slowly and evenly, which helps yield uniformly golden crusts and thoroughly cooked fillings, even when making fruit pies that require lengthy cooks to soften down.

What is the number one apple for pie? ›

Granny Smith apples are considered by many to be the "pie apples." They are known for their snappy tartness and ability to maintain their shape and texture when cooked. These are, no doubt, a terrific choice for apple pie — especially when combined with a sweeter, softer apple like Braeberns or Crispins.

What combination of apples make the best pie? ›

My best apple pie would include a combination of these three: Cortland, for flavor; Russet, for texture; and Granny Smith, for its combination of the two.

What are the best apples to use for apple pie or apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

What is the difference between Gala and Pink Lady apples? ›

Gala: Gala apples have a distinctive yellow-orange skin with red striping and a sweet, crisp taste. Honeycrisp: Recognizable for their mottled red and yellow skin and exceptionally crisp texture with a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Pink Lady (Cripps Pink): These apples have a pinkish-red skin and a sweet-tart taste.

What kind of apples does mcdonalds use for their pies? ›

So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home. Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.

Which types of apples are best for making applesauce? ›

For a basic applesauce, use McIntosh and Golden Delicious apples. Golden Delicious is a soft apple variety with a mellow flavor, so it cooks down easily and provides a great foundation for your applesauce. McIntosh apples are slightly tart and crisp, but soften easily, making them a stellar choice for pies and sauces.

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