It’s apple time. Apple season comes at the most perfect time of year as it’s also getting a little bit more cosy (although we’re certainly experiencing an Indian Summer) so baking an Apple Pie is not entirely out of place as it can still be chilly and yesterday at the rugby it was pouring with rain. Sunday afternoons are my favourite time for pie as it can usually follow a roast lunch and precede a nap on the sofa. If you’ve read my stuff for any length of time you’ll know I like a nap. Anyway, pie!
The smell from this pie is amazing and will travel around your house. I don’t mind that but it does mean the children come in at 5 min intervals and ask for a slice before it’s ready!
Classic Apple PIe
Equipment
- 10 Inch Round Pie Dish
- Rolling Pin
- Small Star Shaped Cookie Cutter
- Pastry Brush
Ingredients
For the Shortcrust Pastry
- 350 g Plain Flour
- 30 g Caster Sugar
- 200 g Unsalted Butter (chilled)
- ½ tsp Salt
- 50 ml Water
For the Pie Filling
- 700 g Bramley Cooking Apple (peeled, cored, cut in to half-inch pieces)
- 200 g Light Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1 Free Range Organic Egg (large and beaten for glazing)
Instructions
Make the Apple Filling First
- Start by peeling your apples and dicing them. I used local British cooking apples, but any type of tart apple will work well too.
- Put the apple into a large bowl and add the sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg. Mix together well, ensuring that all the apple slices are well coated.
- Set the bowl of apples to one side, cover with a plate or tea towel and leave to macerate in their own juices and absorb all the delicious spices . They should be left to macerate for at least 30mins at room temperature.
- Stir occasionally
Preheat the oven to 190c / 375f
Now Make The Shortcrust Pastry
- In another large mixing bowl add the butter, sugar and salt and then sift in the flour.
- Using your fingertips, crumble all of the ingredients in the bowl together until you are left with a bread crumb consistency. Or you can use your food mixer and the paddle attachment to do this for you.
- Add the cold water to the crumble mix and using your hands, mix all the ingredients together letting the water absorb into the crumble mix allowing it to form a soft pastry ball. If the pastry is still too dry and crumbly, just add a little more water a few drops at a time until the pastry is tacky but doesn’t stick to your hands.
- Split the pastry in half and set one half to one side for the time being.
- Take the other half of the pastry and use a rolling pin and a dusting of flour to roll the pastry out flat, I rolled mine out to measure approximately 3 mm thick. The pastry will also need to be rolled out wide enough to cover the base and the sides of your pie dish.
- Trim off any pastry hanging over the sides of the pie dish with a sharp knife to neaten.
- After half an hour has passed, the apples that have been macerating will be ready to add to the pie dish.
- Give the apples a good stir, drain them gently and then pour them into the pie dish, over the pastry.
- Take the other half of the pastry and roll it out flat. The pastry should be rolled out big enough to cover the top of the pie dish, thus forming the pie lid. Before placing it on to the top of the pie cut out several little star shapes.
- Beat one egg in a bowl and brush the beaten egg over the top of the pie.
- Sprinkle a tiny amount of the brown sugar over the top of the pie. Rub it in gently. This gives the pie a lovely golden top.
- Bake in the oven for approx 30 mins. I say "approximately" as my oven is very fierce but yours may be gentler. You want the apples to be softened and the pastry to be golden brown so just keep an eye on it.
- If you cut in to the pie straight out of the oven you may find quite a bit of juice at the bottom. Allowing the pie to rest for 30 mins or so will allow the pastry to soak all of these juices up so don't worry.
It’s soon to be National Baking Week here in the UK so this is perfect if you fancy celebrating that, it also ties in with the fact that GBBO is on the TV!
Have a lovely time baking this and let me know if you have any questions about the recipe itself. I’m always here to help and will answer the questions as soon as I can. Huge love, Cherry
You have got me even more excited about my holiday next week down in deepest darkest Cornwall. My yearly pilgrimage to my favourite farm, Roskillys who make the best homemade apple pie with their home made ice cream and clotted cream. All eaten in front of a massive open fire. It is on this day that I don’t mind what the weather is up to. The children and I will be a very full and cosy bunnys xx
Hi Cherry, I’ve been checking in since 10 this morning, looking for your update! I knew it would be something that would cheer me up, as Im in my boring boring, meaningless work (thankfully only ever here a few days a week!) and by the way work, thanks for the lend of the computer and internet access : ) Anyway, love the apple post, I have a few trees at home and made a huge apple crumble at the weekend, the last piece which I did have for lunch yesterday, yum yum.
Author
Ah yes, sorry about that Annie. I was rather late this morning due to grouchy computers. Grrrrrrrr! I’ll be on time tomorrow….hopefully! Cx
Lovely recipe and lovely Anthropologie bowls.
Looks amazing and I’m loving the garden photos too!
It looks delicious! We finally had crisp cool autumn air in northern California with a bit of rain over the weekend. It is indeed time for apple pie! Wish me luck….I’ve never made one! I do have loads of fun watching the ladies at the High Hill apple orchard pie barn behind glass windows making hundreds of pies. The children and adults alike are mesmerized by the huge, ancient automatic apple peeler. It is so big it has a room of it’s own!
http://www.applehill.com/
Mmmmmm! I can smell that apple pie all the way to Mexico, looks delicious and definitely something to bake this week. I suppose you buy the clotted cream but is there a way of preparing it? I know that England´s cream is unique and is a quintessential british ingredient.
Author
Hello Paty
I wouldn’t use clotted cream for this pie but rather single,double or pouring cream. I do hope you give this pie a go. It’s very easy to make and tastes lovely!
Love, Cherry
Cherry – you look like Walt Disney’s Snow White in those photo’s with your dark hair and the red and blue colours. Beautiful xx
So yummy, sounds like heaven!
x
Oh you’re apple pie looks delicious! I made apple tart last night (http://www.makeamealoutofthis.com/2011/10/apple-tart.html#more) which was really surprisingly easy (and yummy). After that success I might try something more adventurous such as this.
Thanks for sharing x