Award Winning Apple Pie Recipes

PERFECT APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the pieces of butter and shortening and pulse until the mixture is crumbly with lots of pea and chickpea-size clumps of butter and shortening within.
• Add the water and pulse until the mixture is evenly moistened and very crumbly. Dump the dough crumbles onto a work surface and divide into two piles, with one pile about 15% bigger than the other (13 oz and 11.5 oz). Make two balls of dough and pat each one into a 5-inch disc. Wrap the discs in plastic and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
• Take the larger disc of dough out of the refrigerator. Dust your work surface lightly with flour and place the dough on top; sprinkle a little flour over the dough. Use your hands to quickly knead the dough into a soft and malleable disc (don't overwork it; you want it just supple enough to roll).
• Roll the dough, adding more flour as necessary under and on top of the dough so it doesn't stick, into a 13-in circle. Carefully drape the dough over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 9-in deep-dish pie pan (it should be at least 1½ in deep). Gently fit the dough into the pan, easing it inwards rather than stretching it outwards. Trim the edges to ½ inch beyond the lip of the pie pan. Turn the edges under to create a rim on the crust. Press the rim against the lip of the pan, forming it into an even edge. Use any scraps to patch in any tears or thin areas. Place the crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while you heat the oven.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and place on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of the oven). Cover the crust with a piece of parchment paper and fill it with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes. Take the crust out of the oven; remove the parchment paper and beans/pie weights and tent the edges with a few strips of aluminum foil. (The foil will protect the edges from getting too dark.) Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the dough is dry and golden. Don't worry if the bottom puffs up; just press it down gently with a flat spatula, such as a pancake turner, taking care not to puncture it. Let the crust cool to room temperature.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425°F.
• Meanwhile, combine the apples, lemon zest, lemon juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Toss until the sugar is dissolved and the apples are evenly coated. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.
• Drain the apples, collecting the syrupy juice in another bowl. Pour the syrupy juice into a 2-cup microwave-safe liquid measuring cup. Take note of the quantity and then heat on high power in the microwave, checking frequently, until the syrup is reduced by half. This will take about 4 minutes but keep a close eye on it as all microwaves are different. You don't want to cook it for too long, or it will turn into sticky caramel (see note below on how to correct this if it happens). The syrup should be just slightly thickened and still pourable. (Alternatively, you can boil the juices in a small pan on the stove.)
• Add the syrup back to the apples, along with the flour and cornstarch; toss to combine.
• Take the other piece of dough out of the fridge and roll into an 11-inch circle, using the same process described above. If necessary, use a little dough to patch up any holes in the bottom crust. Add the apple filling to the baked pie shell, compacting the apples as tightly as possible. (Too many air pockets will cause the crust to dome, creating a gap between the apples and the crust.) Place the rolled dough over top. Crimp the edges with a fork or flute with your fingers, sealing the top and bottom crust together. Work quickly, dusting your fingers with flour as necessary, so the dough doesn't get too warm.
• Brush the top crust with the beaten egg (or cream or milk). Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over the top crust. Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow the steam to escape.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375°F, and bake for an additional 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly. Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before cutting, about 4 hours.
• Note: Be sure to use baking apples that hold their shape when cooked, such as Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Fuji, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious. And use a mix of different varietals for the best flavor.
• Note: If you accidentally over-reduce the syrup and it seizes up when you pour it over the apples, transfer the apple mixture to a large sauté pan and cook over high heat until the caramel melts. Let cool completely in the fridge before proceeding with the recipe.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The pie can be frozen for up to 3 months before or after baking it. (If freezing it unbaked, hold off on brushing the top crust with the beaten egg and sprinkling it with sugar; you can do that right before baking.) If baked, let it cool completely and place it in the freezer uncovered. When fully frozen, wrap the pie securely in foil and freeze. If the pie is unbaked, wrap it securely in foil and freeze. When ready to serve, proceed with baking instructions above (pie is likely to take a bit longer in the oven).

APPLE PIE BY GRANDMA OPLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
• Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

AWARD-WINNING APPLE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Unroll 1 pie crust on a work surface. Cut out 2- to 3-inch hearts (or desired shape) with a cookie cutter. Transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Mix cream cheese, white sugar, egg, lemon zest, and salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• Mix sliced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
• Unroll the second pie crust in an ungreased, 9-inch glass pie plate.
• Roll almond paste into a thin, 7-inch circle between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Remove the top sheet of waxed paper and turn the almond paste circle into the crust-lined pie plate; gently press into the pie crust and remove the waxed paper. Spread cream cheese mixture over almond paste and arrange apples in a circular pattern over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set and slightly puffed, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Microwave apricot jam in a small, microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, at medium power (50%) for 1 minute. Brush over apples. Top with heart cutouts. Cool until filling sets, about 1 hour.

