Always Perfect Apple Pie Food

THE BEST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the dough: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and process until the largest pieces of butter are pea-size. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Stir the vodka, vinegar and 1/4 cup ice water in a small bowl (or 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water if you're not using vodka). Drizzle the wet ingredients over the dough, and then mix with a fork until shaggy pieces form. Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands a couple of times until it comes together (it will look quite dry, which is fine). Transfer the large clumps of dough to a work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ice water over any remaining smaller bits of dough in the bowl and knead again to bring it together. If the remaining dough is still too dry to come together, add more ice water in 1 tablespoon increments. Add to the dough on the work surface and press together into a single mass, incorporating any dry bits. Then pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick block. Divide the block into 4 pieces with a bench scraper or knife. Stack the pieces on top of one another, tucking any unincorporated dry bits in between the layers. Flatten the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick block. Repeat this process (cutting, stacking and flattening) three more times; this creates layers of butter in the dough that produces a wonderful flaky, almost puff pastry-like crust.
• Divide the dough in half and form into 1-inch-thick discs; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. The dough can be made 3 days ahead. Keep it refrigerated or freeze it for up to 3 months.
• To fill and assemble: Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2-inch wedges. Toss the apples, brown sugar, flour, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl. Let the fruit sit for 30 minutes to extract the juices.
• Meanwhile, soften one dough disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thick (about 16 inches in diameter). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate. Soften the second disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Then roll it out to the same thickness and diameter as the first disc.
• Carefully transfer the second disc to a 9-inch pie dish. Lift the edges so the dough slumps down into the dish. Press the dough firmly against the sides and bottom of the dish. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to firm up. Remove the first disc from the refrigerator and let it soften for 5 minutes.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil and place it on the center rack.
• Scrape the apple filling into the pie dish, creating a mound in the center. Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl and brush the edges of the dough. Place the other disc over the filling. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the bottom edge up and over the top edge; press together to seal. Crimp the edge and brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Cut several vents in the top evenly spaced. Freeze the pie for 10 minutes.
• Put the pie dish on the preheated baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. Continue to bake for 45 minutes, and then loosely tent with foil. Continue baking until the crust is a deep golden brown and the juices are thick and vigorously bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes longer. The juices will start to bubble at around 75 minutes, but they will thicken and bubble faster in the last 15 minutes; don't be tempted to pull it out until the bubbles are really going. (If using a clear pie dish, check underneath to make sure the bottom crust is evenly browned.) Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let it cool at least 4 hours before serving. (Yes, it smells amazing, and yes, people love warm pie. But if you don't give it time to set up properly, the filling will be runny when you cut into it.)

ALWAYS PERFECT APPLE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Place 1 pie crust in the bottom of pie plate. Unroll second pie crust and cut into 'strips' of pastry.
• 2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
• 3. Add flour and stir together until smooth.
• 4. Add white and brown sugar, water, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• 5. Stir together until smooth, simmer for 3-4 mins.
• 6. Add apples and toss to coat.
• 7. Add coated apples to pie plate; reserve some remaining liquid.
• 8. Lay pastry strips over apples in a criss-crossing pattern and press ends to the top edge of bottom pastry. Use the longest pieces for the middle of the pie, and the shorter pieces towards the outside, leaving about 1 inch in between rows.
• 9. Crimp the edges closed.
• 10. Lightly brush the top of pastry lattice with some remaining sugar syrup mixture.
• 11. Drizzle any remaining mixture over the pie allowing it to run down into the apples through the pastry lattice.
• 12. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes.
• 13. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 40 mins.

PERFECT APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough into a 12-inch round that's 1/8-inch thick. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, flour, spices, lemon juice, zest, and salt; toss to combine. Pour into lined pie plate. Dot with butter. Roll second disc of dough into a 12-inch round that's 1/8 inch thick. Lay dough over fruit. Cut vents into top crust. Trim edges to 1 inch over pie pan, and seal, crimping edges with thumb and forefinger. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Remove pie from refrigerator. Brush crust with heavy cream, and sprinkle with sugar. Place on a baking sheet; this will catch any juices that may overflow during baking. Bake until pastry is golden and juices in center of pie are bubbling, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool for 1 hour before serving.

PERFECT APPLE PIE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening. Gradually add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until dough forms a ball. Chill for 30 minutes. On a floured surface, roll half of dough into 10-in. circle. Place into a 9-in. pie pan. , In a bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; add to apples and toss. Pour into crust; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; cut slits in top. Place over filling; seal and flute edges. Beat egg yolk and water; brush over pastry. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 40-45 minutes more or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly.

THE BEST APPLE PIE EVER

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir together the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl; set aside. Press one of the pastries into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan; reserve the crust.
• Toss the apples with maple syrup and vanilla extract. Spread 1/3 of the apples into the pie pan and sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Repeat the layers with the remaining apples and sugar. Cover the pie with the top crust and pinch the edges to seal.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

PERFECT APPLE PIE!

Steps:

• Prepare a double pie crust as directed.
• Roll out one disk on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle and place the pastry in the pie plate.
• Gently press the dough into sides pie plate leaving an overhang of crust.
• Refrigerate while preparing the apple filling.
• Set oven rack to the second-lowest position and heat to 425 degrees.
• Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2-inch slices (no larger than 1/2-inch).
• Place in a bowl and gently toss the apples with the fresh lemon juice.
• In a small bowl combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg (if using).
• Add the sugar mixture to the apples and toss well to coat.
• Transfer the apple mixture into the chilled prepared crust and mound the apples slightly in the center.
• Dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
• Roll out the second pastry, and place over filling.
• Flute the edges together.
• Make several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape (if the pie dough is too soft, place in the freezer for 10 minutes).
• Whisk an egg white with a fork, and brush onto top of crust.
• Sprinkle with sugar.
• Place on a cookie sheet to catch any spills.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees (leave the pie in the oven and do not open the oven door) continue baking for about another 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 4 hours before slicing the pie.
• TO MAKE PIE WITH CRUMB TOPPING: in a bowl combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon; mix well with a spoon.
• Add in 1/2 cup COLD butter (no subs) cut into small chunks and mix together with your fingers to combine well.
• Add in some chopped walnuts if desired.
• Place in the fridge while preparing the pie.
• Make the pie filling exactly as directed, and dot with 2-3 tablespoons of butter before sprinkling on the topping.
• Bake as directed, but cover with foil the least 15 minutes of baking.