Simple How-to for Making a Lattice Crust for a Pie

Today, we’re rolling up our sleeves to make a delicious apple pie with a beautiful lattice pastry crust. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying this for the first time, I’m here to guide you through each step, ensuring your pie turns out perfectly inviting and delicious. So gather your ingredients and let’s get baking!

Most of the supplies are common kitchen items but if you're not already a baker, you might want to borrow a rolling pin and pastry brush. Don't sweat it if you don't have a pastry cutter or pastry wheel! You can make do with more standard kitchen tools :-)

Food Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour: 2 1/2 cups for the pastry, plus extra for rolling
• Salt: 1 teaspoon for the pastry, plus 1/4 teaspoon for the filling
• Sugar: 1 teaspoon for the pastry, plus 3/4 cup for the filling, and a little extra for sprinkling on top
• Unsalted butter: 1 cup, chilled and diced
• Ice water: 1/4 to 1/2 cup for the pastry
• Apples: About 6 medium (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
• Ground nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon
• Lemon zest: 1/2 teaspoon
• Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
• Egg: 1, for egg wash
• Water: 1 tablespoon for egg wash

Tools:

• 9-inch pie pan: For baking the pie
• Rolling pin: For rolling out the dough
• Pastry cutter or food processor: For incorporating the butter into the flour
• Parchment paper: Optional, for rolling out the dough
• Pastry brush: For applying the egg wash
• Large bowl: For mixing the dough and preparing the filling
• Sharp knife or pastry wheel: For cutting the lattice strips
• Plastic wrap: For chilling the dough
• Fork: For mixing the dough and the filling
• Measuring cups and spoons: For accurate measurement of ingredients
• Oven: For baking the pie

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar.
2. Cut in Butter: Add the chilled, diced butter. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to blend the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add Ice Water: Gradually add ice water, a tablespoon at a time, stirring with a fork until the dough holds together when pinched.
4. Divide and Chill: Divide the dough into two equal parts, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

I'm mostly focused on the lattice in this instructable and you can use whatever type of filling you'd like, but I've included ingredients to make an apple pie so these are the steps with apple pie filling.

1. Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Place them in a large bowl.
2. Add Flavorings: To the apples, add sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. Toss to coat evenly. Let sit for about 30 minutes to macerate.

Note: I've made this pie dozens of times and more often than not I peel the apples, but sometimes I leave them on. Some folks have strong feelings about this decision but if peeling apples is a dealbreaker for you, leaving them on will still turn out fine.

1. Bottom Crust: On a floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Place the rolled-out dough in the pan and trim the edges.
2. Lattice Strips: Roll out the second disc and cut into 1/2-inch wide strips using a sharp knife or pastry wheel.

1. Fill the Pie: Spoon the apple filling into the pastry-lined pie pan, including the juices.

1. Form Lattice Top: Weave the dough strips over and under each other on top of the filling, trimming any excess off the edges. Crimp the edges to seal.

TIP: I like to add every other strip to the pie in one direction, rotate the pie 90 degrees, then add the alternating strips by weaving them over and under. This way, the strips are longer in the middle and shorter on the sides.

1. Apply Egg Wash: Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush over the lattice top. Sprinkle with additional sugar.

TIP: As you brush the egg wash on, be careful not to pull any of the filling up onto the crust as this can cause burning.

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bake: Place the pie in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
3. Cool: Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours to set before slicing.

• Prevent Over-Browning: If the edges of the crust begin to brown too quickly, cover them with strips of aluminum foil.
• Thicker Filling: For a thicker filling, increase the flour in the filling to 3 tablespoons.

Let your pie cool, slice it up, and serve it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Here’s to many more sweet moments and delightful desserts in your baking journey. Until next time, keep your apron ready and your oven warm!