Pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
6 cups apples (peeled, cored, sliced)
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Preheat your oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Prepare the pie crust: Roll out your homemade pie dough, or unroll a store-bought one, and place it in a 9-inch pie pan. Trim excess dough and crimp the edges for a polished look.
Make the filling: In a large bowl, mix the sliced apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Make sure each apple slice is well coated.
Caramelize the sugar: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir until it melts and turns golden brown (about 5-7 minutes). Stir in vanilla extract.
Combine: Pour the caramel mixture over the apples and gently mix until well combined.
Fill the pie: Pour the apple and caramel mixture into the prepared pie crust, spreading it evenly.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown. If the edges start to brown too quickly, cover them with foil.
Cool: Let the pie cool for at least 1 hour before slicing. This will help it set nicely.
