Seasonal Classic: Apple Pie

Who could resist a slice of delicious apple pie, especially in autumn? Every country has its own traditional recipes for this seasonal classic. Why not try baking it like the French or Americans do and fill your home with apple pie’s warm, inviting aroma?

Normandy Apple Tart (Tarte Normande)

Photo: Pexels. Normandy Apple Tart (Tarte Normande)

• 1 sheet of ready-made puff pastry (25 cm)
• — 3 or 4 apples, depending on size
• — 3 eggs
• — 50 g powdered sugar
• — 50 g almond flour
• — 30 g all-purpose flour
• — 20 ml heavy cream
• — 1 packet of vanilla sugar
• — 1 tablespoon of Calvados (apple brandy)
• — Flaked almonds
• — Extra butter for greasing the pie dish

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Lay the puff pastry into a buttered pie dish, prick it with a fork, and place it in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Arrange them on the chilled puff pastry.

In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs with powdered and vanilla sugar until the mixture turns pale yellow. Add the sifted flour, heavy cream, almond flour, and a tablespoon of Calvados, then mix until smooth.

Pour the mixture over the apples, sprinkle with flaked almonds, and bake in the oven for around 30 minutes at 180°C.

Serve the tart warm – it’s even more delightful that way!

Tarte Tatin – the French classic upside-down pie

Photo: iStock. Tarte tatin- french traditional apple pie

Dough:

• 250 g flour
• 100 g butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• A pinch of salt

Caramel:

• 100 g sugar
• 40 g butter
• 2 tbsp water

Filling:

• 1.2 kg apples
• 30 g butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Tarte Tatin is one of the most popular French desserts. This upside-down pie is quick to make, and you can use a variety of fruits like apples, pears, peaches, or plums for the filling.

First, rub the flour with the butter until crumbly, then add sugar and the egg to form a dough. Chill for 30 minutes.

Peel and slice the apples. For the caramel, melt butter in a pan, add water and sugar, and stir continuously until dissolved. Once the sugar dissolves, increase the heat and stop stirring, letting the caramel darken. Pour the caramel into a silicone mold, sprinkle raisins (optional), and layer the apple slices on top.

Roll out the dough and place it over the apples, tucking the edges around the fruit. Bake in a preheated oven for around 40 minutes until golden brown. Serve with ice cream or cream for a true French treat.

American Apple Pie

Photo: Pexel, American apple pie

• 400 g all-purpose flour
• 5 apples
• 190 g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 225 g butter
• 5 g ground cinnamon
• 5 g ground nutmeg

Cream the room-temperature butter and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add one egg and mix well. Add flour gradually and mix until the dough comes together. Divide into two balls, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Roll out one part of the dough on a floured surface and place it into a pie dish. Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces, sprinkling them with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Mix the sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Toss this mixture with the apples until well-coated, then pour into the pie shell.

Roll out the remaining dough and cut into strips about 0.5 cm wide. Arrange them over the apples in a lattice pattern, pinching the edges to seal.

Brush the top with egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden, about 45 minutes to an hour.