Enjoy homemade apple pie with oil pie crust that’s easy to make. Pie crust without shortening, butter or chill time so you can savor the sweet taste of cinnamon apple pie, or any pie you choose!
If you’re looking for easy apple pie this is the best apple pie recipe you will find!
There are several reasons, but the secret to easy apple pie is an oil pie crust.
No butter or shortening needed. No pastry cutter or food processor.
Just mix everything in a bowl and roll out.
The crust is light and very flaky.
It’s not picture perfect, but it’s simple, delicious and unfussy.
This crust can be used to make any pie, but it’s especially tasty when used for apple pie.
The recipe is my dad’s apple pie, which is based on grandma’s apple pie filling.
We’re still making it three generations later so it’s stood the test of time!
Some of my dad’s other tried and true recipes include spinach bread, Italian sausage cheese bombers and Polish potica.
How to Make an Oil Pie Crust
It’s really as easy as pie.
Mix together flour, salt, oil and water – but don’t add all the water at once.
Everything should come together with some vigorous mixing.
If it’s too dry and crumbly, add additional water until it forms a ball.
Feel free to use hands to knead it all together.
Rolling out an oil pie crust
Split dough in half and wrap the piece you are not working with in plastic until ready to use.
Do not refrigerate or it will get too dry.
Roll between two pieces of waxed paper so the dough doesn’t stick to the surface or rolling pin.
Remove the top piece of waxed paper and use the bottom as a support to lay the crust into the bottom of your pie pan.
What type of oil should I use?
We always use regular vegetable oil, but you can use any oil you like.
Just note that every oil has its own distinct taste and stronger oils such as extra virgin olive may be tasted in the crust.
There is no right or wrong, only the characteristics you prefer.
Oils on the neutral side include safflower, corn, canola and many others.
Apple Pie Filling
My favorite apples are Granny Smith. They are firm and not too sweet.
You can also use Golden Delicious or Jonathan.
If you like a sweeter pie, you can add an additional 1/4 cup of sugar.
We use quite a bit of cinnamon in this recipe, so feel free to scale it back if it’s too much for your taste.
We like our filling to taste like applesauce!
Can you freeze apple pie?
Yes, in the fall we used to make half a dozen apple pies at a time and freeze them for later.
Prepare the pie as directed in the recipe, but do not bake. Place the whole unbaked pie in a freezer safe bag and freeze.
When ready to bake, remove from freezer and bake at 350°F for 60-75 minutes or until after juices start to steadily drip and then stop.
Have Fun!
As kids, we always made a game out of peeling the apples. If you could peel the whole apple in one continuous peel you were a winner.
Another fun thing was the letter dad would write into the top of the pie to mark the occasion – “T” for Thanksgiving, or the first letter of someone’s name for their birthday, etc.
Pie dough scraps were rolled out, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and baked alongside the pie.
This was a special treat we could eat right away while the pie finished baking and cooling.
These are the happy memories which will make this the best apple pie forever.
Apple Pie with Oil Pie Crust
Homemade apple pie with an oil pie crust. This crust doesn't require any butter, shortening or chilling time. Use it for any recipe requiring pie crust.
Ingredients
- For the crust:
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2-3 tablespoons water
- For the filling:
- 5-6 granny smith apples (about 2 lbs)
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Ice cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
For the crust:
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour and salt.
- Add the oil and 2 tablespoons of the water. Mix until combined and forms a ball.
- Add additional tablespoon of water, or as needed, if dry and crumbly.
- Wrap in plastic wrap until ready to use.
- Makes 1 double crust 9-inch pie.
For the pie:
- Split dough in half and wrap the piece you are not working with in plastic until ready to use.
- Roll dough into 10-inch circle between two pieces of waxed paper so the dough doesn't stick to the surface or rolling pin.
- Remove the top piece of waxed paper and use the bottom as a support to lay the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan.
- Peel and core apples. Slice into ½ – ¾ inch slices (about 12 per apple depending on size of apples). Pile apples into crust. Top evenly with sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon and dot with butter.
- Roll out remaining half of dough into approximately 12-inch diameter.
Place on top of pie and pinch edges to seal. With a knife, slice a few holes in
the top to allow steam to escape. - Place pie into preheated oven and put a foil-lined cookie sheet or dish under pie to catch drippings. The juices will start to drip, then drip steadily and finally slow down. This is when the pie is done.
- Allow to cool before slicing. Serve with ice cream, if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1/8 pieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 389Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 159mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 4gSugar: 30gProtein: 4g
Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results.
Sonja Wiley
Monday 27th of March 2023
I always used 3 cups of flour, sprinkle of salt, 1 cup canella oil and half cup 1 percent milk. This made an 2 pie crust pie. Think I will try your recipe. Thanks
Rebekah
Friday 7th of April 2023
Oh very interesting with the milk. Sounds like an oil biscuit recipe I have without the leavening.