To wow your holiday guests with a homemade apple pie, begin here with a locally sourced, homemade filling. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer’s market.
Place apples in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice.
Place water, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine then bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Once the mixture boils, boil it for two minutes. Add the apples, turn to a simmer, and cover. Cook, stirring often, until the apples soften, about 5-8 minutes.
Pour into jars to cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate. The mixture will thicken more as it cools.