Everybody loves the wholesome American traditional Apple Pie! This delight has spread to every corner of the world over the last century. However, it is much older than that. There is no better way for parents to show their love for their children than with a sweet bite.

Today, more and more young people are getting disillusioned with processed foods bought at the store. Everyone is hungry for a pie that tastes like home and there is a plethora of different recipes. Among the numerous different ways, we chose a simple but effective one, the right one.

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The Crust

Purchasing an already made crust at the store is okay. But, if you want your pie to taste like home, you have to make it at home. Do not be scared and do not be lazy, it is simple and fun. Here is what you need:

All-purpose white flour

Vanilla sugar

Whole frozen lemon(s)

Butter (leave a small piece for buttering the baking pan)

Margarine

Salt

Baking Soda

Cold water

We won’t use precise amounts because you have to judge for yourself depending on how much of the dough you want to make. Just be careful not to over-sweeten it.

Pour the water into an appropriate dish. Put the vanilla sugar, salt, and baking soda in it and stir until they melt completely. Then start adding flour, but not all at once. Gently add and stir it. Then, when you add the flour, add the butter.

Grate the butter in on the larger holes, and then turn the grater and grate the frozen lemon in it with the smaller holes. Mix it all until you get a soft, non-sticking dough. Make two thin pancakes from the dough and leave them aside.

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The filling

Granny Smith Apples (you can use other apples; sour apples work better than sweet ones)

Walnuts

Sugar (you can also use brown sugar)

Water

Peel the apples and cut them into small cubes. Put them in a frying pan. then melt some sugar in a small amount of water and pour it into the same pan. You need just enough sweet water so you can simmer the apples.

Take your time, this part is important. You want the water to become gluey, like syrup, but the apples should not melt entirely. This might take around 30 minutes. After that, mix walnuts in it.

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Baking the Pie

Prepare the baking pan by buttering it completely, its bottom and inside edges. Then put the larger dough pancake in it, with its outer edges ideally going over the edges of the pan. It can work if they don’t, but it is better if they do.

Then, pour the filling into it and close it with the second, smaller pancake on top. You can drill holes in the top or make any kind of pattern you like. Heat the oven to 180°C (350F) and bake for 1 hour. Maybe go even lower with the temp if your oven is really strong.

When you get the golden brown crust on all sides, the baking is complete, but 1 hour is a rule of thumb. After that, leave it to cool down completely before serving. It is even better the next day.