Recipe for the Week – Apple Pie (Baking Partner’s Challenge #6)

11:34:00 am


Time for the next Baking Partner’s Challenge!! This month’s theme was pie, which is something I’ve been wanting to bake for ages! I’m totally loving the Baking Partner’s group J.

We were given a choice of two sweet and two savory pies, of which I selected the Apple Pie recipe from Taste.com as suggested by Gayathri of Gayathri’s cookspot. Since this was a completely new thing for me, I did some research on the web and made a few modifications accordingly. The resultant recipe is what you see here J.

Note:I didn’t have a pie dish, so I baked it in a regular cake tin. Pie dishes usually have slanting sides and can be made of many materials including metal and glass.


For the Pie Dough:

Ingredients:
  • 335g plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 185g unsalted butter, frozen for 1 hour (or at least 30 minutes)
  • Ice cold water, about a cup
 Steps:

1.      Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together.



2.      Take frozen butter and grate quickly on the big holes of a grater. Toss into flour mix.


3.      Stir together with a fork till well mixed and the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Use your fingertips if you find it difficult using only the fork.


4.      Start to bring the dough together by cutting the liquid into the dough with a blunt knife or spatula, then form into a smooth ball with your hands, adding a few tbsps of ice water at a time.

5.      Divide dough into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.



 For the Filling:

Ingredients:
  • 1.25 kg apples, of mixed variety
  • 45 g unsalted butter
  • 100 g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • Juice of 1 lemon
 Steps:

1.      To make the filling, peel and core the apples, and cut into chunks. Toss immediately with lemon juice in a large bowl, to prevent apples from discoloring.

2.      Place the butter and sugar in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. When butter has melted, add apples and stir to coat.

3.      Cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes, till apples have softened.


4.      Scoop out the apple chunks with a slotted spoon and mix with the spices. Set aside to cool.



For the Pie Crust:

1.      Roll out the larger pastry ball on a floured workbench to a 30cm circle (about 2mm thick). You may use some cling film over the pastry to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.


2.      Roll pastry around rolling pin, then unroll over a 22 cm metal pie dish. Gently press into corners and allow excess to overhang. Take care not to stretch the pastry.



3.      Cut out the overhang, leaving behind ¼”. Brush the base with a beaten egg and place in the refrigerator to chill.

4.      Roll out the small pastry ball to a 25 cm circle. Using a pizza cutter dipped in flour, cut out strips from the pastry.



Pie Assembly:

1.      Take the pie base out of the refrigerator.

2.      Take the filling out of the bowl with a slotted spoon and fill in the base.


3.      Take the pastry strips and place them vertically next to each other on the pie dish, spacing equally between the strips. Do the same horizontally, creating a lattice pattern.


4.      Cut off any overhang with a sharp pair of scissors. Crimp edges of pastry together with your fingers or a fork. Chill for 30 minutes.


5.      Preheat oven to 180°C, brush top of pie with remaining beaten egg and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

6.      Allow pie to cool for about 40 minutes before cutting. Serve with vanilla ice cream.



Now, this pie turned out quite good. The apples had a wonderful flavor, being rightly spiced and the top crust was beautifully flaky and crisp. 


However, in spite of my best efforts, the bottom crust turned out to be a bit soggy. Since this is my first ever pie-baking experience, I can’t pinpoint the reason, but my subsequent internet research brought up the following suggestions for a crisp bottom crust:

1. Blind bake bottom crust at 200-220°C for 5 – 10 minutes, with edges covered in aluminum foil
2. Sprinkle semolina/bread crumbs on base before filling
3. Mix corn flour with apples
4. Brush base with egg white
5. Don’t use Fuji apples

You can try any or all of the above (as I will be doing next time). Anyway, this didn’t stop us from enjoying the pie. The best part is that just a little piece will suffice as it is really filling. Be sure to have it with vanilla ice cream; cold ice cream melting on warm pie – heaven!!



Check out other bloggers' pies here!!



