Happy Monday y'all! When I was a little girl I absolutely loved the 4th of July. It's always blazing hot on the 4th and as a kid that meant I was either in a pool, or running around in sprinklers somewhere waiting for the barbeques and fireworks to begin. I distinctly remember however the year I wore myself out with all the festivities and fell asleep missing the firework show. Later that night I awoke in tears asking why no one had come to get me. It was quite tragic. As an adult the Fourth of July is still a special holiday for me. It's a day to celebrate our countries independence and all the delicious American food one can muster...starting with a healthy dose of Apple Pie! This year however no fireworks will be missed.
{photo by Freutcake}
Flat Apple Pies- adapted from Pioneer Woman
makes 8 pies
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced thin
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
Juice of ½ lemon
1 recipe Perfect Pie Crust see below
6 tablespoons butter
For finishing
1 egg beaten for brushing
turbinado sugar for sanding
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In large bowl, stir together the apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, salt, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Flour a work surface and rolling pin and remove pie dough rounds from refrigerator.
4. Working with one round at a time, divide into four equal portions. Roll each portion of dough out into a roughly 6″x6″ round. (this does not have to be perfect) Place each round on prepared baking sheet and repeat with second chilled pie dough. Each baking sheet should have 4 pie round when you are done…8 total.
5. Divide the apple mixture between the crust rounds mounding the apples in the middle. Fold over the edges of each crust so that it covers the edges of the apples. Dot the tops of the pies with chunks of the butter.
6. Brush edges of the pies with egg and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
7. Bake until the filling is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. If the crust appears to brown too quickly, cover the edges with aluminium foil for the remaining baking time.
8. Serve with a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Perfect Pie Crust
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ sticks cold butter
¾ cup vegetable shortening
1 egg
5 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add in the butter and shortening. Using a pastry cutter, gradually work the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles. This step should take 3 or 4 minutes.
2. Lightly beat the egg with a fork, and then add it to the mixture. Next, add in the cold water and vinegar. Stir the mixture together until it’s just combined. Dump the dough out onto a floured work surface and gather into a ball. Cut the ball in half so that you have two equal portions. Flatten each portion into a disk, wrap both in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
Sarah says
Such a tragic thing as a child to miss the fireworks! I'm making a mental note to always wake any sleeping children for the 4th of July. I love that you chose to feature apple pie here. It doesn't get much more classic American than that, but I don't often associate with the 4th for some reason. A nice twist to the menu
Katie says
YUM!!
Nic@diningwithastud says
Gorgeous pie! Happy 4th of July 🙂
jess says
yummy yum! apple pie is one of my faves!