as much as i love pie and as tasty as apples are…i don’t love apple pie. not even close. not even these pies…cute as they are! i wish i were awesome enough to love this american icon…but i’m not. i love all manner of berry pies, pies made w/ stone fruits of all varieties, sour cherry pie…omg l-o-v-e!
i mean, i’ve tried many an apple pie. some with blackberries and sour cream, caramel or topped with delicious crunchies…but, apple just ain’t doin’ a thing for me. i had a few spoonfuls of this pie, spiced with candied ginger and while i wasn’t put off by any one element or combination thereof, i just wasn’t wowed. i never am with apple pie.
i know, i’m ashamed. it puzzles me too.
so, now that i’ve tried my hardest to make these pies sound as unappetizing as possible, i’ll mention the crust. ohmy. ohmy…is it ever good! i used dorie greenspan’s recipe for “good for almost everything pie dough” and well, the title speaks the truth…except i thought it was better than just good 😉
good for almost everything pie dough
from dorie greenspan
usually i’m an all-butter kind of gal…but i tried this recipe, which has mostly butter and i loved it. i used non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening here with great results. also, if your feeling adventurous you can add a few grates of fresh nutmeg to the dough like i do. i’m a fan of the food processor, but lately i’ve been using a pastry blender with wonderful results…kickin’ it old school 😉 feel free to use either method.
makes enough dough for four ramekin pies with top crusts or for a single crust 9-inch pie.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons of sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces and chilled or frozen in the freezer
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled or frozen
1/4 cup ice water
2 tablespoons half and half
place all ingredients except for water and half and half in a large bowl. using a pastry blender (fork tines, or even cold fingers) cut the butter and shortening into the flour until you have varied sized chunks of fat (yum!), oaty-looking crumbs and pea-sized balls. add ice water (not ice) about 1-2 tablespoons at a time and blend until dough comes together when pinched.
scrape the dough onto a smooth work surface and shape into a disk. there should still be chunks and streaks of butter visible throughout the dough. wrap with plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
for ramekin pies, divide the dough into 8 pieces and roll out four pieces of dough to fit inside the ramekins, add filling. roll out remaining dough and top and seal each pie. cut an X in the top of each pie, brush with half and half and sprinkle with sugar(i used sanding sugar for visual appeal) and bake at 350 until the crust is golden brown and the insides are bubbling (for my oven, about 40 minutes).
apple pie filling
i used pink lady apples, i think that granny smiths are better for pie though. use what you prefer.
4 medium apples, peeled, cored and cut into a rough dice
4 pieces of candied ginger, minced
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1/2 cup sugar (this will depend on the tartness of your apples)
the juice of half a lemon
combine all ingredients in a large bowl and fold to coat well.
Danielle
Despite your lack of love for apple pie, these look sooo cute and delicious! I’m an apple pie lover so I’m sure I would go berzerk over these little babies!!
cindy
your food photography is fantastic! the pies look incredibly delicious. it’s great that you’ll bake something even if you don’t want to eat it. maybe that’s a concept for a weight loss program ;)?
Justin
i personally love apple pie, but i was raised on it. very nice photos of that yummy crust.
cindy*
cindy: thanks! i’ve been trying to style my shots and work with my camera so i don’t have to do much or any editing in photoshop 😉 that might actually be a diet i could stick to…ha!
cindy*
danielle: thanks! and for coming by 😉
justin: my mom isn’t an apple pie kind of lady either…that may be it! and thanks.
T.Allen-Mercado
I don’t eat pie…ever…at all. But these are so cute, that I want to have one- perhaps, just to pose in front of it for stylin’ cool points!
jordan
I’ve never been an apple pie fan either. I’m a chocolate girl. 😉
Actually, just yesterday my boyfriend was raving about an apple crumble he ordered at dinner, I tasted it and it was just “ok.”
But they look adorable! 🙂
cindy*
fellow apple pie dis-likers! i don’t feel so alone now 😉
Sophie
Lucky for me, I love apple pie! 🙂 But then again, I love anything with sugar :D. The pie crust looks awesome, golden and the right texture. YUMMMYY!
Dawn
oh girl I must have those little pie dishes. I love apple pie, but I love the crust better, is that bad?
cindy*
sophie, thanks 😉
dawn, i think the dishes are actually ceramic brioche molds. this crust is the best part i think!
oneordinaryday
I have to agree that I’m not crazy about apple pie either. It’s okay, but it’s not really my thing. And, frankly, I think peeling, coring, and slicing apples is a major pain in the behind! I drive my mother crazy – she’s the queen of apple pie making. {sigh}
These little ones sure do look purdy though.
stephchows
for something you don’t like you sure make it look beautiful! I would pick cherry pie over apple any day… but I do still like apple 🙂
anna
Aw, the pie is so cute! I can be very picky about apple pies – I think my mom’s recipe is best of course! I always use her crust recipe when making apple pie as well. Interestingly enough, it’s all olive oil, no butter at all! Surprisingly flaky. I tend to find apple pies made any other way to be really gross though. I think I need to make a little pie for myself soon…
Jennifer
I LOVE apple pies but totally understand the picky-ness! 🙂 These little beauties sound great though, especially with the ginger!
the southern hostess
These look delish! That crust is out of control.
Sophie
Indeed, these treats look wonderful, Cindy!! How can you not like these,…???
They look so appetizing!!
cindy*
thanks everyone !
{nicole marie}
I am definitely going to have to try these – they are so adorable! It’s funny, I love all fruit pies, but up until a couple of years ago I didn’t like apple pie either. I think I must have had a traumatic experience as a child. hehe. Anyway, great job!
Barbara
I’ve always thought I could eat anything if the pie crust is great. And this one looks super. Luckily, I like apples. But other fruits would work too. Nice job!
Hilary
I don’t really like apple pie, either. It’s just… okay.
But your mini pies are soooo cute. I’d eat it like that!
Ingrid
My one son LOVES, and I mean LOVES apple pie so slide me one of those lovelies and make my baby’s day! (Plus get me out of the doghouse I ate his last piece! Seriously, I’m not joking. He’s gonna be so mad!)
~ingrid
Peabody
Well, I will take your apple pie! Yum!
cindy*
ingrid and peabody…come and get it 😉
erika325
I don’t love apple pie either. I DO love cherry pie though! And your pies in the pictures are adorable. 🙂
Hi Miss Cindy! The boys still talk about you 🙂
Courtney Wilson
Cindy, I am totally trying these recipes for the holidays! Keep up the yummy work! Beautiful images as usual!
Memoria
Lovely photos. Question: How much shortening did you add to the pie crust? 2 1/2 Tbsp? Thanks!
cindy
memoria- it is 2 1/2 tbs…thanks for bringing that to my attention 🙂