An Award-Winning Slice of Home: Laramie’s Apple Crumb Pie Recipe

Fall in Nappanee means one thing - APPLES! 🍎 From September 18-20, our town will be bustling with visitors for the Nappanee Apple Festival, a celebration of community, heritage, and of course, all things apple. Here at Neighbors Mercantile, we wanted to join in the fun by sharing a sweet slice of local history.

That slice comes from our very own General Manager, Laramie, who knows a thing or two about baking. Back in high school, she entered the Elkhart County 4-H Fair with an apple pie she perfected alongside her mother, Marla. Spoiler alert: it didn't just turn heads - it won awards!

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More Than Just Animals: The 4-H Connection

When most people think of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, animals are usually the first thing that comes to mind - cows, pigs, horses, and chickens. But the 4-H Fair is so much more than that. The Foods Project, which Laramie participated in, gives young people the chance to explore cooking, baking, food preservation, and nutrition.

Each year, the 4-H fair showcases hundreds of non-livestock projects - everything from photography to sewing to woodworking. It's a chance for kids to learn practical skills, gain confidence, and maybe even discover a lifelong passion. For Laramie, it was baking.

That's where Laramie found her stride. She and her mom spent weeks experimenting- testing white sugar vs. brown sugar, comparing tart vs. sweet apples, and carefully deciding what would make the perfect pie. Each batch was tasted side-by-side until they landed on the winning combination.

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A Slice of Festival History

Since its humble beginnings in 1975, the Nappanee Apple Festival has grown into one of Indiana's largest and most beloved festivals, drawing over 80,000 visitors each year. What started as a community event to celebrate the apple harvest has blossomed into a three-day tradition packed with fun for all ages.

The festival is home to the world-famous seven-foot apple pie, weighing nearly 600 pounds-a true centerpiece of the weekend. Visitors also enjoy live entertainment across multiple stages, a giant parade (complete with a military flyover), carnival rides, more than 150 craft and food vendors, and of course, plenty of apple treats-from fritters to dumplings to cider.

It’s more than just a festival; it’s a celebration of small-town pride, heritage, and togetherness.

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Laramie's Award-Winning Apple Pie Recipe

And now, because we couldn't just talk about apple pie without sharing, here's the recipe that started it all - Laramie's Award-Winning Apple Pie!

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust (makes 4 crusts):

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup shortening (such as Crisco)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup milk

For the Filling:

• 3 large tart apples (Granny Smith recommended), peeled and cored
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Crumble Topping:

• 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare the Crust

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, shortening, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, water, and milk.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until the dough just comes together.
4. Roll out the portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie pan. (The recipe makes four crusts; wrap and refrigerate the extra portions for later use.)
5. Carefully transfer the rolled dough into the pie pan. Trim excess dough and crimp the edges.

Prepare the Filling

1. Slice the peeled and cored apples thinly, then arrange them evenly inside the prepared pie crust.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.

Prepare the Crumble Topping

1. In a medium bowl, cut the butter into the flour and sugar using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apples.

Bake the Pie

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Bake the pie for 10 minutes.
3. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
4. Allow to cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream.

Download a free PDF copy of this recipe here.

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In Closing

This September, as you enjoy the Nappanee Apple Festival, we hope you’ll feel the heart behind every bite—whether it’s Laramie’s award-winning pie or that gigantic communal treat fresh from the festival oven. Because in Nappanee, apple pie isn’t just dessert—it’s tradition, family, and the warmest slice of home.