How to Make an Apple Pie
January 5, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Atlanta
• 0 Comments
How to Make an Apple Pie
While admiring and enjoying apple pie is admittedly far easier than baking one, with a little practice you can make this American classic, no problem. Perhaps one of the handiest recipes to know, baking an apple pie is the perfect way to come up with a surprise dessert for the family, comfort a friend, attend a party or enjoy a little mid-winter indulgence. Georgia culinary arts are about as down-home tasty as apple pie and now is the time to experiment. Your first pie may not come out looking like those from the baking classes you have always wanted to take, but once you try it a few times, you will find that practice truly does make perfect.
Step 1: Gather the necessary ingredients.
You will need -
Crust ingredients
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of salt
3/4 of a stick of butter
5 tablespoons of cold water
1 egg (for brushing)
Filling ingredients
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/3 cup of white sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoons of flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
7-8 medium-sized apples (McIntosh or Granny Smith)
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Combine flour, salt and butter in a bowl. Mix together with a fork until the ingredients begin to ball up, then slowly begin adding bits of the cold water. Once all water is added, begin kneading the dough into a ball. Separate into two pieces and refrigerate one half.
Step 3: Next you will begin to roll out the dough. To ensure that the rolling pin won’t stick, place a layer of plastic wrap over the dough. Begin rolling the dough out onto a floured counter. Once the dough is flat, remove it from the countertop. This is most easily accomplished by allowing the dough to wrap around the rolling pin and then unrolling it over the pie tin. Make sure it fits securely into the tin by pushing all sides and edges down securely, while trimming off the overhanging edges except for about one quarter of an inch extra. Place the tin in the refrigerator.
Step 4: The next step is to peel and slice the apples into cubes and then place them in a bowl. Next you will add the brown and white sugar over top of the apple cubes. Add salt, lemon juice, flour, and cinnamon and then cover the mixture and place it in the refrigerator.
Step 5: Roll out the second half of the dough – this will be the top of the pie crust. To make the lattice top, once flat slice the dough into wide strips. Remove the pie tin and the filling from the refrigerator and carefully add the filling to the pie tin. When you get all the filling inside, it should be nearly an inch higher than the side of the pan since the ingredients will sink down during the baking process.
Step 6: In order to get the top half of the crust to adhere seamlessly, brush the edges with a beaten egg. Next lay the strips in a woven pattern across the pie tin while pressing the dough together along the edges. Dust a touch of cinnamon over the top for extra flavor.
Step 7: Place in the oven to bake for 12 minutes at 400 F and then for the remaining 45, turn the heat down slightly to 375 F. All ovens vary so watch carefully for the top of the pie to turn golden brown. Once the pie is ready, remove from the oven and allow to fully cool before cutting in.
If you find that baking is fun for you, you may be interested in extending your education. Baking classes, whether for fun or for a future career, can be a rewarding way to use your love of the culinary arts to the very fullest.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Atlanta, Georgia area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Atlanta for more information.
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