Description
Homemade “brown bag apple pie” delivers classic comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen, bringing warmth and nostalgia to sweet dessert lovers. Crisp autumn apples nestled in buttery crust become pure magic when baked to golden perfection, inviting you to savor each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Filling):
- 6 cups (about 6 medium) apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Crust Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
- 6 tablespoons ice water
Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (55 g) unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
Instructions
- Craft a silky pastry foundation by whisking flour, salt, and sugar together in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring uniform incorporation of dry components.
- Introduce chilled butter cubes into the flour mixture, meticulously breaking down the fat using fingertips or a specialized pastry tool until the texture mimics delicate, uneven breadcrumbs.
- Carefully introduce glacial water, one tablespoon at a time, gently coaxing the fragmented mixture into a cohesive dough that barely holds together without becoming overly saturated.
- Partition the consolidated dough into two symmetrical segments, tenderly flattening each portion into disc-like shapes that will serve as the pie’s structural canvas.
- Envelop each dough disc in transparent film, creating a protective barrier that will preserve moisture and facilitate precise temperature control during the chilling phase.
- Refrigerate the wrapped dough for a minimum of half an hour, allowing gluten to relax and butter to solidify, which ensures a supremely flaky and tender pastry foundation.
Notes
- Keep butter extremely cold to ensure a flaky, tender pie crust that doesn’t become tough during mixing.
- Use a light touch when working the butter into flour, avoiding overworking the dough which can make the crust dense and chewy.
- Experiment with different apple varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for balanced sweetness and tartness in your pie filling.
- Consider brushing the crust with egg wash or sprinkling raw sugar before baking to create a beautiful golden, crispy exterior that adds extra texture and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg