Fried Apple Pies

Watch how to make this recipe.

Pie Dough:

Whisk the flour with the salt and sugar in a large bowl. Toss half the butter and lard in the flour to coat, then use a pastry blender or knives or your fingers to cut in the fats until pea sized or a bit smaller. Toss the rest of the butter and lard into the mixture, then cut in again until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some larger chunks of fat throughout.

Use your finger to draw a trench down the center of the mixture, and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of the water down the trench and around the outside of the flour. Toss the flour with the water using your fingers or a rubber spatula. Repeat until the dough comes together in shaggy chunks. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and use the heel of your hand to smear pieces of dough away from you. Gather the dough together with a pastry scraper and press into a large disk. Wrap tightly and refrigerate a few hours before using.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough just slightly thicker than 1/8-inch. Cut out 5-inch circles, place on parchment on a baking sheet, and chill while you prepare the filling.

Apple Filling:

Melt the butter in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the Calvados and cook for 1 minute.

Add the apples and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon juice, cinnamon and ginger and cook until the apples are caramelized and just cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Scrape into a shallow bowl or onto a baking sheet and let cool to room temperature.

Assembly:

Place 1 of the dough circles on a flat surface and place a few tablespoons of the apple filling onto one half of each circle of dough. Brush a little cold water around the circumference of the dough and fold it in half so the other side comes down over the apple filling. Seal the pie and make a decorative edge by pressing the edges of the dough together with the back of a fork. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to chill for 30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan until it reaches 360 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fry the pies, 2 at a time until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Let drain for 10 seconds then toss with the cinnamon sugar. Serve.