Sauternes Apple Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Make the crust: Grate the butter on the large holes of a box grater onto a sheet of wax paper and freeze until very hard, at least 20 minutes. Stir the flour and sugar in a medium bowl, then stir in the frozen butter with a fork. Stir in the ice water, then knead the dough into a shaggy ball. Turn out onto a floured surface and flatten into a disk with a rolling pin. Fold in half left to right and then top to bottom. Roll out into a 12-inch round, dusting with flour as needed. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and gently press into the pan. Crimp the edges, creating a tall rim to keep in all the apple juices. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Make the filling: Position racks in the middle and lower third of the oven and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drips; preheat to 375 degrees F. Toss the apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice and pie spice in a large bowl. Sprinkle the flour on top and toss to combine. Spoon the filling into the pie shell and gently pack evenly with your hands; dot with the butter. Cover the top with a round of parchment paper and press to adhere.
• Bake the pie on the middle oven rack until the apples are tender and bubbling and the crust is browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand while you make the meringue. (You want the pie to still be hot when you add the meringue.) Leave the oven on.
• Make the meringue: Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks are just forming, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium high; gradually beat in the sugar until the meringue is glossy and stiff peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Spread the meringue over the hot pie filling all the way to the crust; make swoops with the back of a spoon. Bake until the meringue is lightly browned in spots, 5 to 7 minutes (do not overbake). Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Steps:

• For the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add the butter and pulse to pea-size pieces. Add the whiskey and pulse until just incorporated. Pulse in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together when pinched. Turn out the dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and gather together, using the plastic wrap to help you. Divide into 2 pieces and gently pat each into a disk; wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• For the hot toddy apple filling and caramel: Add the granulated sugar and 4 cups water to a large pot. Cook over high heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the whiskey, honey, lemon juice, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil. Stir in half of the apples and bring back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender but not mushy, about 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the apples to a large bowl. Add the remaining apples to the poaching liquid and repeat the poaching process. When all the apples are in the bowl, add the ground cinnamon and ginger and stir to combine. Set aside to cool.
• Make the hot toddy caramel: Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves from the poaching liquid and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture is syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, 30 to 35 minutes. (It may bubble up, so keep an eye on it.) Add the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of the butter and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter is melted and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir 2 tablespoons of the hot toddy caramel into the bowl with the apples and let cool completely.
• Transfer the remaining hot toddy caramel to a microwave-safe bowl. Let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate. The caramel will continue to thicken as it cools. You should end up with about 1 cup of caramel.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Roll out the remaining disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Spoon the apple filling into the prepared pie crust and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Lay the dough round over the filling. Pinch the overhanging dough together and fold it under itself; crimp the edge with your fingers. Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Brush the crust with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven, put a baking sheet on the rack and preheat to 400 degrees F. Bake the pie on the hot baking sheet until the crust is golden, 60 to 70 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool at least 2 hours.
• Reheat the caramel sauce before serving and drizzle over each slice.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture looks like cornmeal. Add the butter and pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the vinegar and 5 to 6 tablespoons ice water; pulse until the dough just starts forming a ball. Divide between two pieces of plastic wrap. Shape each into a disk and wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Make the filling: Peel the apples and slice 1/4 inch thick; toss with 2/3 cup sugar, the lemon juice and salt in a large bowl. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the apples; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour. Cook, stirring, until the juices thicken, about 1 minute. Transfer to a separate large bowl. Repeat with the remaining butter, apples and flour; add to the bowl with the cooked apples. Gently fold in the sour cream and vanilla paste. Let cool completely.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9 1/2 -inch deep-dish pie plate. Add the filling, slightly mounding it in the center. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Put a baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 425 degrees F for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, roll out the remaining disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a floured surface. Lay the dough over the filling and press the crusts together around the edge; fold the overhanging dough under itself. Crimp with your fingers or a fork. Refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and the apple pie spice. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the spiced sugar. Make a few slits in the crust with a knife to let steam escape. Transfer the pie to the hot baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and continue baking until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling, rotating the pie as needed, 1 hour 15 minutes. (Tent with foil if the crust browns too quickly.) Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Cut the lard into 1/2-inch cubes; transfer to a plate and freeze at least 1 hour. Combine the flour, granulated sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Cut in the lard with 2 knives until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of lard (do not overmix). A little at a time, stir in 1/2 to 1 cup ice water until the dough holds together when squeezed; the amount of water will vary depending on the humidity. (You can also make the dough in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.) Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; use the plastic to help form each half into a disk. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Make the filling: Combine the apples, flour, turbinado sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, lemon juice, green chiles and pine nuts in a large bowl and toss. Let sit 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate, then spoon the filling into the crust. Roll out the remaining disk of dough into a 12-inch round; lay the dough over the filling. Press the 2 crusts together around the edge, then fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp with your fingers. Cut a few slits in the top crust or prick with a fork to let steam escape. Whisk the egg with 1/4 cup water and brush over the top crust. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
• Bake, rotating the pie every 20 minutes, until golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely. Serve with ice cream.

Steps:

• Melt butter over medium-high heat in large skillet, preferably not nonstick. (Apples will not caramelize as well in nonstick pan.) Add apples, sprinkle with 3/4 cup sugar, and sauté, turning apples, about 10 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelized. Fold in cinnamon. If you do not have a skillet large enough to hold all the apples, do this step in two stages or in two skillets. Spread cooked apples on a platter to cool.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide pastry in two unequal halves; roll out larger portion on lightly floured board, and line pie pan. Spoon in cooled apples. Roll out remaining pastry, and cover pan; seal and crimp edges. Cut several decorative slits in top. Alternatively, top pastry can be cut in strips and used to make lattice.
• Brush pastry with cream, and dust with remaining sugar. Bake about 40 minutes, until pastry is golden. Cool briefly, then serve.