Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness. – Jane Austen
Apple pie… it will always remind me of my Gram.

This is one of my favorite memories: a vintage photo of my grandmother, Gramma Eliza Gavigan Tunney, taken at a family beach house in Marshfield, Massachusetts, sometime in the late ’70s. My brothers and I, all sporting various lengths of the same haircut, huddle close to her. It’s a snapshot of pure, simple joy.
My Gramma, or as she was known more formally, Eliza Gavigan Tunney, had a warmth that extended into everything she touched, especially food. I feel deeply connected to her because we share the same Gaelic name: Eilis, pronounced “el-leesh.” Being the twelfth of her fifteen grandchildren, I had the privilege of tasting her love through her cooking, which always seemed effortless and magical. She could whip up a Thanksgiving turkey or bake an apple pie that would leave everyone around the table speechless.
Gramma’s apple pie is one of those memories that stays with me. I can still imagine the flaky, buttery crust and the perfectly sweet and tart filling. It’s incredible how food intertwines with cherished moments, becoming a kind of edible nostalgia.
For me, cooking is a way to carry forward those memories. It’s about creating moments at the table where my family builds their own associations with food and love. My husband often reminisces about his grandmother’s homemade pizza baked on oversized sheets, my mother still recalls the comforting taste of her mother’s Irish bread, and I think of Gramma every single time I make an apple pie.
I’ll be honest: I’ve made countless apple pies over the years, but none have come close to Gramma’s masterpiece. That extraordinary pie exists only in my memory. Still, there’s one recipe I’ve found that brings me as close as possible to her culinary perfection. Surprisingly, it’s a recipe from another beloved grandmother—Grandma Ople.
Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie has earned legendary status on allrecipes.com, boasting over 4,000 glowing reviews and being saved by more than 116,000 people. This recipe, which I’ve adapted slightly based on comments from other bakers, includes a unique method of making a buttery, sugary syrup to elevate the pie’s flavor. While my version doesn’t look quite as picturesque as I’d like (Gramma would probably chuckle at my store-bought crusts), the taste is nothing short of divine.
Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie Recipe (Adapted)

Ingredients:
- 1 recipe pastry for a 9-inch double crust pie
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg white
Directions:

- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare the Syrup: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in the flour to form a paste. Gradually add the water, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently.
- Prep the Crust: Place the bottom crust into your pie pan. Lightly brush it with the egg white—this will help prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Coat the Apples: Reserve about 1/2 cup of the butter-sugar syrup. Toss the sliced apples in the remaining syrup until evenly coated.
- Assemble the Pie: Fill the prepared bottom crust with the coated apples, slightly mounding them in the center. Cover the apples with the top crust, crimping the edges to seal.
- Add the Syrup: Warm the reserved syrup slightly if it has thickened, then brush it generously over the top crust.
- Bake: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for an additional 35 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown.
The result? A beautifully caramelized, perfectly sweet apple pie that tastes like a warm hug from the past. Even with a store-bought crust (sorry, Gramma!), it’s a pie that brings me as close as I’ll ever get to her kitchen.
Food and Memory

It’s truly amazing how food can evoke such vivid memories. Whether it’s a bite of Irish bread that takes my mom back to her childhood or the aroma of freshly baked apple pie that transports me to Gramma’s kitchen, food is a time machine for the soul. Every family has those special dishes that connect them to loved ones and cherished moments.
So, what about you? What food conjures up a fond memory for you? Is it the way your grandfather’s pancakes always came out perfectly golden? Or the secret recipe your mom used for her famous chocolate chip cookies?
Please share your stories—I’d love to hear them. After all, food is more than sustenance; it’s a bridge to the people and places we hold dear.
Original Recipe Source: Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie on Allrecipes.com
I hope this recipe helps you create your own happy memories around the table. And if you’re lucky, maybe your version of “Grandma’s apple pie” will become someone else’s treasured memory.