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Grandma Casey's Famous Apple Pie Recipe

Ranked #7,646 in Food & Cooking, #139,471 overall | Donates to Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue of NorCal

The story, the recipe, the photos

My Grandma Casey made incredible apple pie. It wasn't artisanal or elegant or organic or fancy, but it was wholesome, simple, warm and always made the family smile. Kind of like the woman herself.

Below is the very straightforward, easy to make apple pie recipe, as she told it to my dad, and as he wrote it down and gave to me after she died.

The photos are all mine, showing the step by step making of Grandma Casey's apple pie in my own kitchen. Took me about 15 minutes of prep time (pie crust not included) and 60 minutes of oven time. And turned out oh so yummy.

P.S. I made this lens for the 2009 Squidoo Thanksgiving Cookoff (for Charity) in support of Donors Choose.

The recipe, pure and simple

Unedited. As told to John Casey, 11/28/1991

Gather the ingredients:

5-6 Golden Delicious Apples (Mom Casey thinks they have the best flavor)
3/4 cup refined sugar
3/4 of a Dixie cup of apple juice (Mom Casey likes apple juice)
Flour
Cinnamon
Butter
Milk
Pie crust

Directions:

Mom slices the apples with a grater
Put pie crust in pan, add 2 tbsp flour
Add 1/2 of apples, sprinkle 1/2 of sugar
Add next 1/2 of apples, sprinkle with rest of sugar
Pour apple juice over apples and sugar
Sprinkle with 2 tbsp of flour (to absorb the apple juice)
Sprinkle with cinnamon and add pats of butter
Put on top and lightly brush with milk (mom uses her fingers)

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 min
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 mins

Let pie cool and then enjoy the best apple pie in the world!!

Alterations to the recipe

What I change when I make my grandma's pie today:

I use Granny Smith apples instead of Golden Delicious, because I prefer a tarter, tangier flavor.
I use only half the sugar, for the same reason.
I sprinkle some powdered vanilla in with the cinnamon and a little nutmeg before putting on the basket weave top.

Otherwise, I use her recipe exactly as above.

Making the pie, step by step

a little slideshow

Creating a base of sliced apples. My grandmother's recipe asks for golden delicious, but I used Granny Smith for a tarter pie.

Creating a base of sliced apples. My grandmother's recipe asks for golden delicious, but I used Granny Smith for a tarter pie.

Creating a base of sliced apples. My grandmother's recipe asks for golden delicious, but I used Granny Smith for a tarter pie.
Sprinkling sugar on top of the first layer of apples.
Layering on more apples, then pouring on apple juice and a pinch of cinnamon. I also sprinkle a tiny bit of vanilla here.
I forgot to weave the basket weave, but hey, the effect is the same! This is where you lay down the pie top and smooth milk over it with your fingers.
Going in the oven! 425 degrees for 15 mins. Then 350 degrees for 45 mins.
"Let pie cool and then enjoy the best apple pie in the world!!"

Must have item #1: A great rolling pin

Sturdy, good heft, rolls well, beautiful bamboo

Helen Chen's Asian Kitchen 18-inch Caramelized Bamboo Rolling Pin

Helen Chen's Asian Kitchen 18-inch Caramelized Bamboo Rolling Pin

Amazon Price: $13.45 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

It works wonders on pie crusts!

Must have item #2: The OXO Apple Corer

to get rid of the seeds and apple core. Oxo makes great stuff.

OXO Good Grips Corer

OXO Good Grips Corer

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

What about the pie crust?

Grandma Casey didn't write down her pie crust recipe, so I have to guess at what works best with her pies. Here are some other lenses, by other bakers out there, with what look to be very tasty pie crust recipes. Dig in!
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Comments

did you make Grammy Casey's apple pie?

