In Their Own Words
My mom was a waitress for years at Bill Johnson's Big Apple in Phoenix, Arizona.
Seth, web lead
The Story
Apple pie is as American as a diner counter, and it is at its best the same way every time: warm, with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream going soft on top. The trick is the contrast. Hot, tender apples and a crisp crust against ice cream that melts into a sauce.
Ingredients
- Crust: 2 1/2 cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup (226 g) cold unsalted butter cut in cubes, 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
- Filling: 2 1/2 pounds (about 6 medium) apples, half Granny Smith and half a sweeter kind such as Honeycrisp, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick; 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 1/4 cup (50 g) packed brown sugar; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon cold butter, in small pieces
- To finish: 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water; 1 tablespoon coarse sugar; vanilla ice cream, 1 generous scoop per slice
Steps
- Whisk the flour, sugar and salt. Rub in the butter until it is in pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle in the water a tablespoon at a time, stirring until the dough just holds together when squeezed.
- Split the dough in two, press each into a disk, wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the lower third and a baking sheet on it.
- Toss the apples with both sugars, the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon juice.
- Roll one disk to a 12-inch circle and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish. Pile in the apples and dot with the butter.
- Roll the second disk, lay it on top, trim and pinch the edges together, and cut 4 slits in the top. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sugar.
- Set the pie on the hot baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, lower the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake 40 to 45 minutes more, until the crust is deep golden and the juices bubble through the slits. Cover the edge with foil if it browns too fast.
- Cool on a rack for at least 1 hour so the filling sets. Reheat a slice for 15 seconds in the microwave if it has gone cold. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
FAQs
Why is my bottom crust soggy?
The hot baking sheet under the dish helps, and so does cooling the pie before slicing.
Which apples work best?
A tart apple holds its shape and a sweet one softens; use both.
