Homemade Apple Pie

Homemade Apple Pie is an American classic dessert. My version has a creamy pie filling that is cooked in a skillet. This allows all the delicious ingredients to slowly blend together, which helps enhance the overall flavor. My take on this classic dish also has less sugar, as I want the sweetness from the apples to shine. Top it off with either vanilla bean ice cream, or whip cream and drizzle some caramel that makes for a hearty Autumn treat.

By Rose Huxford

Living in the Western Washington area, apples begin to ripe in September. Fortunately, I have neighbors who are more than willing to share their apple trees with me. I typically get several large bags a few times throughout the season and make homemade apple sauce, tarts, and, of course, apple pies. My Homemade Apple Pie isn't your typical sugary version. I like the apples to shine and have their natural sweetness take over, and not be hidden by lots of sugar. However, my kids and I do enjoy adding a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream or whip cream and a light drizzle of caramel sauce. If you're press for time, using store bought pie crust is a great idea and tastes delicious.

Homemade Apple Pie

Yields: 1 pie

Pre-heat oven: 400 degrees F

Prep-time: 10 minutes

Bake-time: ~50 minutes

Total-time: 60 minutes

Equipment: 1 pie dish, 1 large baking bowl, 1 large skillet, cutting board, paring knife, peeler, zester, wooden spoon, measuring spoons, cooling rack, sharp knife, small bowl, pastry brush and cooling rack.

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

By Rose Huxford

Ingredients

• 1 package pie crust (there should be two in a box)

• 5 large apples, or 10 small/medium apples (any kind), peeled, cored and sliced

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon, I use Ceylon Cinnamon

• zest from an orange

• 2 tbsp flour, or GF Flour or corn starch

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp allspice

• 2 tbsp honey

• 4 tbsp coconut sugar

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp oat milk (or regular milk or any non-dairy milk)

• 1 egg + pinch of salt (for egg wash)

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Lightly flour your pie dish, and set it aside.

3. Peel, core and slice your apples about medium thickness, and place in a large baking bowl.

4. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples and toss with clean hands. This helps the apples from turning brown and adds a nice flavor.

5. Next, add cinnamon, sugar, orange zest and flour to the apples. Use a wooden spoon to blend the ingredients together until the apples are well coated. Let the apples sit in the mixture for a few minutes.

6. Pre-heat the skillet on medium-high heat. Add the butter once the skillet is almost hot and coat the bottom.

7. Next, add the vanilla, honey, allspice and salt to the apple mixture. Stir with the wooden spoon.

8. Once the skillet ready, dump your apple mixture into the pan and cook for about 5-7 minutes, then lower the temperature to medium low. Add the oat milk and cook until the sauce from the milk and juices thickens.

9. Once the mixture has thickened, take the skillet off from the stove and allow it to cool for about 30 minutes.

10. While the mixture is cooling, take the store bought pie crust from the fridge. Take the two pie crusts out of the box and allow it to get to almost room temperature.

11. Then, take one of the pie crusts and carefully unroll it. Lay it carefully on top of the prepared pie dish, and gently fit the crust inside. Use a fork to poke holes in the bottom, this helps release steam.

12. Pour your cooled apple pie filling to the pie crust and level it out. Take the second pie crust and carefully unroll it. Lay it on top of the pie filling and first pie crust. Use your fingers to pinch the 1st and 2nd pie crust edges together to seal the pie. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits on top of the pie, to help release more steam. Or, you can use a pie bird like I did in the images above.

13. You can choose to do an egg wash, which is mixing 1 egg and a pinch of salt in a small dish and then stirring it with a fork. Use a pastry brush to coat the top of the pie, this gives it a nice golden finish.

14. Bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until the pie is a nice dark golden brown.

15. Take the pie out from the oven and allow it to cool on a cooling rack or a towel for about 30 minutes (or longer). Add vanilla bean or whip cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce and enjoy!