Perfect Recipe For Baked Apple Pie

~ Tandy
Head straight on to the recipe for Baked Apple Pie ♥

The Elgin Valley, a short drive from where we live, is known as the place in South Africa “where the apples come from”. This region is one of the most intensively farmed districts in the country and produces 60% of the national apple crop. The varieties are endless and in season, nothing beats the crunch of a fresh apple.

Baked Apple Pie
Apple Pie

We live 4 houses from the local primary school and in order to get across the main road, there is a pedestrian crossing. In the mornings and afternoons the crossing is ‘manned’ by the sweetest gentleman. People hoot as they go past to say hello and he always has a friendly wave and smile for the drivers. He is there every school day regardless of the weather. Sadly, this pedestrian crossing is not acknowledged by all drivers and so his job is vital. Over the weekends when I walk to the shops I can stand for 5 minutes while cars stream past, not thinking to stop. This is so odd as in Europe you just walk onto the pedestrian crossings and the cars stop for you. It does of course take a bit of getting used to. The other morning I was late for work, and at 7am the traffic out of the side road onto the main road is a nightmare. The traffic officer kindly stopped the cars for me, making sure I could get into the road without too much frustration. He knew I was late, even joking about it by pointing to his watch. One weekday afternoon when I was walking to get groceries he told me how that very morning he and a child had nearly been run over by a car who failed to notice the stop sign he holds out, or the torch light he uses to light the way for the children. In his usual manner he smiled after telling me the story, and walked with me to the crossing to help me safely across the road. I have been so touched by this simple act of kindness that next time I think to make a baked apple pie I will have to take him a slice as thanks.

A Slice Of Baked Apple Pie
A Slice Of Apple Pie

Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Baked Apple Pie

Baked apple pie is all the goodness our local produce has to offer
Author: adapted from Cape Winelands Cuisine

Ingredients

for the pastry

  • 1 portion flaky pastry
  • 1 egg beaten for egg wash

for the pie

  • 30 mls honey liqueur
  • 400 g Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and diced
  • 110 g fructose
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon quill
  • 3 cardamom pods crushed
  • 30 g butter
  • 25 g dried cranberries
  • 80 g slivered almonds
  • 3 eggs separated
  • Cinnamon sugar

Instructions

for the pastry

  • Grease and line a flan tin
  • Roll out the pastry to 4mm thick and line your tin
  • Place into the fridge to rest
  • Preheat the oven to 180° Celsius
  • Dock the bottom of the pastry, line with baking paper and place your baking beans into the tin
  • Place your tin onto a baking sheet and into the oven and bake blind for 15 minutes
  • Remove the baking beans and paper, and bake for a further 5 minutes
  • Remove from the oven and brush the pastry with the egg wash, set aside to cool

for the pie

  • Place the liqueur into a small sauce pan that has a lid
  • Add the apples, fructose, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom
  • Place onto a medium temperature and stir until the fructose dissolves
  • Place the lid onto the sauce pan and cook until the apple are soft
  • Remove from the heat and remove the star anise, cinnamon and cardamom
  • Add the butter, cranberries and almonds
  • Stir until the butter has melted and set aside to cool completely
  • Add the egg yolks and mix until combined
  • Place the egg whites into a mixing bowl and whisk to still peaks
  • Fold into the apples and carefully pour the mixture into your pastry shell
  • Bake for 25 minutes
  • Remove from the oven and dust the top with cinnamon sugar
  • Leave to cool before removing from the tin

 

Click on the links for conversions and notes.

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Published by Tandy

I am passionate about using regional, seasonable and sustainable produce when I cook. I live in Gordons Bay with my husband and dogs. Dave and I are busy building a house which is an adventure all in itself. Each year we visit a new place overseas to experience the food of the area. Follow along on our adventures!

47 thoughts on “Perfect Recipe For Baked Apple Pie”

  2. Oh wow this is stunning. I’ve never had an apple pie with a custard filling like that before, but it looks absolutely divine.

    Reply

  5. Anthony loves apple pie in all forms though I think it’s a little overrated. Having said that, I like the idea of a pie with apples and custard/batter filling. As to the school zone, we live in one too and have similar problems with drivers that just don’t seem capable of obeying the rules.

    Reply

    1. This morning a parent was part of the traffic problem, stopping at the stop street to let the kids out of the car instead of driving to the drop off zone!

      Reply

  16. This pie sounds great. Never seen one with cranberries in it as well as a custard layer (still need lots of hot custard on top. mind LOL). I need to try this

    Reply


  17. The weather has finally become cooler in Brisbane. Perfect recipe to welcome a slow coming Autumn and soon to be winter!

    Reply
  24. Pingback: La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa - Lavender and Lime

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