Mom’s Flat Apple Pie

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Absolutely! Here’s a big, warm-hearted, old-fashioned recipe post for Mom’s Flat Apple Pie 🍎🥧 — complete with a nostalgic intro, full ingredients, instructions, background, and even a little love story twist. 🥰

🍏 Mom’s Flat Apple Pie

Old-Fashioned, Buttery & Irresistibly Delicious

There’s something magical about the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven — it carries memories, warmth, and the kind of comfort only a mother’s touch can bring. This Flat Apple Pie is a treasured recipe handed down through generations, made with simple ingredients, a flaky buttery crust, and a sweet apple filling that spreads love with every bite. 💛

This isn’t your typical high-rising pie — it’s flat, rustic, and beautifully old-fashioned. Just how Grandma used to make it on a floured counter by the window, while stories were told and secrets were passed down in teaspoons and pinches.

📜 A Little History & Formation

The Flat Apple Pie originated in rural American kitchens where time, tools, and ingredients were limited. Women made do with what they had, and the flat pie became a quicker, fuss-free alternative to the deep-dish versions. It was often baked directly on a sheet pan, filled with apples picked fresh from the orchard, and folded up like a rustic galette — no pie dish required.

It’s known by many names: slab pie, hand-folded pie, rustic tart — but in our house, it’s simply Mom’s Flat Apple Pie. ❤️

🍎 Ingredients

For the Pie Crust:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup shortening or cold butter, cut into cubes
  • 6–7 tablespoons ice water

For the Apple Filling:

  • 5–6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for tartness)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (to thicken)
  • 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small dots

For the Top:

  • 1 egg (beaten, for egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional, for sparkle)

🥧 Instructions & Method

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  2. Cut in the butter or shortening using a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough comes together. Don’t overwork.
  4. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30–60 minutes.

Step 2: Make the Filling

  1. Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly.
  2. In a large bowl, toss apple slices with sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and flour. Set aside to marinate.

Step 3: Assemble the Pie

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle or circle — about ¼ inch thick.
  3. Transfer dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Spoon the apple mixture into the center, leaving about 2 inches around the edge.
  5. Dot the top with small bits of butter.
  6. Fold the edges of the dough over the apples, rustic-style. It’s not supposed to be perfect — it’s meant to look homemade.
  7. Brush the crust with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar if using.

Step 4: Bake

  1. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender and bubbling.
  2. Let cool for 15–20 minutes before slicing.

💘 A Pie for Lovers (Yes, Really!)

There’s a story that goes with this pie…
Back in 1962, a young woman named Evelyn made this very pie for a quiet, bookish farm boy named Thomas. She brought it wrapped in a towel to church on a cool October morning. They shared it under an oak tree with two forks.

Thomas didn’t say much — just smiled, took a bite, and said:
“I’ll marry you for this crust alone.”
And he did.

This pie has been a love language ever since. 💌

🧡 Conclusion: Why This Pie Still Matters

In a world full of fancy patisserie and glossy Instagram desserts, this humble Flat Apple Pie reminds us that beauty lies in simplicity. The crisp golden crust, the tender, cinnamon-kissed apples — it’s a warm hug, a memory on a plate, a slice of someone’s heart.

Bake it for someone you love. Or for yourself — because you deserve old-fashioned goodness too. 🍂

👩‍🍳 Bonus Tips from Mom:

  • Short on time? Use store-bought pie crust, but make the filling from scratch.
  • Want extra flavor? Add a splash of vanilla or a pinch of ground cloves.
  • Leftovers? Tastes even better the next day with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

❤️ Lovers of the Pie Say:

“Tastes just like my grandma’s — maybe better.” – Rachel L.
“This pie got me a second date. Enough said.” – Jared K.
“I’ll never go back to regular pie again. Flat pie for life!” – Denise M.

If you bake this pie, you’re not just making dessert.
You’re continuing a story.
And every bite has love baked in.

Would you like this in a printable format or designed like a vintage recipe card? I can do that too!

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