PRIZE-WINNING APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Measure flour, salt and baking powder into large bowl; mix well. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle in oil then milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork after each addition. When it's thoroughly mixed, press dough firmly together with hands as you would a snowball. Divide dough into two balls. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured pastry cloth. Put bottom crust into 9-in. pie pan; set aside. , Prepare filling by stirring together the sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt; mix with apples and water. Turn into pastry-lined pan; dot with butter. Cover with top crust; seal and flute. Slit steam vents in top crust. Cover edge with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. , Bake at 425° for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes longer.

APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and 3/4 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)
• Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.
• Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.
• Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.
• Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

WINNING APPLE PIE RECIPES 1ST PLACE

Steps:

• Crust: Place flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut small teaspoon-sized pieces of lard into the flour (about 5 pieces at a time), with a hand pastry cutter or fork. When all the lard is worked into flour (should have a crumble-like look) start adding cold water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until flour mixture pulls away from sides of the bowl. Separate dough into 2 equals parts, cover, and refrigerate while preparing apples. Note: This crust recipe is enough for two 9" apple pies, and the leftover dough can be frozen.
• Filling:In a large bowl, add apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and water. Stir well. Cut tiny pieces of butter into apples, using 2/3 of the stick. Sprinkle flour over apple mixture and stir and toss well. Cover and setaside.
• Using 1/2 of dough mixture, separate into 2 equal pieces. Flour rolling surface and dough lightly, and roll out 1 crust for the bottom, and place in pie pan. Add apple mixture. Cut remaining butter into small pats. Roll outcrust for top of pie. Place over apples. When the top crust is trimmed and pinched shut, cut several slits in it. Bake at 375ºF for about 70 minutes OR until crust is a light/medium golden brown.
• Variations:- About 5 minutes before pie is to come out of oven, lightly coat top crustwith melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Return to oven for final 5minutes.- Once pie is completely cooled, prepare a powdered sugar drip glaze frosting (2/3 cup powdered sugar in 1 -2 tablespoons milk). Drizzle over top of cool apple pie.

BARBARA TREVES' AWARD WINNING APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Measure out all dry ingredients, combine and place in freezer, keep butter & liquid ingredients in refrigerator for at least one hour prior to preparation.
• When ready, add dry ingredients to food processor and pulse to mix thoroughly. Add butter cubes and pulse until mixture resembles pea-sized meal. Add vinegar, pulse to mix then add ice water, 1 T at a time, until dough begins to stick together and when pinched by hand, holds together. Remove from processor and transfer to work surface. Divide the dough into two equal parts and gently form into balls, and wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• For the filling: Mix all dry ingredients, including vanilla bean seeds together. Add 2 T of this dry mixture to roasting pan, along with peeled and sliced apples. Place under broiler and broil until apples are slightly browned but not cooked through. Once nicely browned, remove and add rest of the ingredients, except butter.
• Adding Filling to Pie Dough: Chill pie plate while you roll out 1 of the dough discs on a lightly floured surface until you get a disc that measure slightly larger than your pie plate and about 1/8 “– ¼” thick. Pull out pie plate and gently place rolled out dough in plate.
• Add broiled apples mixture, then dot with 4 T butter. Roll out 2nd disc into a circle about 1/8” – ¼” thick and place on top of apples. Pinch top and bottom dough edges together and form a decorative edge.
• For the topping: beat the egg and cream together in a small dish then brush top and edges of pie with mixture, sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 400 F for 45 minutes Cover edges of pie with aluminum foil if starting to brown too quickly. Turn pie in oven and cook an additional 15 minutes or until done. Cool for at least two hours prior to serving.

GREAT APPLE PIE - AWARD WINNING

Steps:

• Bottom Crust: 1. Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixture with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together. 2. Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling. 3. Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate. Brush bottom of crust with egg whites to keep it from getting soggy. Put baking tray in bottom under pie to catch any overflow or dripings. Fill with desired filling and bake. Put in Filling and Topper: 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, white sugar and brown sugar, (>>> OPTIONAL: Add cloves, allspice, and nutmeg to the syrup.) and bring all to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer. 2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, and half of syrup mixture. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently brush the rest of sugar and butter syrup over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. 3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft. About 10 minutes before the pie is done (about 50 minutes had elapsed), Brush the pie with a little milk and sprinkle the top with sugar and cinnamon. TIP: To get apples cooked well so they are not crunchy, Place the pie on a lower oven rack and put the temperature on 250 for an extra 30 minutes or so and that did the trick without overbaking the crust. Use the Basic Flaky Pie Crust recipe from allrecipes.com

AWARD WINNING APPLE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Put apples in a large bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over apples. Toss gently to coat well. Put in a 9" pie crust, dot with butter, adjust top crust and bake at 450 for 15 minutes and then 350 for 45 minutes.
• 2. For pie crust; Mix together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in shortening. Add vinegar and egg, then add water. Mix to form a dough ball, separate into two balls, roll out on floured surface.