Italian Apple Mascarpone Pie With Almond Topping Recipes

TORTA DI MELE - ITALIAN APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C/360F and adjust a baking rack onto the middle shelf. Grease and dust with flour (or line with parchment paper) a 9-inch cake pan and set it aside.
• In a large bowl, place the eggs and the sugar. Beat the mixture with an electric whisker until light and pale, then gently whisk in the olive oil, followed by the vanilla, and mix until all the ingredients are combined.
• Slowly incorporate the flour into the batter, mixing until just combined. Sprinkle the baking powder and a pinch on salt over the batter and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
• Fold into the batter 1-1/2 apples cut into tiny chunks, and lemon zest, and mix until just combined.
• Pour the apple cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Top the batter with the remaining 1-1/2 apples cut into thin slices, and bake in the oven for approximately 30-40 minutes. To check if the cake is ready, insert a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
• Remove from the oven, allow to cool and gently remove the apple cake from the pan.
• Dust the cake all over with confectioner sugar and serve at room temperature.

APPLE ALMOND PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Press 1 pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan.
• Toss apples, almonds, white sugar, brown sugar, and flour together in a bowl until apples and almonds are completely coated.
• Mix honey, egg yolk, water, and almond extract together in a microwave-safe dish.
• Microwave honey mixture, stirring every 15 seconds, until mixture is melted and smooth, 30 to 45 seconds. Pour honey mixture over apple mixture and toss to coat. Transfer apple mixture to the prepared pie crust; sprinkle filling with cinnamon. Top pie with the remaining pie crust and pinch edges together to seal.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, 45 to 50 minutes.

MASCARPONE APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Combine all crust ingredients and press on bottom and sides of greased 9-inch pie plate.
• Bake crust 10 minutes at 350 degrees, and cool on rack.
• For filling, melt 2 T butter over medium heat in large skillet; stir in brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
• Stir in apples and cook uncovered over medium heat for 25 minutes (or until apples are very tender), stirring occasionally.
• When finished cooking apple mixture, cool 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat cheese, sugar, and amaretto with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds, until light and fluffy.
• In separate bowl beat whipping cream until soft peaks form, and beat into cheese mixture on low speed until combined.
• Alternate layers of apple and cheese mixtures in crust, making four layers and ending with the cheese mixture.
• Cover loosely and chill at least 4 hours/up to 24 hours.

ITALIAN APPLE-MASCARPONE PIE WITH ALMOND TOPPING

Steps:

• CRUST:.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut in the butter and shortening. Drizzle the water and vinegar into the flour mixture and combine with hands until a dough is formed. Divide dough in half and shape into a flat disc. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. When ready to bake, roll out one dough and line 9" pie plate. For this particular pie, Line with foil and add pie weights. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven; remove foil and weights. Reduce oven temperature to 375 and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
• APPLE-MASCARPONE FILLING:.
• Peel, core, and slice apples. Place apples in large bowl and drizzle lemon juice over apples. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, stir the apples, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon. Cook until apples are just slightly soft and juices have thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and almond extract. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the egg, cream, and mascarpone. Mix until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
• ALMOND TOPPING:.
• In a medium bowl, combine the marzipan, flour, and butter. Add almonds; combine until topping is crumbly. Set aside.
• TO BAKE PIE:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spoon apples into partially baked pie crust- lined pie plate. Pour mascarpone cream filling over apples. Tent loosely and bake for 25-30 minutes until filling is almost set. Remove from oven and sprinkle marzipan topping. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, until topping is lightly browned. Let sit for 3-4 hours before slicing.

AUNT CAROL'S APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Peel and slice apples. Toss with sugars, cinnamon and flour. Set aside.
• Roll crust to make slightly larger to fit 10-inch glass pie pan. Fit bottom crust in pie pan. Turn in apple mixture and dot with butter. Put crust on top and crimp edges of crust together.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Wet hands with water and dampen top of pie. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Puncture top of pie with fork so the steam can escape.
• Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking for about 45 minutes more, until crust is golden brown. It's a good practice to place a piece of aluminum foil slightly larger than the pie under the pie plate to catch overflows. Serve warm.

APPLE & ALMOND CRUMBLE PIE

Steps:

• First, make the crumble. Tip the flour, ground almonds, sugar and a pinch of salt into a bowl, then rub in the butter with your fingers until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the flaked almonds and chill until needed. Can be prepared up to two days ahead and chilled.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a baking tray inside. Peel, core quarter and slice the apples, then tip into a bowl with the sugar, mixed spice and flour. Toss well and set aside. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface until it's large enough to line a 20-22cm pie dish. Line the dish with the pastry, then trim and crimp the edge. Alternatively, re-roll the pastry trimmings into an 80cm-long strip, then cut into three thin, long strips, and arrange into a 1cm-wide plait. Arrange the plait around the edge of the dish, and brush with some beaten egg.
• Spoon the apples into the base, then scatter over the crumble. Bake on the hot tray for 35-40 mins until the topping is toasted and the pastry is deep golden. Leave to stand for 10 mins, then serve warm with cream, custard or ice cream.