If you’re someone who has a massive craving for the king of comfort food – the Apple Pie, but you’re too intimidated to try it for fear of getting it wrong, we’re here to save the day. No longer should you hesitate or ignore your desire for this cosy little dessert. We bring you a recipe that is not only easy but also teaches you how to make the perfect apple pie. Just follow our lead and you’re not too far away from saying “yummy in my tummy.”
Ingredients
- 2½ cups plus 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4½ pounds apples
- 2 teaspoons granulated white sugar
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) cold unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup cold solid vegetable shortening
- Ice water
- 2 teaspoons milk
- Juice from 1 large lemon
Making the Dough
Step 1: Start by pulsing the 2½ cups of flour, together with the salt and a teaspoon of white granulated sugar, in a food processor.
Step 2: Add in the vegetable shortening together with eight tablespoons of butter into the food processor and pulse until the mixture starts forming small dough balls.
Step 3: Add a third of a cup of ice water and pulse until evenly distributed among the mixture. Take a little bit of the mixture in your hand and press to see if it holds together. If it doesn’t, add a further tablespoon of ice water and repeat the process.
Step 4: Gently turn the dough onto your countertop and press with the heel of your hand. Roll the dough quickly to form a ball and then cut into half and flatten it with the palm of your hand to form little discs. Cover this with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or two, or preferably overnight if possible, before use.
Step 5: Lightly dust your work surface with flour and roll one of the discs into a large circle, ideally bigger than your pie mould, with its width about an inch thick. Carefully fit this rolled dough into your mould and trim the extra dough hanging over the edges to leave about ½ an inch. Put this mould in the fridge to chill.
Step 6: Roll the other pie disc about the same size as the first one and gently place on a baking tray that is lined with parchment paper. Cover this tray with plastic wrap and put it back in the refrigerator to chill.
Preparing the filling
Step 1: In a large bowl, add the lemon juice and toss in the apples after peeling, coring, and cutting them into wedges.
Step 2: In a cooking pot, add the rest of the butter and melt this on a low flame. Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved.
Step 3: Add apples to the butter mixture and mix gently for an even coating. Increase the heat and cook until the apples are tender. This should take around 15 minutes. Do not overcook or the apples can turn mushy.
Step 4: Once the apples are cooked, place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Make sure to add the juices from the cooked apples as well. Dust the apples with cinnamon and the remaining flour, tossing until the latter is no longer visible.
Step 5: Let the apples cool for 40 minutes at room temperature. You can do this by placing the baking sheet on a wire rack. If you do not have a wire rack, place the baking sheet on an inverted cupcake tray or clothes drying stand. You can use anything that can take heat and allow ventilation at the bottom for even cooling.
Assembling the Apple Pie
Step 1: Begin by preheating your oven to 450°. This is very essential as it allows the pie enough heat to bake evenly within the right amount of time.
Step 2: Take out the pie shell (mould) from the fridge and gently place the apples inside. Drizzle all the juices over the apples and dampen the edges of the pie crust at the rim using a wet pastry brush or with your finger.
Step 3: Take the other circular dough and carefully place it on top of your pie mould, with the excess hanging evenly on all sides.
Step 4: Seal the edges by gently pressing with your fingers and then trim the excess dough to only half an inch of overhang. Carefully fold it under the rim and pinch to seal.
Step 5: Mix together the remaining sugar with milk until fully dissolved and lightly brush it over the top crust of the pie. Use a fork, toothpick, or skewer to poke holes into the top crust before placing the mould in the oven.
Step 6: Bake the pie for 25 minutes or until you see the crust is golden brown. In case your crust is browning too quickly, reduce the oven heat and cover the rims of your mould with foil. Continue baking for 20 more minutes or until you can hear and see the juices bubbling through the holes.
Step 7: Once out of the oven, cool it once again on the wire rack at room temperature for a minimum of one hour before cutting and serving.
There you have it, a perfect Homemade Apple Pie. Once you master this recipe you can try any of the hundreds of different variants out there and become an absolute professional when it comes to baking a pie. If you can already smell this delicious treat and it’s making you want to whip up one of your own, why wait? Head to your kitchen right away and start baking right away!