Apple Pie: A classic dessert with timeless charm

A delicious-looking apple pie with a lattice crust, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Jani

Hi, I'm Janice! I'm a chef, food photographer, and DIY enthusiast. On this blog, I share reliable, budget-friendly recipes that anyone can make, regardless of their cooking experience. Alongside these delicious dishes, I also offer a peek into my DIY projects, showing you how I’m transforming my home one step at a time. Whether you're here to cook up something tasty or get inspired to tackle a home improvement project, you'll find something to enjoy!

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Apple Pie, a treasure of classic baking, has carved its place as a beloved dessert worldwide. While its origins are unmistakably European, it was the Americans who perfected the recipe and popularized it globally. Though apples are not abundant in Venezuela, my fascination with this fruit and its preparations dates back to my childhood.

About 20 years ago, with the arrival of affordable Chilean apples due to currency exchange rates, I embarked on a mission to explore all kinds of apple-based recipes. None, however, surpassed the simple perfection of an apple pie.

The essence of this dessert is straightforward: a flaky shortcrust pastry filled with a mixture of apple slices and apple compote, baked to golden perfection.

Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Apple Pie

Creating the perfect apple pie starts with high-quality, carefully chosen ingredients that complement each other seamlessly:

  • Flour: For best results, use a soft, low-protein flour that is ideal for pastries and delicate baked goods.
  • Butter: The secret to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s important to use unsalted butter that is cold and cut into cubes for easy incorporation.
  • Eggs: Help bind the dough together. Egg yolks contribute a beautiful golden color to the crust.
  • Sugar: Use powdered sugar preferably.
  • Salt: Just a pinch, preventing it from tasting flat.
  • Apples: Green apples, particularly Granny Smith, are the ideal choice due to their tartness and ability to hold their shape during baking.
  • Applesauce: A base layer that adds moisture and depth of flavor to the filling, complementing the fresh apple slices.
  • Optional Additions: Ingredients like raisins, cinnamon, or a pinch of nutmeg can elevate the flavor profile, adding warmth and complexity to the pie.
A flat lay of ingredients for making an apple pie, including apples, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and applesauce.

How to make the Perfect Pie Crust?

The base of an apple pie is known as a shortcrust pastry, a type of dough that crumbles delicately in your mouth. The key to this crust is achieving a texture resembling fine beach sand while mixing—it should never become elastic, as elasticity can lead to toughness after baking, especially in thin crusts.

To create the perfect shortcrust pastry, two elements are essential: a generous amount of butter and minimal handling of the dough. Mix the ingredients gently, ideally with spoons or a pastry cutter, to avoid developing gluten, which would make the crust tough.

  • Pro Tips for the Crust: Use cold butter cut into cubes and mix until the dough reaches a sandy texture.
  • Shaping: Press the dough into the pie pan, ensuring an even layer.
  • Blind Baking: Pre-bake the crust before adding the apple filling to ensure even cooking and prevent sogginess.
A step-by-step guide on how to make a classic apple pie with a flaky crust. The images show the process of making the dough, assembling the pie, and preparing it for baking.

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Variations and Creative Fillings

The versatility of this recipe invites experimentation with different sweet fillings:

  • Add Raisins: For an extra touch of sweetness and texture.
  • Combine with Other Fruits: Try peaches or pears for a delightful twist. You might even consider pears cooked in red wine for a sophisticated variation.
  • Chocolate Lovers: Skip the fruit entirely and fill the pie with chocolate cream for a decadent treat. The choice is yours!

Tips and Tricks

  • Keep Everything Cold: Use cold butter, cold water, and even chill your mixing bowl and utensils. This prevents the butter from melting too early, ensuring a flaky crust.
  • Don’t Overwork the Dough: Mix the dough just until it comes together. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make the crust tough.
  • Use Parchment Paper for Rolling: Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and make transferring it to the pie pan easier.
  • Chill Before Baking: Once the dough is in the pie pan, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before baking. This helps the crust hold its shape in the oven.
  • Blind Baking Essentials: To avoid a soggy bottom, line the crust with parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans before pre-baking.
  • Prevent Overbrowning: Use a pie crust shield or cover the edges with aluminum foil if they brown too quickly.
A delicious-looking apple pie with a lattice crust, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
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Apple Pie

Classic apple pie made with a flaky shortcrust pastry of flour, butter, and egg, filled with apples, compote, and sugar.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Palabra clave Apple, Apple Desserts, Apple pie, Desserts
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 220kcal

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 2 cups 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 g.)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (113 g.)
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 1/2 tbsp tablespoons sugar (22 g.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

  • 4 large green apples about 800g
  • 2 cups applesauce (480 g.)
  • 1/2 cup sugar (100 g.)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the cold cubed butter. Using your hands or a pastry cutter, work the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
  • Add the whole egg, egg yolk, sugar, and salt. Mix until a homogeneous dough forms. Avoid overworking the dough to maintain its flaky texture.
  • Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface. Line a pie dish with the rolled dough, ensuring even coverage of the bottom and sides. Trim excess dough.
  • Peel and thinly slice the apples.
  • Spread a layer of applesauce on the pie crust base. Arrange the apple slices over the applesauce and sprinkle with sugar to taste.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the pan.

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