Slab Apple Pie With Lattice Crust Recipes

THE BEST PIE DOUGH FOR A LATTICE CRUST

Steps:

• Pulse the flour, shortening, sugar, salt and 4 tablespoons of the butter in a food processor until the mixture is the consistency of a fine meal. Add the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and pulse to pea-size pieces. Sprinkle the vodka and water over the mixture and pulse until the dough just comes together.
• Divide the dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap, and gently pat each portion into a round. Wrap each round tightly and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour and up to overnight. The dough can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 3 months.

LATTICE CRUST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• To make the dough by hand: Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• To make the dough in a food processor: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry, add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Put the lemon juice in a medium bowl. Peel, halve and core the apples. Cut each half into 4 wedges. Toss the apple with the lemon juice. Add the sugar and toss to combine evenly.
• Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer, about 2 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the apples soften and release most of their juices, about 7 minutes.
• Strain the apples in a colander over a medium bowl to catch all the juice. Shake the colander to get as much liquid as possible. Return the juices to the skillet, and simmer over medium heat until thickened and lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• Toss the apples with the reduced juice and spices in a medium bowl. Set aside to cool completely. (This filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated or frozen for up to 6 months.)
• To assemble the pie: Cut the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a disc 11 to 12 inches wide. Layer the dough between pieces of parchment or wax paper on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
• Place a baking sheet on a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan with one of the discs of dough, and trim it so it lays about 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pan. Add the apple filling to the pan.
• Use a chef's knife or a pizza cutter and cut the second round into 1/2-inch thick strips. Lay strips of dough, evenly spaced, across the entire pie. Weave more strips of dough perpendicular through the previous strips to make a lattice or basket weave design across the entire pie. Trim the excess ends from the strips of dough. Pinch the bottom crust edge and lattice edge together, and flute the edge as desired. Brush the surface of the dough with egg and then sprinkle with sugar. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Bake the pie on the preheated baking sheet until the crust is golden, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool on a rack for at least 3 hours before serving. The pie keeps well at room temperature (covered) for 24 hours, or refrigerated for up to 4 days.

APPLE SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Leave the pie crusts out to come to room temperature per the directions on the box. Place two of the pie crusts on top of each other on a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll it out to a rough rectangle that is 18x12 inches.
• Using a 10x15x1-inch jelly roll pan, place the crust in the pan, forming it in the pan with the excess crust overlapping the sides. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, add the sliced apples, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• Stir together until fully combined.
• Spoon the apples evenly onto the crust.
• Again, roll out the last two pie crusts into an 18x12 rectangle. Place them on top of the pan.
• Tuck the top crust under the bottom and crimp the edges. Cut slits in the top crust so air can escape.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, tenting with foil after the first 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown. If you think it needs more browning after 35 minutes, take the foil off and watch closely until your desired color is reached.
• Place on a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.
• While the pie is cooling, place the milk in a small saucepan and place it on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally, at the very first sign of any bubbling, take it off the what, and whisk in the butter. Let it cool to room temperature and then whisk in the powdered sugar.
• After the pie has cooled for 1 hour, brush it all over with the glaze with a pastry brush. Wait 30 minutes, brush another layer of glaze on. Let cool for 30 more minutes, slice and serve.

LATTICE-TOPPED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, water, tapioca, cinnamon and nutmeg; toss to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes., In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half, making one half slightly larger. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger portion of pastry to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to plate; trim even with edge of plate. Add filling; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry; make a lattice crust. , Trim, seal and flute edges. Brush with milk; sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges loosely with foil., Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 40-50 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

LATTICED APPLE SLAB PIE BARS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, mix flour, 2 tablespoons sugar and the salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mixture in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle with ice-cold water, 2 tablespoons at a time, stirring with fork until dough just comes together. Divide dough in half. Cover; refrigerate 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Roll out half of dough to 15x10-inch rectangle; place in pan. Sprinkle with cereal. In large bowl, mix apples, 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Arrange apples evenly over cereal.
• To make lattice top, roll out remaining half of dough to 15x12-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise into 3/4-inchwide strips. Arrange strips diagonally in lattice design over filling. Trim and seal edges. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake 40 to 45 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Cool completely in pan, about 2 hours. Cut into 5 rows by 3 rows. Store loosely covered.

CRANBERRY APPLE SHEET PIE

Steps:

• Divide dough into 2 portions so that 1 is slightly larger than the other; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., Roll out larger portion of dough between 2 pieces of waxed paper into a 18x13-in. rectangle. Remove top sheet of waxed paper; place a 15x10x1-in. baking pan upside down over crust. Lifting with waxed paper, carefully invert crust into pan. Remove waxed paper; press crust onto bottom and up sides of pan. Allow to chill while preparing filling. , In a Dutch oven, mix sugar and flour; stir in apples, cranberries, orange zest and spices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10-12 minutes or until apples are tender and juices are thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in raspberries. Set aside to cool completely. , Preheat oven to 375°. Add filling to prepared crust., On a well-floured surface, roll remaining dough into a 1/8-in.-thick rectangle; cut into 1-1/2-in.-wide strips. Arrange strips over filling, sealing ends to bottom crust. If desired, brush crust with egg wash; sprinkle with additional sugar or coarse sugar., Bake on lowest oven rack 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, serve with whipped cream.