  • Annamadagan Dec 12, 2010 @ 11:32 am | delete
    Yummy, yum, yum!
  • gypsyman27 Dec 7, 2010 @ 5:37 pm | delete
    I had to come and get this recipe for your Grammie's apple pie. Great lens, see you around the galaxy...
  • kathysmith Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:04 am | delete
    I was lucky to find this before going shopping today. Thanks for your simple recipe.
  • chrissuard Dec 4, 2010 @ 6:45 am | delete
    I love your lens, straightforward and concise, and looks delicious! Blessed and favorited.
  • WendyKrick Nov 23, 2010 @ 9:31 am | delete
    This looks yummy!
  • kiwisoutback Nov 14, 2010 @ 4:30 pm | delete
    That's what my Mom says about Granny Smith apples - they taste much better than other kinds in pie, crisps, etc. By the ingredient list, I can tell this one would be excellent. Yum!
  • JohnCasey Nov 1, 2010 @ 5:23 pm | delete
    Hi J-Ellen
    Its not gluten free, it's glutton free. You become a glutton with free will!! Once you have eaten my mom's pie, using the correct golden delicious apples, you will become a pie glutton.
  • littlelu Oct 26, 2010 @ 8:16 am | delete
    Looks and sounds delicious! I'm going to try this for a weekend get together we're having!
  • Oct 24, 2010 @ 4:17 pm | delete
    Enjoyable lens to visit! Looks like an awesome pie. Wonder how it would be with gluten-free flour?
  • JackBandit Oct 15, 2010 @ 5:46 pm | delete
    How is this not rated higher? This lens is amazing! :) I can't wait to try this myself.
  • Oct 15, 2010 @ 3:01 am | delete
    I was raised in an old fashioned household and I wouldn't change a thing. The amazing recipes I was taught growing up I now impress my friends with. Grandma Casey's famous apple pie recipe sounds a lot like my Grandma Gladys' apple pie recipe and I bet it tastes just as good
  • ideadesigns Sep 13, 2010 @ 4:21 pm | delete
    Wow this looks easy! Thanks for sharing because we have an apple tree and need to make a pie or cobbler. :)
  • WendyKrick Sep 12, 2010 @ 9:25 pm | delete
    This apple pie looks so good. Yummy!
  • RichLeigh Sep 12, 2010 @ 8:15 pm | delete
    Will definitely have to give the apple pie a try; reading this lens has made me hungry!
  • JaguarJulie Jun 5, 2010 @ 4:10 pm | delete
    OK!!! I hereby am going on the record that I would be using Granny Smith apples in my apple pie recipe. Pretty sure those weren't technically around when my grandma was making her famous apple pie and I really don't think she use the Golden Delicious either. The taste was slightly tangy and tart but not too sweet.
  • sha2 Dec 19, 2009 @ 6:16 pm | delete
    So amazing that you are so charitable and give all your earnings to charity! Way to go.
  • Jewelsofawe Dec 2, 2009 @ 2:01 am | delete
    It looks delicious!
  • Nancie Nov 27, 2009 @ 12:34 am | delete
    Okay, I am now officially Grandma Casey since I am Megan and Clancy's mother and have three grandsons also with the name CASEY. Megan challenged her Dad to a bakeoff tonight (Thanksgiving) and I have to say, Poppa made a great apple pie. A real bakeoff would have been where Megan also made a pie and we sat down and compared them. But nooooooo...so since we are spending Christmas at Megan's house, she gets to make the pie. I think Squidoo may need another contest for charity with Christmas recipes! PS Our son who was with his in-laws in Michigan attempted to make Grandma's Apple Pie but the photo he sent us looked like he used the wrong side of his slicer/grater. He "shredded" the apples so they almost looked like applesauce!!! Interesting, we didn't get a phone call from him today!!! And he said HE was going to out bake us???? hah
  • HappyBusyBee Nov 25, 2009 @ 8:40 pm | delete
    Okay, first I'm cracking up at the playful family banter going on here in the comments. Second, Megan I'm so slow, this is your first non-official related lens I've visited by it's smashtastic! I look forward to being around here a bit more. :D

    Hugs,
    Holly
  • JohnCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 2:46 pm | delete
    Do NOT use Granny Smith apples. Grammy Dorf would roll over in her grave if she knew. don't disgrace your grandmother!
  • ClancyCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 2:25 pm | delete
    Okay you two! IT IS ON!!!!!! I'm going to out-bake both of you. And, much like officially reported government statistics, nobody will ever be able to refute my claims to superiority because my pies will be in Michigan and you won't be able to taste them. aa HAAAA!!!!
  • JohnCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 1:27 pm | delete
    If you think you are going to challenge me, the son of the world's greatest apple pie maker to a bake off, you have such a mental vacancy, you should be foreclosed upon. Besides, you probably use those socialistictic Granny Smith apples, not American Golden Deiicious, the apple of choice by Grandma Casey!!!!!! The game is afoot!!!
  • JohnCasey Nov 19, 2009 @ 6:07 pm | delete
    This is blasphemy. You don't use Granny Smith apples. Who is she to interlope on my mom's pies. This is a Grandma Casey pie. Could be legal action!!!!
  • MeganCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 12:20 pm | delete
    I challenge you to a bakeoff on Thursday.
  • KarateKatGraphics Nov 16, 2009 @ 10:38 pm | delete
    I need that rolling pin. Ours has mysteriously disappeared. Probably being used by the boys as a tool or weapon (hopefully the former). Your pie looks delish! A little vanilla or cinnamon ice cream on top would balance the tangy Granny Smiths perfectly. But then I put ice cream on everything :P
  • jgelien Nov 6, 2009 @ 9:59 am | delete
    Okay, I admit it. I actually don't like pumpkin pie. For Thanksgiving I always prefer apple. This recipe sounds yummy and I intend to try it this year. Thank you for sharing and
    making this lens for such a great cause. 5 stars
  • GrowWear Nov 5, 2009 @ 11:32 am | delete
    Looks delicious. I like the tart-flavored apple pie as well.
  • enslavedbyfaeries Nov 3, 2009 @ 12:40 am | delete
    I think family recipes like this should be treasured just like old photos. I make many of my grandmother's recipes and have fond childhood memories of the comforting meals she prepared. Thanks for sharing your recipe. It looks absolutely scrumptious!!
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MeganCasey

MEGAN CASEY is Cofounder and Editor in Chief of Squidoo.com. She enjoys working with a small incredibly talented team. Looking for official Squidoo help... more »

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Don't forget the pie plate! 

Good Cook 9 Inch Ceramic Pie Plate, Red

Good Cook 9 Inch Ceramic Pie Plate, Red

Amazon Price: $8.38 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

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