Why Golden Delicious and Braeburn Are the Best Apples for the Pie
The two key elements of the perfect apple pie are flavor and texture. You want a balance of sweet and tart, without softness or flour. This is why Golden Delicious and Braeburn apples, according to J. Kenji Lopez-Alt of Serious Eats, have the best flavor and texture to bake.
Kenji tested ten varieties of apples to see how their flavor and texture improved when baked in a pie. He looked for apples that came out tender but not mushy and not too sweet or sour. It turned out that Golden Delicious has a balance of sweet and tart, but when baked, it does not soften too much. Braeburns had a pear flavor and was quite firm after baking. All other varieties did not meet taste or texture standards.
Apple Pie Food Lab Part 1: Which Apples Are Best For The Pie? | Serious food