Slab Pie Recipes

APPLE SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) In a large bowl, combine flour sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix egg yolk and water together and mix into flour until it forms a ball. Roll out to fit the bottom of a 10x15 inch pan.
• In a large bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons flour, sugar and cinnamon. Pour filling into pie crust and dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
• In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2/3 cup brown sugar and 2/3 cup butter. Cut in the butter until crumbly, then sprinkle over apples.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.

MARTHA STEWART'S SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface or between two large floured pieces of plastic wrap, roll out larger piece of dough to an 18x13-inch rectangle, trimming excess dough.
• Fit into a 15x10 inch rimmed baking sheet, pressing into corners (pastry will hang over sides). Chill while assembling filling.
• In a large bowl, stir together fruit, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and salt. Spread mixture over chilled pie shell. Chill again while you roll out the top crust.
• On a lightly floured surface or between two large, floured pieces of plastic wrap, roll out remaining piece of dough to a 16x11-inch rectangle; drape over filling. Fold edge of bottom dough over top dough. Crimp if desired. Prick top dough all over with a fork. Brush entire surface with cream or an egg wash (thinned with a little water if necessary), and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40 to 55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let pie cool until just warm to the touch, about 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into 12 pieces. Slab is best eaten the day it is baked but it can be kept at room temperature, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for up to 2 days.
• Pate Brisee directions: Process flour, salt and sugar in a food processor until combined. Add butter. Process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream just until dough comes together. (Do not process more than 30 seconds.).
• Turn dough out in two portions onto two pieces of plastic wrap with one slightly larger than the other (this will be your bottom crust). Flatten dough and shape into rectangles. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (or overnight).

CINNAMON-SWIRL APPLE SLAB PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured piece of parchment, roll one disk of dough into a 12-by-17-inch rectangle. Transfer crust to a 10 1/2-by-15 1/4-inch rimmed baking sheet or jelly-roll pan and press into bottom edges and up sides. Fold overhang under and around edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine room-temperature butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. On a lightly floured piece of parchment, roll second disk of dough into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Evenly spread butter mixture over dough all the way to ends, then, starting at a long edge, tightly roll into a log. Transfer to a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack in lower third and a foil-lined baking sheet on a rack below. In a large bowl, toss together apples, lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and vanilla. Fill piecrust with apple mixture and dot with cold butter.
• Cut dough log into 1/4-inch slices, rotating with each slice to keep slices round. (You'll need 63 slices total.) Arrange slices over apple mixture, slightly overlapping, in nine rows of seven. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Brush top of pie with egg wash and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until top crust is just set, 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 degrees and continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Slab pie tastes best the day it's made.