This is hands down Mike’s favorite pie. Before he would eat pumpkin pie, I would make him a mini apple crumb pie every Thanksgiving. Yes, yes, he’s way too spoiled, I know, but he’s well aware so I’m fine with that. I usually make it several times in the fall, and in the winter when local apples are still available at the farmers market.
The crumb topping is from my Mom’s apple crisp recipe, but works wonderfully on this too. The pie is simply spiced with cinnamon, which is also how my mom makes her apple pie, but you can add in nutmeg or allspice to taste as well.
Apple Crumb Pie
I prefer to mix apple varieties when making a crisp or pie. It creates different flavor and texture variations. I generally use a harder more firm apple that stands up to heat, combined with a softer apple that breaks down slightly. Granny Smith, Ida Reds, Cortland, Crispin are all good choices for firmer baking apples; McIntosh, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Paula Reds all soften and loose more of their shape. I usually mix and match based on what is available, or whatever is leftover in the fridge. Adjust the sugar in the apples to your preference or the tartness of the apples. 1 single pie crust (see below) 3 1/2 to 4 pounds of assorted apples 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons flour 3/4 teaspoon cinnamonCrisp Topping
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into 1/2-inch diceHeat oven to 400 degrees-F, and place baking rack in the lower-middle of oven.
Roll the crust dough into a 12-13-inch round and fit into the 9 1/2-inch pie pan or dish. There should be about 1/2 inch of overhang in the dish; tuck the edges under and flute as desired, so the crust sticks out 1/4-inch above the dish. Refrigerate until ready for the apples.
In a large mixing bowl combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir to combine. Peel, core and cut apples into slices about 1/4-inch thick, adding and tossing apples with the sugar mixture as you go. Toss apples one final time. Load apples into prepared crust in several additions, making sure each is even and leveled. Pour any juices remaining in bowl over apples. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar and butter with pastry cutter, fork or fingers until it resembles very coarse meal. Use hands to press and clump topping together to the size of large peas; scatter over apples covering all the way to the edge of the crust.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the juices start to get thick and bubbly. Check pie after 30 minutes of baking and cover edges with a foil pie shield if they are browning too quickly.
Single Pie Crust
Adapted slightly from The New Best Recipe This can be done in a food-processor, as recommended by CI, but I prefer to do it by hand, because I think it comes out just as good, and I feel like there is a whole lot less to clean afterwards. 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, chilled 3-4 tablespoons cold waterIn medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar and salt until combined. Add the shortening and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture is like coarse sand. Scatter the butter over the mixture and cut in butter until the mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse crumbs. The butter should not be larger than small peas.
Sprinkle water over the flour mixture, and use a rubber spatula to fold and schemer the dough until it holds together, adding the remaining tablespoon of water if needed. Gather dough into a mound and wrap with plastic wrap. Form dough into a round 4-inch disk. Refrigerate for one hour, or up to two days. If you refrigerate the dough longer than an hour, you will need to let the dough rest for a few minutes on the counter, so it becomes pliable again.
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