fbpx
Search
Close this search box.

THE Apple Pie

When I say this is THE Apple Pie, I mean it is seriously THE APPLE PIE.  I may or may not have totally hijacked this recipe from my mother-in-law who’s known across states and decades for her apple pie.

One of my fave traditions is our “Apply Harvest Day” at Brecknock Farms. Our family makes the day of it, doing the fun activities there with the kids.

We then go home and I bake them one of my homemade apple pies which we slice up and enjoy as we read “The Apple Pie That Papa Baked” by Laura Thompson.

While I try to adhere to making and sharing healthy recipes, there’s still yet room for enjoying the sweet traditions in life and, as I’ve done with this recipe, there are most always ways to make it healthier WITHOUT compromising on flavor.  The way I see it, if you’re going to properly and appropriately fill your “pie hole,” it might as well and better be upgraded and worth every second.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

THE Apple Pie

Print Recipe
Our family's favorite apple pie recipe, handed down on my husband's side.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple Pie, Dessert, Family Recipe, Homemade, Pie
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 8 Slices
Author Coach LT

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 7-9 Golden Delicious Apples quantity depends on size
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon Scant/not packed
  • ¾-1 cup Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar
  • ¼-⅓ cup Organic Unbleached All-Purpose Flour or Whole Wheat Flour See notes!

For the Filling

  • 2 cups Organic Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • ¾ cup Organic Coconut Oil Preferably "virgin." This needs to be in a firm state NOT MELTED and runny!
  • ¼ cup Ice Cold Water If using whole wheat flour, add 2 tbsp of water or more, if needed to achieve desired consistency
  • 1-2 tbsp Turbinado Sugar to garnish optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F

For the Filling

  • Slice apples and place in a large mixing bowl or gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Mix remaining filling ingredients in a bowl on the side until combined. Pour over pears and toss to coat.

For the Crust

  • Mix flour and salt to combine. Add coconut oil and mix in with your fingers or a pastry blade until crumbly. Flour should have little pea-sized balls. DO NOT OVERWORK IT! Those little balls of oil that aren’t so thoroughly mixed in are what is going to make the crust flaky.
  • Add water and just mix to combine. Check your mix by pressing some together in your hand. If it just crumbles, add more water, a tablespoon at a time. If it sticks together, you’re good to go.
  • Divide mix into two parts to form top & bottom crust. Place first half on a silicon mat or a large sheet of wax paper. Use your hands to gently press it into a large, flattened round. (This will make it easier to get started with your rolling.) Place another sheet of wax paper or a large piece of Saran on top of your dough.
  • Using a rolling pin, roll your crust out, working from the center and rotating your pin as needed to make a large, thin, even crust.
  • Remove wax paper from the top and carefully lift the crust with the wax paper on the bottom.
  • Gently flip your crust into your pie pan, centering as best as you can. Don’t worry if you get a tear. You can easily mend this with your fingers. Also, don’t worry if you have extra hanging over the edge. This is easily cleaned up after the top crust is added and you are pinching it shut.
  • Repeat process for top crust.

Assembly & Baking

  • Pour filling into bottom crust. Use your hands or a spoon to softly move the fruit around so you don’t have and pointed ends sticking up. I like to cup my hands over it and gently press it in. Carefully transfer the top crust over the pie. Gently press it down around the fruit and pinch the edges of the top and bottom together to seal the pie and form a nice crust. Don’t worry if its not “perfect.”
  • Cover the edge with a pie crust cover/ring or make your own with aluminum foil. To do this, take a sheet of foil large enough to cover the pie and fold it into quarters. About two inches in, make a rounded cut from one side to the other. Open your foil, place it over your pie and press it into the pie pan to keep it in place. Don’t squish your crust!
  • Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with turbinado sugar just to garnish and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Allow to cool at least 45-60 minutes before serving. The longer the cool time, the better the pie. If you can make it the day before and let it spend the night in the fridge, that’s perfect.
  • DO NOT cover while it’s warm! This can make it sweat and ruin the crust. We don’t even cover these to refrigerate. Trust us. It’s just better that way.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*For the flour, you may sub for many alternatives. Adjust for moisture content. This just helps to absorb some of the moisture from the apples but you don’t want so much that you end up with a dry pie. So, whatever the flour you use, cap it at 1/3 cup.
**MAKE SURE YOU’RE NOT MAKING THIS IN A HOT KITCHEN AS COULD MELT THE COCONUT OIL, TURNING IT INTO A LIQUID THAT MAKES FOR A LESS IDEAL CRUST. The small beads of coconut oil in the crust are what give it that incredible texture!

Leave a Reply

End the Snack-o-tage with these strategies to stop the grazing.

Make your friends green with envy when they see your youthful glow and energy.

Delicious, healthy pancakes made in a blender. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, flour-free and without added sugar.

My kind of nibbles'n'bits - a great way to satisfy cravings while sticking to the plan.

Elevate your holiday plate with healthy, guilt-free, wholesome AND delicious holiday swaps that allow you to savor the seasons.

Forget what you heard. Healthy weight-cut food can also be dang delicious!

Some days, the best recipe for the day itself is to press pause on the world and curl up in the cozy clothes and enjoy something warm and deeply nourishing.

Scrumptious, healthy, nutrient-rich pancakes perfect for fuel pre-workout, post-workout recovery or simply just because.

Discover more from Defiance

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading