The Best Apple Pie is "Just an Apple Pie"
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The Best Apple Pie is "Just an Apple Pie". There is a bit of a secret technique in this recipe but as my 13 year old son reminded me, keep it simple; apple pie at its best is still "just an apple pie".
It's Thanksgiving Day here in Canada and there has been much discussion over which pies we should serve at our family dinner.
I'm always partial to Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie, Coconut Cream or Peach Pie but Thanksgiving almost cries out for a good harvest season Apple Pie.
When I said I was making an apple pie, my 13 year old son Noah, perked up and and inquired, "Just an apple pie?"
JUST AN APPLE PIE!
When asked what he meant, he reiterated, "Just an apple pie; no exotic berries added, no fancy spices, no crumb topping... JUST AN APPLE PIE!?"
What could I say? The boy is a purist.
The lesson to be sure, is that some things need no over-complication. There is nothing wrong (and everything right) about "just" an apple pie, so that's just what I made... but in my preferred style of course.
I like to use apples that hold up well and still have some bite to them in the pie. Granny Smith apples are always a good choice for pie and that's what I've used here, as well as Granny Smith apple juice in the filling recipe for continuity of flavour.
I simmer the apple juice to reduce the volume by half and intensify the apple flavour. (Just wait until you taste the result of that little trick!) Making a homemade pie filling first and letting it cool is also what makes this a perfect apple pie.
You can get all the fruit you want in this best apple pie recipe and never have to worry about the crust over baking to get the fruit cooked through.
Not too sweet.
I don't like overly sweet fruit pies; there is only a single cup of sugar to 3 pounds of apples in this recipe but cut back more if you like.
To keep the crust as light and flaky and flavourful as possible I use a combination of vegetable shortening and butter for the best of both worlds. I also use only pastry flour (also sold as cake flour) which yields a much flakier crust than all-purpose flour.
So, on this Thanksgiving, be thankful for the simple things and enjoy this simply outstanding pie.
Lie old fashioned recipes?
You might also like to try this old fashioned favourite, Vinegar Pie.
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The Best Apple Pie – a.k.a. Noah’s “Just an Apple Pie”
There is a bit of a secret technique in this recipe but as my 13 year old son reminded me, keep it simple; the best apple pie is still "just an apple pie".
Ingredients
Pastry:
- ½ cup very cold butter cut in small cubes
- ½ cup very cold vegetable shortening cut in small cubes
- 2 ½ cups pastry flour, preferable, but all purpose can be used
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup ice water, Use only enough to make a dough form.
- 1 tablespoon plain white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 to 2 tablespoon water
Filling:
- 3 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled cored and sliced into thick wedges
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 cups apple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoon corn starch
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 to 2 tablespoon turbinado sugar, optional
Instructions
To prepare the pastry
- Using a food processor or a pastry cutter, cut cold butter and shortening into flour, brown sugar and salt until mixture resembles a coarse meal. Small pieces of butter should still be visible.
- Pour vanilla and vinegar into cold water then pour over the mixture and work in by tossing with a fork until dough begins to form. Use your hands as little as possible and work the dough as little as possible.
- Divide dough into 2 balls, flatten into 2 rounds, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rest for a minimum of 20 minutes.You can make your dough the previous day but make sure you take it out of the fridge for 10 minutes to warm slightly before rolling out.
To make the filling
- Melt butter in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Saute the apples for about 5 minutes until the are fully warmed throughout but not falling apart. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, simmer the apple juice over medium-low heat. Continue to simmer until the volume of juice has reduced to 1 cup.
- Add the reduced juice to the apples and return to the stove top on medium heat to get the mixture boiling, then add the sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Simmer for only a minute before adding a thickening slurry made from dissolving together the corn starch and water.
- Stir continuously as you add the corn starch slurry and continue to simmer stirring constantly for about a minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature before using to fill the bottom pie crust.
- Roll the first dough round into a 12 inch round and place in the bottom of a 10 inch pie plate. Push the dough into the corners and ensure that it is not stretched at all or it will shrink from the edge.
- Trim dough to edge of plate. Add the cooled apple pie filling.
- Roll the remaining dough round into 12 inch square-ish shape and cut that into 8 or 10 equal strips for the lattice crust top.
- Place the remaining pastry strips on top of the apple pie filling, interweaving them to form a simple lattice pattern.
- Press the ends of the strips into the edge of the bottom crust and trim the excess with a sharp knife.
- Brush the edges of the crust and the lattice top with an eggwash made by whisking together the egg yolk and water.
- Sprinkle the lattice top with turbinado sugar if desired.
- Chill the pie in the fridge for about 20 minutes to a half hour before placing it on a cookie sheet (to catch any drips from the filling) in a preheated 400 degree F oven. Bottom rack is best.
- Bake for 20 minutes at that temperature then reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 30- 35 minutes or until the crust is an even golden brown. The filling need not bubble for this pie to be done.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack at room temperature for at least a couple of hours before serving.
- NOTE: If your lattice crust edges begin to get too brown wrap them with aluminum foil for the last of the baking time.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
gAmount Per Serving Calories 514Total Fat 27gSaturated Fat 14gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 71mgSodium 355mgCarbohydrates 62gFiber 4gSugar 32gProtein 5g
Barry,
The first time i made a "from scratch" apple pie, i used this recipe! Been using it ever since. It turned out great the first time and i have to say its THEE BEST apple pie ive ever eaten. Ive just finished making the pastry and filling a few minutes ago as i had some apples that i didnt want to spoil. Not sure what we are eating for supper but i know what im serving for dessert!! Thanks for all these awesome recipes!!!!
So happy you've had such success with the recipe Gillian. Its the best apple pie I've ever tried too.
Hi Barry
I've never heard of granny smith apple juice, so I googled it and it came up as a senca brand frozen juice concentrate, is that what you used in this recipe.
I have made this apple pie several times now, and the family love it!! Can you use the same pastry for Apple Flips?? (A childhood memory for both myself and my husband) or do you have another pastry for apple flips??
You can use the same pastry, it works very well. I also have another shortcut puff pastry that I'll be featuring soon too.
Still great for apple flips but I love puff pastry for apple flips too. I'm doing a shortcut version of puff pastry soon.
Barry , if I have a lot of apples , can I bottle some of the filling for later? Love ALL OF YOUR RECIPIES !!!
Yes. Bottle some and bring it over! 🙂
In the oven as I type. Looks good so far. Cant wait to try it.
Can you use all butter in the pastry instead of 1/2 butter 1/2 shortening?
Yes indeed.
I made this pie the other day and it is the best!!!!
So glad you enjoyed it.
Barry I have nice tart apples in freezer from a neighbour.
Can I use these for my pie?
Do I need to thaw them first ?
This is the absolute best pie ever. I made a batch of filling from frozen apples but was careful not to over cook them on stove,
So I strained them and measured out the juice to use.
It turned out so good I made two more batches of apple filling for Christmas pies.
Thank you very much.
Barry I have another question for you.
Does the bottom crust get soggy the next day and if so how do I prevent this?
Thank you
Marg
Barry can I bottle the filling and water bath it and tore in pantry for later?
I'm not an expert canner I'm afraid. I'm not sure that this recipe would meet the minimum acid content to allow for that, but as I say, it's not an area I am very familiar with.