Desserts

Apple Pie

Name: Apple Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Ingredients: 3 large eggs; 1 cup (200 g) sugar; 1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon white vinegar, for slaking; ~500 g tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced; Powdered sugar, for dusting

↓ Jump to recipe

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

40 to 50 minutes

Total

1 hr 5 min

Soft golden apple cake slice with a tender airy crumb

Soft, airy, and built from almost nothing, this apple pie delivers more than its short ingredient list suggests. The crumb is light, the apple stays tender, and the top catches just enough color to look like you tried.

Ingredients

3 large eggs
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon white vinegar, for slaking
~500 g tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

1
Heat the oven to 350F (175C). Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the base with parchment.
2
Dissolve the baking soda in the white vinegar and set aside, it will fizz briefly.
3
Beat the eggs with the sugar until pale and thick, about 3-4 minutes.
4
Stir in the flour until just combined, then add the slaked baking soda and stir once more.
5
Fold in the sliced apples until evenly distributed.
6
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
7
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Cook's Note

Dissolve the baking soda in 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and let it fizz before adding it to the batter, this activates it cleanly and keeps the crumb lighter than baking powder would.

Best Served With

Whipped sour cream

Why This Recipe Works

Beating the eggs with the sugar until pale and thick gives the batter its lift, there is no butter here, so the eggs do all the work. Tart apples add moisture and acidity without weighing the crumb down, and keep the sweetness from reading as flat.

Make It Yours

Add cinnamon, cardamom, or vanilla to the batter for a warmer note.
Swap white vinegar for apple cider vinegar when slaking for a slightly fruitier edge.
Fold in a handful of raisins or chopped walnuts with the apples.
Finish with lemon zest for a brighter edge.

Leftover Strategy

Cover and keep at room temperature for 1 day, or refrigerate for up to 3 days. Warm slices briefly in a low oven. Leftover slices crumble well over yogurt or vanilla ice cream for a quick dessert.

Want to impress guests with this dish? Ask Jeff →

Pairing

Hot black tea ↗ or cold milk fits the warm apple filling; butter cookies ↗ make an easy pantry-side bite.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases