Crusty Apple Pie

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Yield: One 12" pie
Recipe photo

Crust lovers, unite! This low-profile apple pie features a thin layer of cinnamon-scented apples between two flaky, sugar-topped crusts. Read our blog about this pie, with additional photos, at … More »

Crusty Apple Pie

star rating (28) rate this recipe »
Hands-on time:
Baking time:
Total time:
Yield: One 12" pie
Published: 01/01/2010

Ingredients

Crust

  • 2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk powder, optional
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese (low-fat is fine)
  • 10 tablespoons cold butter
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Filling

  • 1/2 cup Baker's Cinnamon Filling mixed with 2 tablespoons water*
  • 3 medium-to-large fresh apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • dash of salt
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut in small cubes
  • *Substitute 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for the Baker's Cinnamon Filling and water, if desired. If you use sugar and cinnamon, DO NOT ADD THE WATER.

Topping

  • 2 tablespoons coarse sparkling white sugar

Directions

see this recipe's blog »

1) To make the crust: Put the flour in a bowl, or in the work bowl of a food processor. Add the cream cheese, salt, and buttermilk powder. Mix together until everything is evenly crumbly. If you're using a food processor, just a few quick pulses are all you'll need.

2) Cut the cold butter into pieces and work it into the flour, leaving some visible pieces.

3) Sprinkle the dough with the cold water and toss. Squeeze the dough to determine if it holds together. If it's too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time, using just enough so the dough will hold together.

4) Divide the dough in two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. if you have a scale, one piece should be about 9 ounces; the other about 10 ounces. Flatten each piece of dough into a disk, wrap well, and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer.

5) Remove the larger piece of dough from the refrigerator, and roll it into a 13" circle. Place it in a 12" shallow pizza pan, or onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. The parchment is there to catch any spills and simplify cleanup; if you don't have it, there's no need to grease your pan.

6) Spread the Baker's Cinnamon Filling mixture atop the crust. If you're using sugar and cinnamon, simply sprinkle it evenly atop the crust.

7) Arrange the apples in concentric rings atop the filling. Or, if you don't feel like being that fussy, simply spread the apples over the crust.

8) Sprinkle the apples with a dash of salt, and drizzle with the lemon juice. Scatter the bits of butter over all.

9) Remove the other piece of dough from the refrigerator, and roll it into a 12" circle. Place it atop the apples. Bring the edge of the bottom crust up over the top, pressing to seal.

10) Brush the crust with milk, and sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar, if desired. Cut a dime-sized hole in the middle; or cut several 1" slits across the top, for steam to escape.

11) Bake the pie in the preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375°F, and continue to bake for an additional 25 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and you can see some filling bubbling through the slits in the top.

12) Remove the pie from the oven, and wait about an hour before cutting into wedges and serving.

Yield: one 12" pie.

Reviews

1 23  All  
  • star rating 04/12/2012
  • betrhalf from KAF Community
  • This tastes great. I can't believe how free of frustration this pie crust was. It was so easy. Will definitely make this again and use the crust recipe for other things as well. Thanks KA
  • star rating 03/01/2012
  • aryakia from KAF Community
  • It's easy to make and the result is outstanding. It's so delicious. I've made it 2 times. My kids and husband just like it.
  • star rating 02/06/2012
  • eft from KAF Community
  • OUTSTANDING. I had a few apples around the kitchen I wanted to use up and thought what the he**. This is awesome my wife and family want me to make it again next weekend. Please try this yourself it was so easy and delicious.
  • star rating 11/28/2011
  • Cookiesforaudrey from KAF Community
  • My children and husband loved this pie the first time I made it, even though I accidentally used 2tbs of cinnamon instead of 2 tsp. I made it a second time, the right way, for my mom's birthday. It was gone in an instant. When people bit into it you can actually hear a "crunch".
  • star rating 10/20/2011
  • scbeardslee from KAF Community
  • This is AMAZING, really, truly one of the BEST apple 'pies' I've ever had. My husband loves pies, but doesn't like the crust (weird...) BUT he couldn't stop eating this, by the time we finally pulled ourselves away from this, half of the pie was gone! He now consistently asks me to make this at least once a week. I am making it again tonight, just because it's so wonderful. I will also say that I have found my 'go to' crust recipe in this. I don't need to keep trying them over and over, this one is by far my favorite. Try this recipe, you WILL love it, I promise.
  • star rating 09/19/2011
  • redmarna from KAF Community
  • I was caught short handed yesterday and at 2:00pm I needed to bring a dessert to a friends house for a quickie throw together dinner. Hmmmm---yes I had butter, cream cheese, dried buttermilk, cinnamon & sugar, plus apples. Threw it together and chilled it in the freezer to speed it up. Only had sugar in the raw to sprinkle on top. Came out really good. After cooling I served it on a wooden pizza paddle. Looked great and was enjoyed by all 5 of us. Will make again. I think it's really more of a rustic looking tart than an actual pie.
  • star rating 09/17/2011
  • elenamccollum from KAF Community
  • Ahhhhmazing!!!! Very easy to make. I made the dough in the food processor - took about 60 seconds. Forgot to put butter in apple filling, Couldn't even tell it was missing. Used the same dough in other pies as well. Its a keeper.
  • star rating 08/06/2011
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  • star rating 03/20/2011
  • MrPuppersDog from KAF Community
  • Okay, so I can't roll dough into a circle to save my life and so my pie was a rustic, patchwork quilt of crust, but it tasted amazing. I followed the recipe almost exactly. I cut the amount of butter in the filling from 2 tbsps to 1 tbsp. I'm glad that I did because the filling wasn't too buttery tasting. It was a bit more tart, which I like. I also squeezed the lemon juice into the bowl holding my apple slices and tossed the slices so that they wouldn't turn brown. I wasn't able to find sparkling sugar either and so I just put a little granulated sugar on top of the pie. It made the top a little shiny. Oh, and I recommend cutting the pie with a pizza wheel cutter. It does a great job. Great recipe, KAF! The blog photos and instructions helped me a lot too.
  • star rating 09/26/2010
  • springerledame from KAF Community
  • This is a delicious recipe. I was afraid my crust would be tough because it took more working than I generally would give a pie crust. I had to pat out the crust, since it was sticking to my silicone rolling pin and tearing. However, my husband and I both loved the crust, and it was not tough. I used four medium sized apples and the sugar/cinnamon mixture (Used Vietnamese Cinnamon--great flavor.) and added a little chopped candied ginger. Yummy!
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