Apple Pie Baked in a Bag

Recipe courtesy Gale Gand

Show: Sweet DreamsEpisode: All Wrapped Up

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (29)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(29)

Cook Time:
1 hr 45 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
1 pie or 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 45 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 45 min
Total:: 2 hr 30 min

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Ingredients

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into pieces
1/3 cup ice water

Filling:

5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thickly sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Equipment: 9-inch aluminum pie pan, 1 medium-sized brown paper bag

Directions

Make the Crust: In a food processor combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until pea-sized pieces appear. Add the water and pulse briefly—it will still look crumbly. Transfer the crumbs to 2 pieces of parchment paper or foil and form into 2 disks. Wrap the discs with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

On a work surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out 1 disk to a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Keep rolling until the circle is at least 2 inches larger than your pan. Line the pie pan with the dough, letting the edge hang over a bit. Roll the second disk, place it on a sheet pan and chill it until you're ready to build your pie.

Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, toss the apple slices, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg together. Transfer to the pie shell and dot with the butter. Brush the overhanging edges of the dough with water. Carefully cover with the rolled-out top crust and pinch the edges together, turning them under all around to make a thick edge. To decorate the rim, press it all around with the back of a fork, or just pinch it to seal. With a scissors, cut a few V-vents in the center.

Slide the pie into the brown paper bag and fold the top down. Staple bag shut and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 1 hour.

Remove the pie from the oven and cut a large circle in top of the bag. Return to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 15 minutes more.

Let the pie cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
L.A. McKay West Hartford, CT 10-10-2009
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It's good, but it's not the famous pie seen on TV
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The Throwdown episode featuring the famous brown bag pie from the Elegant Farmer is shown on the Elegant Farmer website. ... They specifically say that their pie uses Ida Red apples, tapioca, and lard. So this isn't quite it, but it's good anyway.Read more
recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
V. Pleasanton, CA 09-19-2009
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The best apple pie gets even better
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is my husband's favorite recipe, and he LOVEs his apple pie. Things I've done to make the recipe more "mine". Recipe... calls for homemade pie crust ? this one is pretty good ? just like my grandmother taught me, but the Pillsbury premade rolled ones work just as well. Things I?ve done differently with the recipe: ? When making two pies and only having one box of crust ? I?ve made the top crust out of 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup butter, as was initially suggested on Paula Dean?s show. It?s REALLY sweet, so I will probably cut back to ? or ? cup next time. ? I?ve added fresh lemon zest to the pie crust, or dehydrated orange peel ? it takes the flavor up a notch. This idea came from Mrs. Field?s cookie cookbook from a couple of years ago. ? I tend to like a slightly thicker filling, so I leave the peels on the apples, and double up on the cornstarch. I enjoy the taste of lemon so I tend to use the juice of 1 or two lemons instead of the measurements, so the extra thickener is welcome. Everyone for whom I?ve made the pie says this is the recipe to keep. Hope you enjoy the recipe, and pass it along to your friends! Read more
recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
lizz wheaton, IL 08-22-2009
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Top crust ???
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

As seen on Bobby's Throw Down, they use lard for the bottom layer & butter for the top layer of crust. One of the farmers... also says "special flour" for the top crust. Could he mean cake flour? Any thoughts on a cake flour sugar cookie dough for the top crust? I'm thinking I'll try this, but wanted to know if anyone has made this attempt yet?Read more
recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
Kristina Santa Fe Springs, CA 12-23-2008
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The absolute BEST Apple Pie ever!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This apple pie was so perfect, my family thought I bought it at a store. Not only that, my dad, who doesn't care for granny... smith apple pies, ate two pieces of it! No one could believe that I just used a brown paper grocery bag to bake the pie in! I'm making this recipie again for Christmas Eve, and for many more family gatherings to come!Read more
recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
Therese Canyon Country, CA 11-24-2008
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Naughty but Nice
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe was easy breezy to follow. My first attempt at baking an apple pie & what a success!! I too was apprehensive to... put a paper bag in my oven, but after reading other reviews I went along with it. My husband describes the pie as "Naughty but Nice" Vanilla ice cream is a MUST as a companion to this pie. I'm looking forward to baking this pie for the holidays & all throughout the year. Thank you Food Network. Read more
recipe Apple Pie Baked in a Bag
christine milwaukee, WI 10-19-2008
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Apple Pie in a Bag
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I Love the Elegant Farmers pies. Living close by a have figured out the toping. I did not use another pie crust, but use 1cup... flour 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of butter, mix together with my hands and crumble on the top of the pie. The last 15-20 minutes I cup the bag open and brown. Dont get much better than this! Yumo.. I also use Gala and Granny Smith apples. Read more