Apple Pie

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

I asked my coworker Carole what she would like me to bake for her birthday, and she requested Apple Pie. She is not a fan of tart apples so for her pie, I used 6 Gala Apples and 3 Granny Smith Apples and 3 Gala Apples for our pie, which is the perfect combination of sweet and tart. For the pie crust, I use Ina Garten's (see link below) Pie Crust recipe and instructions. You can make the pie crust a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to use. Bring the pie crust to room temperature before rolling out the dough. I use Paula Dean's apple shape cutout that I put over the crust. I doubled the recipe and the one below is for the sweet-tart pie, but use Gala or any other sweet apple you prefer. The crust is light and flaky, and I reduced the sugar by 1/2 cup and you wouldn't even notice it since the lemon juice and all the spices develop the flavors together beautifully. The sweetness is balanced by the tart Granny Smith Apples. You really need to make this Apple Pie! Recipe below.

Apple Pie Ingredients
3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and sliced

3 Gala Apples, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup Turbinado Sugar + 1 teaspoon to sprinkle over the crust

1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar, lightly packed

2 tablespoons, All Purpose Flour (King Arthur)

1/4 teaspoon, Coarse Salt

1 teaspoon, ground Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon, ground Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon, ground Allspice

3 tablespoons, freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

1 Egg beaten + 2 tablespoons water for Egg Wash

2 tablespoons Butter, cold and cut into small cubes

Apple Pie slice

Directions
See link below for Ina Garten Pie Crust recipe.

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Lightly beat egg with a fork in a small bowl with water; set aside.

Peel and slice apples using a corer and add to a large bowl.

Add lemon juice and combine.

Add the sugars, flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and and mix the ingredients.

Place apple mixture into pie dish over crust.

Add butter cubes over the apple filling.

Top with second pie crust. Take excess crust and tuck in and seal together, and with the tines of a fork press down all around the crust.

Make 4-6 slits on the top of crust and add decorative apple cutout.

Brush the crust lightly with egg wash and sprinkle turbinado sugar over the crust.

Bake Apple Pie for 40-55 minutes until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. My pies took 50 minutes to bake.

Cover the edge of the crust with a pie shield or with cut strips of aluminum foil and remove after 20 minutes to prevent burnt edges. If you do not own a pie shield, I recommend you purchase one. I use Mrs. Anderson's Pie Crust Shield.

After you take the Apple Pie out of the oven, let it cool completely on a wire rack for 2 hours before serving.

For the Ina Garten Pie Crust recipe, please visit:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-pie-crust-recipe.html

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys