How To Use Frozen Pie Crust For Apple Pie

Are you looking for a homemade apple pie recipe, but don't have time to make a pie crust from scratch? This easy apple pie bakes up high to delicious flaky perfection.

Fresh, tart, Granny Smith apples are peeled and cut into wedges. They're tossed with a blend of cinnamon, sugar, and butter before being piled high into store-bought, premade pie dough.

Apple Pie with store bought crust sliced on a plate with a fork.

I love a homemade pie crust like the one in my Custard Pie just as much as the next gal, but sometimes you just feel like taking a short-cut.

That's where this recipe with premade crust comes to the rescue. After using an egg wash on the crust before baking, the final crust comes out golden brown and flaky.

Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make this Easy Apple Pie:

10 Granny Smith apples
14.1 ounces refrigerated pie crusts. (This is one box, which equals 2 crusts.)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
3 tbsp butter
1 egg

Equipment and Supplies

You'll also need the following equipment and supplies before starting.

Conventional Oven
9.5″ pie pan
Vegetable peeler
knife
cutting board
mixing bowl
Pastry brush
Pie shield (recommended to prevent the outer crust from burning)

Making the Pie

Making homemade apple pie is one of those tasks that really pays off. With just a small amount of invested time, you can make a large "mile-high" apple pie.

The image below shows a snapshot of the steps involved:

How to Make a semi homemade apple pie - a grid of the full process of making this pie.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line the bottom of your pie plate with one crust. Be sure to spread it out and then gently pinch the edges to crimp; set aside.
Peel and slice apples almost to the core.
Then slice them into thin slices. You do not want them thick or too chunky because they will not bake properly.
Add the apple slices to a large mixing bowl and toss with flour, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
Mix the apples until they're evenly coated.
Carefully pour the spiced apples over the bottom pie crust and spread them out evenly. They will look pretty high.
Add cubes of butter around the top layer of the pie.
Unwrap the pie top crust and carefully cover the pie. Pinch the edges to crimp and seal the pie.
Make an egg wash by cracking one egg into a bowl. Add 2 tbsp water and a pinch of salt. Beat it until smoothly combined.
Brush the egg wash onto the top pie crust. You will not use all of it.
Using a BBQ skewer, poke 4 holes in your pie center for venting. You can also make 4 slits with a knife.
Cover the crust edges with a pie shield (Amazon affiliate link) to prevent over-browning. This is not required but highly recommended.
Place the pie into the oven on the center oven rack.
Bake it for 45 minutes. Then remove it from the oven.

Golden-brown baked apple pie near a red and tan napkin.

Tips

Cooling

Allow pie to cool for at least 3 hours before cutting into it. If you don't allow it to cool completely, it will fall apart and be watery.

Covering the Pie

Do not cover the pie when it's still warm or the crust will get soggy. Only cover it once the pie is 100% cooled.

Use a Pie Shield

If you don't own a pie shield (Amazon affiliate link), I highly recommend buying one. It's a silicone ring that lays on top of the pie crust while it bakes. The shield prevents the edges of the crust from over-browning (or burning). They're inexpensive and work great.

sliced apple pie on a grey dish with a fork.

Printable Recipe Card

Get this Easy Apple Pie with Store Bought Crust Recipe below:

Easy Apple Pie Recipe With Premade Crust

An easy apple pie recipe with premade crust that features a buttery, perfectly spiced, real apple filling.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple, apple pie, dessert, easy apple pie, pie

Servings 8 slices

Calories 376 cal

Cost $5

9.5" pie plate
Vegetable peeler
knife
cutting board
mixing bowl
Pastry brush
Pie shield

10 whole Granny Smith apples cored, and cut into wedges
14.1 ounces pre-made pie crusts One box (2 crusts)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
3 tbsps. butter cubed
1 egg whisked

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line the bottom of your pie plate with one crust. Be sure to spread it out and then gently pinch the edges to crimp; set aside.
Peel, slice apples almost to the core, and then slice them in thin slices. You do not want them thick or too chunky because they will not bake properly.
Add apple slices to a large mixing bowl and toss with flour, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice; combine.
Carefully pour spiced apples over the bottom pie crust and spray them out evenly. They will look pretty high.
Add butter cubes around the top layer of the pie.
Unwrap the pie top crust and carefully cover the pie. Pinch pie edges to crimp and seal the pie.
Brush on the mixed egg wash on all surfaces of the top pie. You will not use the whole egg.
Using a BBQ skewer, poke 4 holes in your pie center for venting. You can also make 4 slits with a knife.
Bake pie for 45 minutes with a pie shield to prevent the crust edges from over-browning.
Allow pie to cool for at least 3 hours before cutting into it. Do not cover the pie when warm or the crust will get soggy. Only cover it once the pie is 100% cooled.