Classic Apple Pie

“There’s no place like home”

I don’t think any statement is more true than this one! I baked this apple pie for a special person coming back home. Is there really any more welcoming dessert than a warm, freshly baked apple pie?? And with some sweet writing and a big heart to boot, it’s bound to put a smile on your face 🙂

Crust

2 ½ cups flour

2/3 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

2 egg yolks

¼ cup water

1 tsp vanilla

In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. In stand mixer, beat butter until it is smooth. Add dry ingredients to butter until the mixture looks like course crumbs. Mix together the egg yolks and water. Add this to the stand mixer as well as the tsp of vanilla. Combine well. Once you get a smooth dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Apple Pie Filling

3 Tbsp butter

5 Gala apples

2 cup apple juice

½ cup white sugar +1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Pinch of salt

3 Tbsp cornstarch

1/3 cup water

1 egg

Core and peel the apples. Chop roughly or slice thinly (I prefer small cubes). Add apples to melted butter on large pan over medium heat until they appear a bit browned. Meanwhile heat apple juice in a saucepan until it boils and then add it to the apples. In a bowl combine the dry ingredients (except for the cornstarch!) and add to the apple pan after a couple minutes. Mix to coat evenly. Next combine the cornstarch with water and add it to the pan to get that gooey apple pie filling. Mix well to combine everything. After a couple minutes, turn off the heat and go prepare your pie crust.

Assembly

Place dough into a 9 or 10 inch ovenproof glass pie plate. Press gently into the sides and leave enough of an overhang to make a cool edge or enough to attach playful pieces for an edge like I did. To make the letters, roll the dough out individually for each letter, except for the “el”, “co”, and “me” in “welcome home”. I rolled those out together to give it more of that cursive look. Fill pie dough with apple pie filling. Place each letter right where you want it on the top of the filling – because that’s where it will stay – so make sure you space it out well ahead of time! Cut out little 1 inch circles with a cookie cutter and attach them, overlapping, to edge of pie, pressing down to make sure they don’t fall off. Brush crust with egg. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes uncovered, then cover edges with foil or a silicone pie crust shield and bake an additional 20-25 minutes until golden brown (just make sure your letters and edges are not burning!) Let cool a bit, and then enjoy!