Apple Pie

Is there anything more American than Apple Pie? I think it rates right up there with baseball and summertime!

In my opinion, this is what makes the perfect apple pie, and how to achieve it:

    

            Flaky crusts - Prebaking the bottom crust will guarantee a flaky bottom.

            No air gap between the top layer, and the filling - Par cooking shrinks the apples, so no gap. 

            Thick apple filling - Par cooking, using thickeners.

            Tart apple taste - Use Granny Smith apples.

            Not too sweet - Cut back on the sugar, let the apples shine.

A YouTube video can be seen, by clicking this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3vQFvZwHNw

APPLE PIE

PIE CRUST:

1 Prebaked pie shell (The Righteous Kitchen's All Butter Pie Crust), that has been coated in egg wash

1 Pie dough that has been rolled, for the top crust

 

FILLING:

¾ Cup sugar

3 Tablespoons flour

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

¼ Teaspoon kosher salt

2 Teaspoons cinnamon

2 ½ Pounds prepared apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/3” thick

4 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Cream, to brush the top of crust

Sugar, for sprinkling the top of crust

 

DIRECTIONS:

CRUST:

Prepare a double crust pie dough. Divide the dough in half. Roll half of the dough, for the top crust. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use. Bake the bottom crust; brushing with an egg wash, to seal the crust. Set aside. 

FILLING:

Whisk sugar, flour, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl. Set aside. Cook apples, with butter and lemon juice, over medium heat, until apples soften and give up a good amount of liquid. Stir in dry ingredients. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens. Apples will not be cooked through. Remove from heat. Let cool. Fill prepared pie shell with apple pie filling, making sure to press mixture evenly onto the shell. Roll out top crust. Place over filling; making sure to crimp edges. Brush the top of crust with heavy cream. Sprinkle crust with sugar. Place pie onto a baking tray. Bake at 350 for 1:55 minutes, or until mixture is bubbling, and top crust has browned.