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Super Apple Pie

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2008

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Apple of My Pie

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (84)

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Times:

Prep
1 hr 0 min
Inactive Prep
6 hr 0 min
Cook
45 min
Total:
7 hr 45 min
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Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 6 ounces unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 ounces vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 5 to 7 tablespoons applejack
  • 12 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 2 3/4 cups, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

For the filling:

  • 3 to 3 1/2 pounds apples, mixture of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn and Golden Delicious, about 6 large apples
  • 1/2 cup sugar, divided
  • 3 tablespoons tapioca flour
  • 2 tablespoons apple jelly
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Directions

For the crust:

Place the butter, shortening and applejack into the refrigerator for 1 hour.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add the butter and pulse 5 to 6 times until the texture looks mealy. Add the shortening and pulse another 3 to 4 times until incorporated.

Remove the lid of the food processor and sprinkle in 5 tablespoons of the applejack. Replace the lid and pulse 5 times. Add more applejack as needed, and pulse again until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Weigh the dough and divide in half. Shape each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

For the filling:

Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4 cup of the sugar, place in a colander set over a large bowl and allow to drain for 1 1/2 hours.

Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan, place over medium heat and reduce to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool. Toss the apples with the remaining sugar, tapioca flour, jelly, cider, lime juice, salt and grains of paradise.

For assembling and baking the pie:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator. Place the dough onto a lightly floured piece of waxed paper. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour and roll out into a 12-inch circle. Place into a 9 1/2 to 10-inch tart pan that is 2-inches deep. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan, crimping and trimming the edges as necessary. Set a pie bird in the center of the bottom of the pan.

Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl. Roll out the second pie dough as the first. Place this dough over the apples, pressing the pie bird through the top crust. Press together the edges of the dough around the rim of the pie. Brush the top crust with the reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie. Trim any excess dough. Place the pie on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake on the floor of the oven for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack of the oven and continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the apples are cooked through but not mushy. Remove to a rack and cool a minimum of 4 hours or until almost room temperature.

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Read more Comments & Reviews (84)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Kathleen Vancouver, WA 11-08-2009

    Flag

    Grandma's Apple Pie is Gone - Super Apple Pie Reigns Supreme

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I was intimidated by this apple pie recipe as there were so many steps but each one is worth the powerhouse of flavor they... deliver. My guests couldn't believe the depth of taste with this pie using only grains of paradise as a spice. Crust was incredibly flakey. Flavor layering was the key that made just the greatness of the great local Pacific Northwest apples shine through. This is a keeper and I'll never make grandma's apple pie again - I'm too addicted to the compliments!Read more
  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Cetta Horsham, PA 11-05-2009

    Flag

    Help, please.

    Rated: 3 stars out of 5
    I do not know what grains of paradise is. Is it a seasoning? What does it taste like. I am used to cinnamon in apple pie. ... Can it be added to this recipe? CAS from PARead more
  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Mary Sandpoint, ID 10-27-2009

    Flag

    Worth the fifth of AppleJack

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    This was by far the best apple pie I have ever had. It was well worth buying an entire fifth of AppleJack.
  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Cheryl Canton, GA 10-23-2009

    Flag

    "Level" is Expert for the crust!

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    I've a bone to pick with Alton over the crust in this recipe. It is a pate briisee and he should have warned that this is a... particularly difficult crust to roll out. I saw Julia Child work with this crust and she was so practical! You flour the top and bottom of the disc and roll out about an inch. Re-flour and turn the disc over and repeat the same procedure. Works like a charm! If you do not do this, you will end up with dough stuck to the waxed paper or parchment paper and "patching" crust, as several commenters have already mentioned. Aside from this, the pie is excellent and I liked it immensely! I did substitute apply brandy, which I had on hand, instead of applejack. The Grains of Paradise are essential and I used 1/2 teaspoon of them finely ground, but I may go to one full Teaspoon next time. One caveat: If your family is used to apple pie made with cinnamon, they may not enjoy this pie as much as others you have made. I thought it was fantastic without it and I particularly enjoyed the apples having a hint of a bite instead of being mushy. I used 4 Granny Smith and 4 Braeburn apples but could have used two more! The apples do settle! I also baked the pie on the lowest shelf of my electric oven for the entire time, as you cannot put it on the floor of an electric oven because of the heating element. This recipe is definitely worth the trouble!Read more
  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Teri Sammamish, WA 10-18-2009

    Flag

    WOW!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Thanks Alton! My family loves pies and I am not a big fan so do not make them often. I had a surplus of Honeycrunch and... Spiztenburg Apples from our organic coop and so I agreed to make a pie. They LOVED this pie, packed with flavor, great crust with an amazing filling (perfect firmness of apples and no real excess liquid). We had a friend over for dessert and he also said it was the best apple pie he has ever had and cannot wait for me to make another one (ha ha). Although this pie does require some special (and not so inexpensive) ingredients and a bit more time than most, it is worth it. The only addition I had was to add some Demerara Sugar to the top immediately after pulling from the oven, I will definitely make this pie again and for special events too. It is a WINNER!Read more
  • recipe Super Apple Pie
    Gina Crownsville, MD 10-12-2009

    Flag

    Excellent Eats!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    The best pie ever. I make it for my dad for Father's Day, my husband for his birthday...any special occasion. We love it. ... Thanks, Alton!Read more
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