Classic American Apple Pie for Two

Ingredients

• 150 g (1 ¼ cups) All-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar (for crust)
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 75 g (⅓ cup) Unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 3-4 tablespoons Ice water
• 400 g (about 2 medium apples) Apples (e.g., Granny Smith, Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 50 g (¼ cup) Granulated sugar (for filling)
• 1 tablespoon All-purpose flour (for filling)
• ½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
• ½ large egg Egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• 1 teaspoon Milk or cream (for egg wash)

Method

1. 1

   Prepare the pie crust: In a bowl, whisk together flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt. Cut in the chilled butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss gently to coat the apples evenly.

3. 3

   Assemble the pie: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough into a 9-inch circle. Carefully transfer it to a 6-inch pie dish, trimming any excess. Pour the apple filling into the crust-lined dish.

4. 4

   Create the top crust: Roll out the second disc of dough. You can either place it whole over the filling, cutting vents, or cut it into strips for a lattice top. Crimp the edges to seal.

5. 5

   Egg wash and bake: In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk/cream. Brush this mixture over the top crust. Bake for 20 minutes at 200°C (400°F), then reduce the oven temperature to 175°C (350°F) and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

6. 6

   Cool and serve: Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the filling to set.