Baked apple pie is all about the freshness and tartness of the apples. I served mine baked in a flaky pastry shell with a side of ice cream.
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.
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.
Baked Apple Pie
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
Method
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.
What I blogged May 9:
- three years ago – Roasted Butternut Soup
- four years ago – Pink Champagne Jelly
- five years ago – Mint Chicken Tagine
Aww Tandy – what a sweet gesture to take that The traffic officer a slice of this decadent apple pie the next time you make some – he is gonna love it for sure!
I am sure he will 🙂
Oh wow this is stunning. I’ve never had an apple pie with a custard filling like that before, but it looks absolutely divine.
It is!
I am sure he would appreciate this pie for sure, it looks so good. Montreal pedestrians are famous for walking anywhere on a street. Cars usually stop, usually lol.
We have the same problem here with pedestrians using the road instead of the sidewalk!
Cannot beat home made apple pie!
I agree!
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.
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!
this looks very delicious Tandy. it is apple harvest time here so there are lots of crisp apples around. nothing better!
I agree, if they are crisp, then there is nothing better 🙂
Make him a whole pie. He deserves it. Great and uplifting story, as well as a great recipe
Thanks Paula 🙂
He deserves the whole pie!! Yummo!
Yummo indeed 🙂
So sweet that you’re making this for the nice crossing guard. How thoughtful! It looks delicious. Apples desserts tops my list for favorite snack. I’m sure he’s taste buds will soar.
I ascribe to the apple a day theory, in any form 😉
Apple with cranberries, sounds yum! What a lovely gesture of you. Hope he love it!
It is yum 🙂
What a nice idea to bring him a slice! And in Australia people usually stop but I always have to check when I go overseas because not every city/country is like this.
Italy is the best – 5 lanes of traffic screech to a halt just as you get in front of them 🙂
What a sweet gentleman… I am sure he will love a slice of this delicious looking apple pie!
He is really sweet 🙂
Oh wow this looks off the hook delicious!!!!! I would love to eat pie for lunch, ha ha ha! I can do what I want. I am an adult 😉
I love eating dessert for lunch as well 🙂
It looks so tempting, so delicious. I am seeing myself eating a warm slice of it with a scoop of ice cream on top. 😉
It is delicious 🙂
Love the dried cranberry, never thought to do that with my apple pie. Yummy Tandy! 🙂
Thanks Anna 🙂
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
I think the hot custard will go down a treat!
The weather has finally become cooler in Brisbane. Perfect recipe to welcome a slow coming Autumn and soon to be winter!
It is perfect for this time of year 🙂
Aww, what a wonderful story of kindness!! He totally deserves a slice of pie. 🙂
He does indeed!
love a good apple pie! gotta have it with that ice cream!
For sure!
Hi Tandy, love apple pie, so cool that you live so close to the apple region. Lovely looking pie.
It is amazing where we live – so many orchards and vineyards surround us 🙂
That pie looks amazing. I wish I lived in a smaller town for when he goes to school ? I need to make this pie soon!
Living in a small town has a lot of bonuses Krysten 🙂
This apple pie looks and sounds so delicious and dreamy, Tandy. It would be awesome for brunch! 🙂
It is very delicious Anu 🙂
Sounds like a great guy. And I know he will appreciate this amazing looking pie!
Thanks Eileen 🙂