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43 comments

  1. Love the fact that you have tried this recipe without a pie dish. The outcome is gorgeous with such a beautiful browned crust.I was vary of baking the entire pie so decided to blind bake my pie shell first. Glad that you enjoyed it anyways!! After all food is all about enjoyment!

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  2. Thank you, Amrita!! Yes, the top crust was beautiful, but the bottom wasn't that good :-(. I think I'll try blind baking the next time. Loved your pie, it was gorgeous!

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  3. what a gorgeous looking Pie!!! my DH loves apple pie, I am thinking of making apple pie pops for him :D

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    Replies
    1. Thats such a stunner idea!! Do let us know the outcome Poonam.

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    2. Wow, that sounds great!! Can't wait to see how they turn out!

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  4. The pie looks yummilicious :D Am a big fan of apple pies and your's look so delicious...just the perfect golden color :D
    And what are Fuji apples? :o

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Swarnali!! Fuji apples are those big round, almost spherical apples. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_(apple) for more info :-)

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  5. that's such a beautiful pie Fab :)I kept staring at the pic for so long.... :)

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    1. Thank you, Ramya!! That's the reason I chose to do a lattice top crust - all the more prettiness!!

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  6. Fab pie so perfectly done :) so good

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  7. Really nice picturization... ur presentatn is also adorable, adds up the beauty of the dish

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  8. Beautiful apple pie Fabz you did very well .

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  9. Pie looks beautiful and yummy...Great job..

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  10. Cant take my eyes from the last click, wish i get that plate rite now,fantastic pie.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, thank you so much, Priya! Very kind of you :-)

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  11. Nice pictures looks super delicious dear..First time here and happy to follow U!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Saraswathi!! Your little apple pies are really cute :-) Perfect for kids!!

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  12. fabulous pie with details..Yummy & perfect!!
    Happy to join your space,Thanx for dropping by mine..Hope u'll join too :)
    Join EP event-Nutmeg OR Parsley @ Chef Mireille's Global Creations

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Julie!! I'm delighted to join your blog too :-)

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  13. Beautiful and tasty pie. I love it!. Cheers from Spain.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Marisa!! Loved your tart, so pretty!

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  14. What a delicious looking apple pie! Perfectly done!

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  15. oh! the crust looks so lovely, Mmm..., the whole house must be smelling of cinnamon., all these pies are making me think I have to bake them..,

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    Replies
    1. I think one of the things I love about baking is the aroma that spreads around the house and the kind of warmth it emanates!!

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  16. Beautiful Pie! Really well done...Looks so pretty with the lattice top!

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  17. Funny...my 7-year-old asked me yesterday if we could make an apple pie. I just laughed and laughed at her. She knows that I am not capable of such a thing!

    Yours looks amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Ameena, you're capable of a whole lot of stuff!! Loved Maya's post :-)

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  18. Wow your pie came out incredibly pretty. I've made apple pies before and they NEVER turned out this beautiful. They never even looked like pies! Lol.

    Thanks for this amazing recipe. My dad's favorite thing in the world is apple pie and maybe I will just be nice this week and try out this recipe for him!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jennifer!! Pies are trickier than cakes, but I'm sure you can get it right for your Dad!!

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  19. Assalam-alaikam,
    the pie looks lovely, but seriously love the pictures, they make the food look so good (I've never been a fan of apple pie, but your pictures make this look like I'd love to try it).

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    1. Wa alaikumussalam!! Thank you for your kind words!! Yup, that was the main reason I tried out the lattice for the top crust, purely for the prettiness :-)

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  20. pie is something I have been wanting to make for ever.......now ur easy tutorial makes me want to try my hand at it ASAP!!!!


    http://www.myunfinishedlife.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you!! Do let me know how it turns out!

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  21. WOw
    u seem to be a Fab cook
    Came via blogadda.
    apple pie has been all time fav but never treid it . Thanks for the recipe
    and u gt a grt blog
    keep penning
    Afshan

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Afshan!!! This is my first attempt at apple pie too - do let me know how yours turns out!

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  22. this looks absolutely delicious! I am so very hungry now!


    www.trendinginfashion.blogspot.com

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