Ina Garten’s Deep Dish Apple Pie: A Refreshing Twist on a Classic

Prepare to experience an apple pie like no other! This isn’t just your average, old-fashioned apple pie; this is Ina Garten’s Deep Dish Apple Pie, a truly extraordinary dessert that redefines comfort. Forget everything you thought you knew about apple pie, because this recipe introduces a subtle yet transformative element that makes it profoundly better.

While traditional apple pies often rely heavily on cinnamon, Ina’s version offers a more nuanced spice profile. You’ll find a delicate balance of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, creating a warm and inviting base. However, the true game-changer here is the surprising hint of citrus. Yes, citrus! This refreshing addition brightens the entire pie, offering a vibrant counterpoint to the sweet apples and warm spices. It’s a flavor pairing that many might not expect, but one that works beautifully, elevating this pie from good to absolutely unforgettable. Who knew a touch of lemon and orange could make such a significant difference?

The Barefoot Contessa’s Secret: A Recipe from “Family Style”

The inspiration for this remarkable pie comes directly from Ina Garten’s beloved cookbook,
Barefoot Contessa Family Style
. Ina Garten, widely known as the Barefoot Contessa, has built a culinary empire on the foundation of elegant, yet approachable, home cooking. Her recipes are celebrated for their simplicity, high-quality ingredients, and consistent deliciousness. When it came to the pie filling, I meticulously followed Ina’s directions, understanding that some recipes are best left untouched to preserve their original perfection. Her expertise shines through in every bite of this apple filling.

While I adhered strictly to Ina’s brilliant filling recipe, I did take a small shortcut for the crust: I opted for prepared refrigerated pie crusts. This decision was primarily driven by convenience, as it’s a wonderful time-saver, especially on busy days. At the time, my flour supply was also running low, and with limited offerings at local food stores, preserving my on-hand ingredients felt like a sensible choice. However, for those who prefer to craft their crust from scratch, I’ve included Ina’s renowned recipe for her “Perfect Pie Crust” in the recipe card below. As always, feel free to make it your own way – whether that means homemade or store-bought, the choice is yours!

Preparing Your Pie Crust and Dish: Keys to a Perfect Deep Dish

Whether you decide to use convenient prepared pie crust or embark on the journey of making your own, the initial step always involves preparing the crust. If you’re using store-bought refrigerated crusts, it’s best to allow them to come to room temperature before handling. This makes them much more pliable and easier to roll without cracking.

A crucial detail for this recipe is the use of a
deeper than normal pie plate
. This recipe is called “deep dish” for a reason – it’s generously filled with apples, requiring more space than a standard pie pan can offer. The pie pan pictured here, for example, is a 9-inch pan that measures about 10 ¾ inches across the top and is approximately 2 ½ inches deep. A deeper dish ensures that all those delicious apples and their juices fit perfectly without overflowing.

When rolling out your pie dough for the base, whether homemade or store-bought, you’ll need to make it slightly larger than usual. Ensure it’s big enough to fully line your deep dish, extending up the sides and with enough excess to meet or slightly extend over the rim. The goal is to have a generous overhang of dough all around, which will be essential for securely tucking the second layer of crust underneath and creating a beautifully sealed edge. This extra dough prevents the filling from bubbling out and ensures a sturdy, well-formed pie.

If you are gluten intolerant, rest assured that this recipe can be easily adapted. Simply use your favorite gluten-free pie crust and substitute the small amount of all-purpose flour in the apple filling with an equal amount of
gluten-free all-purpose flour
.

If you choose to make Ina Garten’s Perfect Pie Crust from scratch, remember that the dough will require a minimum of 30 minutes to chill in the refrigerator before it’s ready to be rolled out. This chilling period is vital for a flaky, tender crust. Once your crust preparation is underway and your pie plate is ready, you can move on to preparing the star of the show: the apples for the luscious filling.

What You’ll Need for This Elevated Classic Dessert

• Granny Smith Apples: The selection of apples is paramount for a successful apple pie. Not all varieties hold up equally during baking; some can turn to mush. Granny Smith apples are the ideal choice due to their firm texture, which maintains structure through the baking process, and their wonderfully tart flavor, which perfectly balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. This creates a pie that is both tender and tangy.
• Lemon Zest & Orange Zest: These citrus zests are the secret stars of this pie! They infuse the filling with a bright, aromatic freshness. For the best results, use a
  microplane grater
  to achieve a fine zest, releasing maximum flavor without any bitter pith.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice & Orange Juice: Complementing the zests, fresh citrus juices add another layer of vibrant flavor and a crucial touch of acidity to the apple filling, preventing it from being overly sweet. Always opt for freshly squeezed for the most impactful taste.
• Granulated Sugar: This adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the apple filling, enhancing the natural flavors of the fruit and spices. A small amount is also reserved to sprinkle on top of the pie crust before baking, creating a delightful crunchy, caramelized finish.
• Unbleached All-Purpose Flour: Flour acts as a thickening agent for the apple juices, ensuring the pie filling sets beautifully. I personally prioritize using organic, non-GMO flour that is free of glyphosate, with a favorite being from
  Sunrise Flour Mill
  in Minnesota. However, any quality unbleached all-purpose flour will work. As mentioned,
  gluten-free all-purpose flour can be used for a gluten-friendly option.
• Kosher Salt: A pinch of salt is essential to enhance all the flavors in the pie, bringing out the best in both the sweet and tart notes. If substituting with table salt, be cautious as it is finer and denser; use approximately two-thirds the amount specified for kosher salt to avoid over-salting.
• Ground Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Allspice: These classic pie spices provide warmth and depth, creating that comforting aroma and taste we all associate with apple pie. Their quantities are carefully measured to allow the citrus notes to shine through.
• Prepared Pie Crusts or Homemade Perfect Pie Crust: You have the flexibility to choose! Use two sheets of your preferred purchased refrigerated pie dough (like Pillsbury) for a quick option, or follow the detailed instructions in the recipe card to create Ina’s Perfect Pie Crust from scratch for an truly artisanal touch.
• Egg: Beaten with water, this creates an egg wash that gives the pie crust a beautiful golden-brown sheen and helps seal the edges during assembly.

