Monday, December 20, 2010

The Best Apple Pie

Apple Pie, who doesn't love it?

Surprisingly, I was in the small group of people who don't like apple pie until a few years ago. I know it is so un-American, but in my mind apple pie was too sugary sweet and mushy. Once I have an idea in my head it is kind of hard to change it...

I decided to make a homemade apple pie for a Christmas dinner. I wasn't intending on trying it, but I decided after all that hard work I should at least sample it. It was amazing! I discovered that it wasn't mushy after all and it had a nice tartness.

After making it just once it became quite popular. I shared my
Topsy Turvy Apple Pie back in the fall, but this...well, this is my favorite apple pie recipe! If you are in search of a dessert for your Christmas dinner, look no further. This is not only pretty simple and frugal to make, but it will impress your guests.

I serve mine with homemade cinnamon whipped cream and have been told by several that this is the best apple pie ever. Don't take my word for it though, try it for yourself!


The first part takes the longest...slicing and peeling all of your apples. Once they are ready you just toss them in a large bowl to combine with all of the good filling stuff!


Then you pile it all in your pie crust! Be careful...there are a lot of apples!


Roll out your top crust and fit on top of the apples. I always like to cut a cute shape out of the extra crust! It just makes it a little cuter...and takes your eye away from how horribly I crimped my crust.


Here it is...the final product!



Ingredients:
2 pie crusts
8 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 3/8 inch thick slices (8 cups)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup orange juice, apple juice, or apple cider
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg mixed with 2 tablespoons water or milk for glazing


Directions:
Place 1 crust in the pie plate. Refrigerate both the top and bottom crusts.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Place apple slices in a large bowl with all of the remaining ingredients besides the butter and egg glaze. Toss them together with your hands to coat the apples evenly.

Scoop the apples into the bottom crust and dot the mixture with small pieces of butter. Cover the apples with the top crust. Seal and trim the edge.

Make a pretty edge; cut 3-4 slits in the top crust; and using a pastry brush, brush the top with the egg glaze.

Bake the pie on the center oven rack for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until the top of the pie is golden and the filling is bubbling, about 1 hour 10 minutes longer. If the top crust is getting too dark, cover it with a piece of foil and continue to bake.

Remove the pie from the oven and cool it on a rack.


Recipe Credit: Rosie's All Butter, Fresh Cream, No Holds Barred Baking Book




What is your favorite dessert to make for Christmas?

4 comments:

Misty said...

I have to admit, homemade pies intimidate me. Just the thought of it scares me, maybe I'll have to try to conquer my fear with your recipe. :)

My favorite dessert to make at Christmas?? Growing up my mom would make Butternut Snowballs and I LOVED them every year. Then a few years ago, my mother in law shared her yummy recipe of cut out cookies, so I've been making those. Those two always say Christmas to me. :)

Katie said...

Misty,

There is nothing to be intimidated by. If you are really worried, just buy your pie crusts instead of making them. The filling is so easy...you should try making one!

What are butternut snowballs???

Misty said...

Oh they are delicious little snowball cookies... I know you have heard of them, just maybe a different name. They are like Pecan cookies in a ball shaped rolled in powdered sugar.

After I commented, I totally made a batch, waiting for the 1 hour chill time to be up... :)

Katie said...

You mean a Mexican Wedding Cookies? I have heard them called Snowballs, but you confused me when you threw the butternut in there. I was thinking she made some butternut squash cookies (ick)! LOL!

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