Saturday 26 January 2013

Recipe: apple crumb pie

I think I have multiple personalities.  While at day I am immersed in the harsh reality of the working environment, the minute I get home in the evening, I'm as soft as pie... apple pie, that is! There is no better scent than having an apple pie baking away in the house - whatever you may be stressed about, it will surrender to the beauty of the apple and magically disappear...
Note:  don't be afraid by the list of ingredients.  Most are staples, and once everything is in the counter, the assembly is a piece of cake (but this recipe is for pie - not cake!!!)

Apple crumb pie

For the cream cheese crust:
120g butter, cold
what a great pie!

185g flour
85g cream cheese, cold
1/8tsp baking powder
(a pinch of cinnamon, if you like)
1 1/5tbsp cold water
1 1/2tsp white vinegar
salt
egg white, lightly beaten

For the filling:
6 medium apples, in chunks
1tbsp lemon juice
2tsp cornstarch
70g brown sugar
55g white sugar
(a pinch of cinnamon, if you like)
salt
And the first piece... is for me!

For the topping:
75g brown sugar
25g white sugar
140g flour
110g butter, softened
100g chopped walnuts
(a pinch of cinnamon, if you like)
1 1/2tsp vanilla extract
salt

Start with the crust.  In a food processor, blitz flour baking powder and salt.  Add cream cheese, blitz.  Add butter and blitz.  Add water and vinegar and blitz until it detaches from the sides.  Roll to a circle to line a 25cm (deepish) pie dish.  Put in refrigerator for about 20 minutes. 
In the meantime, preheat the oven at 200 degrees C.  In a bowl, peel, core and cut the apples in chunks.  Add the remaining ingredients, cover all pieces well, leave to rest.

Blind bake the crust:  line with aluminium foil, spread baking beans (in my case old dried beans) and bake for about 15 minutes.  Remove foil, brush crust with egg white. Now, you can pour the apples in the dish.  Cover it with a foil dome (so that the apples will not get black when baked), slit some holes with a knive.  Bake for about 50 minutes.

As you wait, make the topping:  put all ingredients in a bowl.  Lightly pinch with fingertips until all is crumble...
Get pie out of the oven, discard foil dome and spread topping evenly. Lower temperature to 180 degrees C.  Protect edges with foil (so that they don't overbrown)  and bake for a further 15 minutes.  Cool on a rack.





This post is my entry into Weekend Cooking, a weekly event hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

24 comments:

  1. That looks delicious!

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  2. This looks heavenly! I prefer apple pie with crumb topping, but always seem to bake a standard two crust. I'm going to 'pin' this one :)

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    Replies
    1. but the crumble is so much easier... do try it!

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  3. Oh this sounds wonderful -- especially with that cream cheese crust. Perfect for a cold winter's night.

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    Replies
    1. I'm eating a piece now at -2 degrees C...

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  4. That looks delicious *mouth watering*

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  5. You are so right- Baking Apple Pie is the most wonderful scent. Your recipe looks delicious! It just so happens I have a basket of apples to use up and this looks like the perfect way to do so. Thanks for sharing!
    Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate

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    Replies
    1. how great - let me know if you make the recipe!

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  6. You have me wanting pie! Have a great week.

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    Replies
    1. yes, pie is an all-weather staple!

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  7. Oh my! Cream cheese crust? Yum!

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  8. I can smell it baking -- nothing better than warm apple pie. The cream cheese crust sounds really yummy. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. brings back the memory of all traditions...

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  9. My favorite apple pie has a crumb topping! I don't think I've ever had a pie with cream cheese crust, but love cream cheese. This recipe is Pin worthy!
    Here's My WC

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  10. blitz, is that an official term? it works. I haven't tried pastry in the food processor yet. I watched my aunt do it years ago and it went together in a minute or so. I really must try it one of these days. and an apple pie would be the perfect choice. Thanks.

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    1. about official terms, I really can't tell, but I have seen it written, so I assume it kind of is ;-) As to preparing, yes, do try it - it saves so much of hassle and it increases the pleasure of preparing a great pie!

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  11. Oh, I'd love a warm slice of that at the end of our cold rainy day!

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  12. Replies
    1. couldn't have said it better myself!!!

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