Apple Pieeeeeeeeeeeees!

 Everyone has probably experienced the feeling of going home from a tiring day at the office or an exhausting school day to a house brimming with warmth and life, especially when your nostrils are caressed by the mouthwatering aroma of apple pie in the oven.  Oh, how wonderful it is to see your mom popping out the freshly baked apple pie from the oven and giving you a delightful slice for a welcoming gesture.  And who would forget the crisp air, bright leaves, fuzzy boots, bonfires, comfy sweaters, and apple pies of autumn?  All of these signify how apple pie truly goes to our rescue whenever we need comfort or just something familiar by our side, it shows how apple pie has been our favorite companion through the falling of leaves and chilling air, and it proves how apple pie has been a little, yet essential piece in our life puzzle.

Discover the true American apple pie and the explanation behind its American-ness, and learn how to prepare and bake a scrumptious apple pie all in one blog.  So, stick around folks because we have something to learn today!

A Great Nation's Favorite

“As American as apple pie.”

The saying above clearly showcases how the classic apple pie played its role in American history.  It is probably the most patriotic yet mouthwatering phrase for an American.  You might think that apple pie is just a tasty ol’ pastry, but its way more than that; it brings with it a rich bite of American culture which every American would surely recognize in their hearts. 

Apple pie doesn’t just represent a genuine American dish, it is tradition itself; every slice signifies a sentiment of a true American heart.  The nationalistic quote “As American as apple pie” turns out to be a shortened phrase for “As American as motherhood and apple pie”. A seven-worded phrase which is more than enough to describe American way of life and the significance of motherhood for each of them.  The quote was made to stir the hearts of the great nation’s citizens and to give that feel-good wholesome American sentiment.  Apple pies didn’t immediately come out as THE American apple pie; it actually earned the title from years of innovation, multicultural influence, and good taste.  It shows how American an apple pie really is. 

Tasty Apple Pie Recipe

This good ol’ fashioned apple pie recipe has been in American culture since history itself.  Relive the true American spirit by preparing this deliciously classic apple pie and experience a priceless moment by tasting the divine flavors of this pie!  This apple pie recipe consists of great ingredients. The taste of butter adds a creative flavor to the pie, the brown and white sugar blended with harmony which creates a lustful sweetened taste, the flour contributes to the pie’s volume and structure, its crispy crust adds a marvelous pastry taste, and the fresh apples completes its perfect flavors.  This recipe is especially made during autumn or fall when the leaves are bright and the air is chilly.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• ¼ cup water
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 8 medium Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter and toss in flour until mixture is paste-like.  Pour in water, and brown and white sugar. Simmer and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat after mixture boils.
3. Lay in place the bottom crust in your pan and fill with sliced apples with an intentional mound. Cover with lattice work crust.
4. Gradually pour in sugar and butter mixture over the crust.  Transfer carefully so that the mixture doesn’t run off.
5. Pop into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, reduce temperature to 350° Fahrenheit afterwards. Continue baking for 40-45 minutes until apples soft not soggy and crust is golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven and let it sit for a couple of minutes to cool. 
7. Slice into individual servings and you can also add whip cream for garnish.
8. Serve and enjoy!

Learn more about Apple pie history and more facts about your favorite desserts

Cinnamon Apple Pie with Crumb Topping

This recipe is probably one of the most mouth-watering, aromatic, and delicious American apple pie ever invented.  With its cinnamon flavor fused with the succulent taste of apples and the creamy pleasure of its filling, you could never resist such luxury.  The best part of this apple pie recipe is its double crust, both at the bottom and the topping. These two buttery and flaky pie crusts heighten the pie’s luxurious flavor, exquisitely sandwiching its sweet juicy filling. The crumb topping is spiced up with brown sugar, butter, flour, and the fragrant cinnamon which makes the topping crisp and perfectly-scented. It is absolutely delicious, right from its crumb topping, to the luscious filling, right until its buttery crust! Try this at home and you’ll be surprised at how delicious you can make this recipe!

Ingredients:

For crust

·         1 tablespoon white sugar

·         6 tablespoons butter (cold and cubed)

·         1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour

·         ½ tablespoon salt

·         5 tablespoons ice water

For filling

·         2 tablespoons all purpose flour

·         5 medium Granny Smith or Jonagold apples

·         1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

·         ½ cup packed brown sugar

·         1 ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

·         ½ teaspoon ground allspice

For crumb topping

·         1 ¼ cups all purpose flour

·         ½ cup butter (melted and cooled)

·         1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

·         ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

·         ½ cup packed brown sugar

Directions:

1. First, we’re going to make the buttery crust. You can start by preparing a large mixing bowl and a whisk or egg beater. Toss in salt, all-purpose flour, and white sugar together, mix lightly.
2.  Add in your cold butter, this time use your hands in mixing the mixture. Rub the ingredients together until you have the consistency that of very fine bread crumbs. Make sure there aren’t any pieces larger than a pea.
3. Slowly pour ice water to your batter and press together with a fork, then you can switch with your hands/palms in pressing the batter until you can form a large ball.  If you now have a firm dough, you can now roll it in a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
4. After chilling the dough for an hour or maybe more, start making your filling. Whisk together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, all purpose flour, vanilla extract, and salt in another large mixing bowl. Combine until all ingredients are properly incorporated.  Leave mixture for about 10 minutes, then set aside for later use.
5. Prepare another large bowl, mix in the remaining flour, cinnamon, packed brown sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Then stir in melted butter over the mixture using a rubber spatula until you have moist crumbs.
6. Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit.
7. Pull out your chilled dough and knead a little bit. Press the dough down to fit a 9-inch pie plate, do this gently and make sure your crust doesn’t crack or tear.
8. Pour your apple filling into the pie crust and evenly spread it all over the crust. Then get a handful of your crumb topping and squarely sprinkle over the apples, try to break the crumbs into smaller pieces as you sprinkle.
9. Put pie into your preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then, decrease temperature to 375° Fahrenheit and bake once more for an extra 40 minutes, just until apples are tender and slightly boiling, and your crust is golden brown.
10. You can cover the top of the pie with aluminum foil to avoid darkening of the crumb topping.  Pull out freshly baked pie from the oven and cool on cooling rack for about 20-30 minutes.
11. Slice, serve with a scoop of ice cream and enjoy!

Apple Pie Demonstration

Here is a visual presentation of preparing and baking your classic apple pie.  This demonstration is fast and easy, yet is filled with delicious flavors you just can't get enough of.  Stephanie Jaworski of Joy of Baking emphasizes how crucial the apple filling is in apple pies, she shows her viewers how to make the right apple filling and how to prevent discoloration of apples by adding a little bit of lemon juice.  She gives a wise advice to leave the complete apple filling in room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour, this is to let the apple excrete its juices right before baking it to prevent filling shrinkage and gap between the top crust and filling.