Preparing the Flavorful Apple Filling

The heart of this deep dish apple pie lies in its incredibly flavorful filling. Once your crust is handled, it’s time to prepare the apples.
The Granny Smith apples are meticulously peeled, cored, and sliced. I find that a
melon baller
is incredibly handy for cleanly scooping out the core of each apple, making the process efficient and neat.

The exquisite combination of orange and lemon zest truly shines through in this filling, providing a bright, tangy lift that distinguishes it from any other apple pie. You’ll notice that this recipe calls for a limited amount of sugar. This intentional choice ensures that the pie’s overall flavor profile is refreshingly balanced and not cloyingly sweet. Instead, the natural sweetness of the apples and the vibrant notes of citrus take center stage. It’s so light and flavorful, it almost tastes healthy – and indeed, it is loaded with delicious fruit!

Assembling Your Deep Dish Apple Pie

• Once the apple mixture is perfectly incorporated, pile it generously into the prepared deep pie plate. This will create quite a substantial mound of apples, emphasizing why a deeper pie plate is absolutely essential for this recipe. Do not attempt to use a standard pie plate, or you’ll risk overflowing.
• Before adding the top crust, gently brush the edge of the bottom crust with the prepared egg wash. This acts as a delicious adhesive, ensuring the two crusts bond securely during baking, preventing any gaps that might allow the precious apple juices to escape.
• Carefully place the second crust over the mounded apple filling. Make sure it is large enough so that its edges fall approximately 1 inch over the rim of the pie plate, all the way around. This extra dough is crucial for proper sealing.
• Now, tuck the edge of the top crust neatly under the generous overhang of the bottom crust. Once tucked, use your fingers (or a fork for a decorative touch) to crimp the two crusts firmly together around the entire perimeter of the pie plate. The egg wash you applied earlier will help facilitate a strong, beautiful seal. This step ensures a perfect, rustic-looking edge and keeps all the juicy goodness inside.

• Finally, brush the remaining egg wash generously over the entire surface of the top crust. This will give your pie a beautiful golden-brown color and a lovely sheen when baked.
• Then, evenly sprinkle the reserved teaspoon of granulated sugar over the entire egg-washed surface. This sugar will caramelize, adding a delightful crunch and extra visual appeal to the finished pie.
• Don’t forget to cut four or five slits strategically here and there across the top crust. These vents are crucial for allowing steam to escape during the baking process, preventing the crust from becoming soggy or bursting open.

An Important Step for Baking Success

• Always place the pie plate on a large, sturdy sheet pan before it goes into the oven. This is a vital preventative measure. Sometimes, during baking, the delicious fruit juices can bubble up and spill over the edges of the pie plate. A sheet pan will catch any drips, saving your oven from sticky messes and making cleanup a breeze.
• To make cleanup even easier, you can take this step further by lining the sheet pan with aluminum foil. This creates a disposable barrier for any potential spills.

Keep a watchful eye on your pie as it bakes. The edges of the crust, particularly with a higher baking temperature, can brown quickly – sometimes even before the pie is fully cooked. If you notice the edges are browning too rapidly, don’t fret! Take thin strips of aluminum foil and gently wrap them around the entire edge of the pie. In my oven, this usually becomes necessary about halfway through the baking process.

Alternatively, if you’re fortunate enough to own an
adjustable silicone pie shield
, now is the perfect time to employ it. These handy tools are designed specifically to protect pie crusts from over-browning and are much easier and safer to handle than hot foil strips.

As the pie approaches the final minutes of baking, continue to monitor the overall browning of the crust. Once it reaches your desired golden-brown shade, but still requires a bit more time to fully cook the apples and thicken the juices, loosely tent the entire pie with a sheet of aluminum foil. This prevents further browning while allowing the filling to finish cooking to perfection.

Following these steps will ensure you achieve a pie with the perfect rustic look and an irresistible flaky texture, every single time.

Serving Your Ina Garten Deep Dish Apple Pie

This Deep Dish Apple Pie is utterly delicious, whether served warm from the oven or perfectly chilled. If you prefer to enjoy it while still warm, be aware that the filling will be wonderfully soft and the juices quite abundant, making for a beautifully messy, yet incredibly satisfying, experience. The warm, fragrant apples with their citrus notes are simply divine.

Once chilled, the filling tends to firm up substantially, making for cleaner slices and a slightly different, equally delightful texture. Both options offer a fantastic dessert experience, catering to different preferences.

Elevate Your Ina Garten’s Deep Dish Apple Pie Experience

To truly take Ina Garten’s Deep Dish Apple Pie to the next level, consider pairing it with some classic additions. Of course, you can never go wrong with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream. The light, airy cream perfectly complements the rich, tangy apple filling.

For an indulgent treat, a solid scoop of premium vanilla ice cream melting over a warm slice is absolutely irresistible. The contrast of hot and cold, and the creamy sweetness against the tart apples, creates a symphony of flavors and textures. Alternatively, a drizzle of warm caramel sauce or a sprinkle of toasted pecans could add another layer of decadence. Just a thought for making this already amazing pie even more spectacular!

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Explore More Apple Delights…

If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting taste of apples, you might enjoy these other delightful apple-infused recipes: