Description
Grandma’s traditional Italian Apple Pie blends rustic charm with sweet nostalgia, offering a delightful journey through generations of family cooking. Warm cinnamon and tender apples nestled in a buttery crust invite you to savor a slice of culinary heritage with each comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 grams) cold unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) ice water
Filling Ingredients:
- 6 large apples
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons raw sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine flour and salt, creating a uniform base for the pastry dough.
- Add chilled butter cubes to the flour mixture, working quickly with fingertips or a pastry blender until the texture resembles coarse meal.
- Introduce ice water gradually, mixing gently until the dough coheres into a malleable ball without overworking.
- Separate the dough into two equal portions, flatten into discs, and refrigerate for 1 hour to relax the gluten and enhance texture.
- Prepare apples by peeling, coring, and slicing into thin, consistent wedges to promote even cooking and aesthetic appeal.
- Combine apple slices with sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and cornstarch, ensuring thorough coating to prevent oxidation and develop complex flavors.
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and position a rack in the lower third of the oven.
- On a generously floured surface, roll out one dough disc into a circular shape large enough to generously line the pie dish.
- Carefully transfer the dough to the pie dish, pressing gently into corners and allowing slight overhang for crimping.
- Spread the seasoned apple mixture evenly across the crust, creating a slight central mound for visual and textural interest.
- Roll the second dough disc and cover the pie, either as a solid top crust or in an intricate lattice pattern.
- Trim excess dough and crimp the edges decoratively to seal and create an elegant border.
- Whisk the egg and meticulously brush the entire top crust for a rich, golden finish.
- Dust the surface with raw sugar and a whisper of nutmeg to enhance visual and flavor complexity.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the crust achieves a deep golden hue and the filling bubbles tantalizingly around the edges.
- Rest the pie for 30 minutes, allowing the filling to set and flavors to harmonize before serving.
Notes
- Use cold butter straight from the refrigerator to achieve a flaky, tender crust that crumbles perfectly in your mouth.
- Experiment with different apple varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious for varied sweetness and texture levels.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular flour with almond or coconut flour, ensuring the same delectable taste and texture.
- Enhance the flavor profile by adding a splash of bourbon or vanilla extract to the apple filling for a more complex, sophisticated dessert.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg