The Apple Pie of my Eye
I am besotted.
I am enchanted.
Let me shout it to the sky–I am in love with this pie.
And I’m not the only one, apparently.
As you all know, I adore pie. Particularly apple pie. And until I met this delightful creation, there was nothing better than a crumb topped apple pie.
But then one night, Ben and I were watching TV when Alton Brown began to brag about this pie.
I was fascinated.
I was suddenly starving.
And I was drooling.
Luckily, Ben realized that I was close to gnawing off someone’s arm if I didn’t get this pie and promptly made it for me this weekend.
He claims he was in fear of his life.
And let me tell you.
No matter how long I had to wait…
No matter how long it took…
It was worth it.
Ingredients
For the crust:
6 ounces unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 ounces vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
5 to 7 tablespoons applejack
12 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 2 3/4 cups, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
For the filling:
3 to 3 1/2 pounds apples, mixture of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn and Golden Delicious, about 6 large
apples
1/2 cup sugar, divided
3 tablespoons tapioca flour
2 tablespoons apple jelly
1 tablespoon apple cider
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise (I used cinnamon)
Directions
For the crust:
Place the butter, shortening and applejack into the refrigerator for 1 hour.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add the butter and
pulse 5 to 6 times until the texture looks mealy. Add the shortening and pulse another 3 to 4 times until
incorporated.
Remove the lid of the food processor and sprinkle in 5 tablespoons of the applejack. Replace the lid and pulse
5 times. Add more applejack as needed, and pulse again until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Weigh
the dough and divide in half. Shape each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1
hour and up to overnight.
For the filling:
Directions
Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4 cup of the sugar, place in
a colander set over a large bowl and allow to drain for 1 1/2 hours.
For assembling and baking the pie:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator. Place the dough onto a lightly floured piece of waxed paper.
Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour and roll out into a 12-inch circle. Place into a 9 1/2 to
10-inch tart pan that is 2-inches deep. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan, crimping and
trimming the edges as necessary. Set a pie bird in the center of the bottom of the pan.
Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards
the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl.
Roll out the second pie dough as the first. Place this dough over the apples, pressing the pie bird through
the top crust. Press together the edges of the dough around the rim of the pie. Brush the top crust with the
reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie. Trim any excess dough. Place the pie on a half sheet
pan lined with parchment paper and bake on the floor of the oven for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack of
the oven and continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the apples are cooked through but not mushy. Remove
to a rack and cool a minimum of 4 hours or until almost room temperature.
And be ready for a bite of heaven.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We’ve got a new Twirl and a new fun feature coming up! Plus, we’ve got a week of whimsical fun and the Puppy Pond Ball next week! Stay tuned!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:13 am
It must have been hard to wait 4 hours to taste your delicious pie!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:21 am
yummmyyy.. i loovveee applee piee.. your blog look attractive and i enjoyed reading.. keep it up!! m craving for this pie.. hehe
cheers!!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Love your poetry, as always. Isn’t Ben a sweetie to make this for you? I wanna find a bloke who will cook for me too.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:51 am
YUM!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Oh, that does look like a slice of heaven…no pun intended! I love that your hubby is at your beck and call when it comes to pie, that’s adorable!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Yours & Ben’s story is such a sweet one. Steve refers to those kind of moments as “blonde moments” and shucks them off…:)
P.s. Please take the award I have at my blog for yourself~You deserve it!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Sounds so delicious – can’t believe you waited until the weekend!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:33 am
you have the best hubby in the world (besides mine)
May 28th, 2009 at 4:41 am
That is one terrific pie and I love the anniversary post below. Have a great day.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:43 am
OW! It looks so good- what a great treat!
May 28th, 2009 at 5:24 am
I LOVE LOVE LOVE apple pie. I must make this recipe this weekend.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:29 am
Wow!! Now that looks like an awesome apple pie. Can you send me a slice?
May 28th, 2009 at 5:48 am
And with the fancy pie pan, too! My dearly beloved is lucky if he can cook toast; that’s OK, because he appreciates me!
May 28th, 2009 at 5:56 am
LOVE apple pie and this one looks fantastic!Now, to find the vanilla ice cream.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:09 am
I adore Alton Brown!!! And the pie looks good. :p
May 28th, 2009 at 6:34 am
I want some!
My son wishes I made stuff like this. I usually buy my pies frozen and already made so all I have to do is shove it into the oven. It’s still good but homemade is so much better…
May 28th, 2009 at 6:41 am
That looks so delicious! I have a ton of apples in the fridge, I might have to do some baking this weekend!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Love the classic apple tart like this. It will never out of fashion! Yummy!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:55 am
My grandmother hates apples because she choked on one when she was a kid, but she will still make apple pie for the rest of us, and it is delicious!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:16 am
How sweet of Ben! And what a sweet pie! Is there any left? Bring me a piece when you come to visit!!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:42 am
That has happened to me many times while watching Alton Brown!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:45 am
How in heaven do you stay so skinny while baking all of these delectable goodies? I get hungry almost every time I visit your blog
May 28th, 2009 at 8:38 am
OH MAN. This pie does look delicious. Ben was one smart cookie to make this pie; he obviously knows what’s good for him! I wish my Toddy were home to make this pie for me (that actually might be an interesting experience to watch); oh well, he’s in Ireland for the week (lucky guy). Apple pie just isn’t as fun alone.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:44 am
That is one fantastic looking applie pie. Beautiful and sounds delicious!
May 28th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Yummy!
May 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I love apple pie the best too, that Alton, he does good things!
So wonderful of hubs to create a pie for you, even if only in fear for his life!
May 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Sounds good, looks good, makes me wish I liked warm, mushy fruit!
Great job, Ben!!
~ingrid
May 28th, 2009 at 10:22 am
*wiping drool off keyboard*
I def. want to try this great recipe out…..
Thanks!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Looks beautiful! I just saw a recipe for a bacon apple pie. I think that sounds like something that belongs in the pond!
May 28th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
This is sooo pie season.. all the wonderfully ripe fruits! Although, I’m glad we get apples the year round!
May 28th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. My husband will love this pie, I have to save it for apple picking time. Thanks
Jennifer
May 28th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I’m in love with your pie too. That Alton will suck you in every time!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Wow, there’s some unique ingredients in there. Gotta agree with you on apple pie…worth every ounce of work. Good job Ben!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I love apple pie!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Oh my, you have me wanting to dive face first into this pie! Purely scrumptious!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Thanks for posting, I very much enjoyed reading your most recent post. I think you should post more frequently, you obviously have natural ability for blogging!
May 28th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Your hubby MADE this for you? Awe, he’s a keeper for sure! I am a pie fan, especially apple pie. I may need to zip down to Texas for a piece. Perhaps Ben could make another one … or two … or three!
May 28th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Yup you are definitely southern, no one makes pies that good and pretty unless they come from Publix, and those are not baked with love and taste! Stopping by from SITS
May 28th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
mmmmmm. drooool. i’m impressed the puppies didn’t eat it all. roxie has a strong affinity for baked goods. this looks delicious!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I think you’ve got a keeper there! Good job, Ben! This pie looks amazing – I could see why you feel head over heels for it!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
This looks wonderful! I think I can smell it from here…going to try it for sure. Thanks for sharing =O)
May 28th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I’m of the school of belief that if Alton Brown says something is delicious, it probably is. That man has never lead me astray.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
that looks amazing!! I want some!!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I’ve got to admit, I don’t really like pies! But for some reason, I LOVE baking them…they’re fun to make!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Oh my gosh…..your Ben is one in a million.
Oh and….congratulations on your 3 year anniversary.
May the two of you be blessed with many many many more.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
GULP. Apple Pie. Must Find Blonde Duck for Apple Pie.
That looks delish!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Ohh Duckie, what a treasure you have in Ben. Todd’s idea of cooking is to have a can opener in one hand and a tin in the other. He does, however, roast a mean chicken along with potatoes. So I guess it’s not all bad. tee hee! Seriously that pie looks fabulously good. XXOO
May 29th, 2009 at 2:48 am
The pie looks amazing! So neat with the mixture of all different kinds of apples.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I love the smell of pie! Yummmmmmm…
May 29th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Aww…you have such a sweet man friend. He protects you during tornadoes and he makes awesome pies! Does he have a brother?
May 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
as you know, i share your unconditional love for apple pie. this one looks fantastic, but it’d look better topped with ice cream, on a spoon, and headed straight for my mouth.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Hey there Duckie, how’s it going? I saw this “Good Eats” espisode. Needless to say I’m crazy about Alton Brown. You actually learn something by watching his show. Apple pie is my favorite. Good job.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Apple pie is pretty much one of my favorite things in the whole world. I wish I could get someone to make one for me!
May 29th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Mmmmm apples!!!
May 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Do you cook a very soft apple pie?
June 1st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Apple Pie (especially the Dutch Apple variety) is my absolute favorite pie of all time! I have been totally inspired by you to make pies all summer!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
What a sweetee your married to. Of course I do understand he was worried for life and limb.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] Apple Pie with Dutch Crumb Topping from Miranda [...]
July 7th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Now if an American lady says this is the best apple pie then I’m going to try it. I’m always on the look-out for US recipes for choccie cookies and apple pie since your nation is almost synonymous with both.