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–+ servings

Super Apple Pie

ACTIVE TIME: 1 hour
TOTAL TIME: 7 hours 45 minutes
Yield: 10 servings

Software

For the crust

  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 ounces vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 5 to 7 tablespoons applejack
  • 2.75 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

For the filling

  • 3 to 3 1/2 pounds (6 large) apples, mixture of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious
  • 1/2 cup sugar, divided
  • 3 tablespoons tapioca flour
  • 2 tablespoons apple jelly
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Specialized Hardware

  • Food processor
  • Digital kitchen scale
  • 9 1/2- or 10-inch-by-2-inch tart pan
  • Pie bird

Procedure

  • For the crust: Place the butter, shortening, and applejack into the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt, and sugar by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add the butter and pulse until the texture looks mealy, 5 to 6 pulses. Add the shortening and pulse until incorporated, 3 to 4 more pulses.
  • Remove the lid of the food processor and sprinkle in 5 tablespoons of the applejack. Replace the lid and pulse 5 times. Add more applejack, if needed, and pulse again until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Weigh the dough and divide in half. Shape each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
  • For the filling: Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4 cup of the sugar, place in a colander set over a large bowl, and allow to drain for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan, place over medium heat, and reduce to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool. Toss the apples with the remaining sugar, tapioca flour, jelly, cider, lime juice, salt, and grains of paradise.
  • For assembling and baking the pie: Heat oven to 425ºF.
  • Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator. Place the dough onto a lightly floured piece of waxed paper. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour and roll out into a 12-inch circle. Place into a 9 1/2- to 10-inch tart pan that is 2-inches deep. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan, crimping and trimming the edges as necessary. Set a pie bird in the center of the bottom of the pan.
  • Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl. Roll out the second pie dough as the first. Place this dough over the apples, pressing the pie bird through the top crust. Press the edges of the dough together around the rim of the pie. Brush the top crust with the reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie. Trim any excess dough. Place the pie on a half-sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake on the floor of the oven for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack of the oven and continue to bake until the apples are cooked through but not mushy, about another 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool a minimum of 4 hours or until almost room temperature.