Apple Pie Recipe with Crumb Topping: A Delicious Fall Treat
This recipe will guide you through making a classic apple pie with a delightful crumb topping. It's perfect for fall gatherings or a cozy night in. We'll focus on simple steps, fresh ingredients, and achieving that perfect balance of sweet and tart. Get ready to impress your friends and family!
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
- ½ cup ice water
For the Apple Filling:
- 6-8 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and sliced
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
For the Crumb Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
Instructions:
Making the Pie Crust:
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
- Cut in butter: Add the chilled butter cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add ice water: Gradually add ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Don't overmix.
- Chill the dough: Form the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Preparing the Apple Filling:
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and lemon juice. Toss gently to coat.
Assembling the Pie:
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate.
- Add the filling: Pour the apple filling into the pie crust. Dot with the small pieces of butter.
- Make the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, nuts (if using), and cinnamon. Cut in the chilled butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture is crumbly.
- Add the topping: Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apple filling.
- Roll out top crust (optional): You can optionally roll out the second disc of dough and place it over the filling, crimping the edges to seal. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 45-55 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If using a top crust, cover the edges with foil after 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning.
- Cool: Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set.
Tips for the Perfect Apple Pie:
- Use a mix of apples: Combining tart and sweet apples will give you the best flavor balance.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will develop the gluten and result in a tough crust.
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing shrinkage during baking.
- Blind bake (optional): For a crispier bottom crust, you can blind bake it for 15 minutes before adding the filling.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve your warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Enjoy!
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