An icon of American baking: flaky butter pastry cradling a cinnamon-spiced apple filling, baked until the crust is golden and the filling tender and fragrant.

المقادير

For the crust: 3 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 cup very cold butter, cubed, 8-10 tbsp ice water

For the filling: 6-7 apples (a mix of tart and sweet varieties), peeled and sliced

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp flour

1.5 tsp ground cinnamon

A pinch of nutmeg

Juice of half a lemon

2 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces

1 beaten egg (for the egg wash)

خطوات التحضير

To make the crust: mix the flour, salt and sugar, then add the cold butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together, then divide it into two discs, wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice.

Roll out one portion of dough on a floured surface and fit it into a pie dish.

Pour the apple filling over the dough and spread evenly, dotting small pieces of butter on top.

Roll out the second portion of dough and cover the pie, crimping the edges to seal, or cut it into strips for a lattice design.

Cut small slits in the top to let steam escape.

Brush the surface with the beaten egg for a shiny golden finish when baked.

Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 180°C and continue baking for 30-35 minutes until deep golden and the filling is bubbling.

Let the pie cool for at least 2 hours before slicing to allow the filling to set.

نصيحة

Keep the butter and water very cold throughout the dough-making process — coldness is the secret to flaky layers. Mix at least two apple varieties, including a tart one like Granny Smith, for the best flavour balance.

Apple pie is one of the desserts most closely tied to American identity, so much so that the common phrase «as American as apple pie» is used to denote anything quintessentially American. Ironically, the dish itself isn't American in origin; apple pie recipes are documented in England as far back as the 14th century, but European settlers brought them to North America, where they evolved into a staple of home baking culture there.

Success depends on two elements: a flaky, layered butter pie crust made with very cold ingredients to prevent the butter from melting before baking, and an apple filling balanced between sweetness and the tartness of the chosen apple variety, spiced with cinnamon and sometimes nutmeg. It is traditionally served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.