Apple Slab Pie Cooks Country Recipes

Steps:

• Toss apples, 1 cup sugar, and salt in colander set over large bowl. Let sit, tossing occasionally, until apples release their juices, about 30 minutes. Press gently on apples to extract liquid and reserve 3/4 cup juice (any excess may be discarded).
• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse animal crackers and remaining sugar in food processor until finely ground. Dust work surface with cracker mixture. Brush half of one pastry disc with water, overlap with second pastry disc, and dust top with more cracker mixture. Roll out dough to 19 by 14 inches and transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Brush dough with butter and refrigerate; roll out top crust in the same way.
• Toss drained apples with tapioca, cinnamon, and lemon juice and arrange evenly over bottom crust, pressing lightly to flatten. Brush edges of bottom crust with water, and arrange top crust on pie. Press crusts together and use a paring knife to trim any excess dough, leaving a 1/2" rim of pastry; fold pastry under itself and tuck into rim of baking sheet. Use fork to crimp and seal outside edge of pie, then pierce top of pie at 2-inch intervals with fork. Bake until pie is golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Transfer to wire rack and let cool 1 hour.
• For the glaze: While pie is cooling, simmer 3/4 cup apple juice (which you reserved in step 1) in saucepan over medium heat until syrupy and reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and butter and let cool to room temperature. Whisk in confectioners' sugar and brush glaze evenly over warm pie. Let pie cool completely, at least 1 hour longer. Cut into thirds lengthwise, and into sixths widthwise, making 18 pieces each about 4"x3".
• Make Ahead: The pie can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Make pie crust: Whisk together flour, sugar and salt in the bottom of a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, 2 forks, or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour until the biggest pieces of butter are the size of peas. (You'll want to chop your butter into the small bits first, unless you're using a very strong pastry blender in which case you can throw the sticks in whole.).
• Gently stir in the water with a rubber spatula, mixing it until a craggy mass forms. Get your hands in the bowl and knead it just two or three times to form a ball. Divide dough roughly in half, one being slightly larger than the other. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and flatten a bit, like a disc.
• Chill in fridge for at least an hour or up to two days or slip plastic wrapped dough into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 to 2 months. To defrost, leave in frig for 1 day.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line bottom of 10x15x1 inch baking sheet or jellyroll pan with parchment paper.
• Prepare filling: In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice until coated. Top with remaining filling ingredients and stir to evenly coat.
• Assemble pie: On a lightly floured surface, roll one of your dough halves (the larger one first) into an 18x13 inch rectangle. Do your best to work quickly, keeping the dough as cold as possible and using enough flour that it doesn't stick to the counter. Transfer to your prepared baking sheet and gently drape some of the overhang in so that the dough fills out the inner edges and corners. Some pastry will spill over the sides of the pan; trim this to 3/4 inch.
• Pour apple mixture over prepared pan and spread evenly.
• Roll the second of your dough halves (the smaller one) into a 16x11 inch rectangle. Drape over filling and fold the bottom crust's overhang over the edges sealing them together. Cut small slits to act as vents all over the lid. Brush lid with heavy cream or egg wash. Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40-45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack until just warm to the touch, about 45 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, stir together confectioner's sugar and liquid of your choice until a pourable glaze consistency is reached. Use a spoon to drizzle over top. Serve slab pie in squares or rectangles, warm or at room temperature.
• It keeps at room temperature for at least 3 days.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Remove pie crusts from pouches. On lightly floured surface, unroll and stack crusts one on top of the other. Roll to 17x12-inch rectangle. Fit crust into 15x10x1-inch pan, pressing into corners. Fold extra crust under, even with edges of pan.
• In small bowl, mix granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon juice. Add apples, stirring to coat. Spoon apple mixture into crust-lined pan.
• Bake 33 to 38 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool in pan on cooling rack 45 minutes.
• In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk until well blended. Drizzle over pie. Let stand until glaze is set, about 30 minutes.