During our holiday in Bavaria a couple of weeks ago, apple season was at its peak. Our family there has a couple of apple trees in their garden and the fruit was pretty abundant. 🍏🍎
Seeing all this, I asked whether I could prepare an apple pie for them and they gladly agreed. Apple pie uses a combination of basic ingredients which are always available in our kitchen and therefore is a great way to make use of the abundant apples. Everyone seemed to like it as it was gone too fast! :D
This apple pie is definitely a treat. It is everything I look for in an apple pie… a sweet and tart filling encased in a flaky and buttery crust. The apples are complemented by flavours of cinnamon and cloves, which totally scream autumn to me! 🍂🍂
This rich, buttery and fruity dessert may not be for everyone. On any other day, I would opt for the lighter Healthy Apple Cake, which is a great alternative to the classic apple pie.
Apple Pie
A buttery and fruity pie, perfect as a dessert or with a cup of tea
Ingredients
- * For the pastry: *
- 350g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 220g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 2-3 tbsp ice-cold water
- *For the filling: *
- 1.5kg apples
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 75g sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 30g butter
- *To decorate: *
- Leftover pastry
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- *For the pastry*: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar. Add the butter and mix together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. (You can also do this in a stand mixer). Gradually, add the water until the dough holds together.
- Divide the dough into two, one slightly bigger than the other. Place each piece on a plastic wrap, flatten it into a disc, wrap it and chill for at least an hour.
- *For the filling*: Peel, core and thinly slice the apples. Place them in a large mixing bowl and pour the lemon juice. Toss to combine.
- Add the cinnamon, ground cloves, flour, sugar and salt to the apples. Mix all ingredients together.
- *To assemble*: Prepare a 9-inch pie plate. Roll out the bigger piece of dough into a 12-inch round shape. Gently roll it out onto the prepared pie plate.
- Pour the apples onto the dough.
- Roll out the second piece of dough and cover the apple filling. Decorate as desired. Place it back in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes.
- *To bake*: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Remove pie from the refrigerator. Brush the pie with milk and sprinkle some sugar on top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until pastry is golden brown.
- Let the pie sit for at least 45 minutes before cutting into it.
