A deep dish dessert of pure comfort. Serve warm with lashings of cream. This recipe uses the KitchenAid Platinum ExactSlice Food Processor.
Pastry
Ingredients
2 cups (300g) self-raising flour
1 1/2 cups (235) plain flour
375g cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup (80g) castor sugar
1 egg yolk
Method
For best results use the KitchenAid Platinum ExactSlice Food Processor
Attach the all-purpose blade to the work bowl (large) of the Food Processor
Add the flours and the sugar, cover and pulse for 10 seconds. Add the chilled butter 2-3 cubes at a time through the small feed tube and process until the butter is chopped through the flours
Add the sugar and egg yolk and process until pastry forms a ball
Remove from the bowl. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate to rest while preparing the filling
Tips & Hints
Always allow the pastry to rest before rolling. Using a spring form cake pan as an apple pie dish gives a good high side and makes for easy slicing and serving
Filling
Ingredients
2kg granny smith apples, peeled and quartered
30g butter
1/2 cup (75g) brown sugar
1/2 cup (110g) white sugar
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
Good pinch of ground cinnamon & cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons cornflour
150ml orange juice
1 tablespoon castor sugar (extra)
Method
For best results use the KitchenAid® Food Processor.
Attach the thick slicing blade to the chef's bowl (medium) of the Food Processor.
Add the apple quarters and slice through the wide food tube.
Melt the butter in a large deep frying pan. Add the apples and cook for 3-4 minutes over a medium heat, stirring regularly.
Sprinkle the brown and white sugars, orange rind and spices over the apples. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the apples are just tender.
Combine the cornflour and a little of the orange juice to make a smooth paste, then stir in the remaining orange juice. Add to the apples and bring to the boil, stirring until the sauce thickens. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced). Lightly grease a 23cm round, spring form cake pan.
Using about two thirds of the pastry, roll out as thinly as possible and line the base and sides of the cake pan. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beans.
Bake for 15 minutes then remove the beans and paper and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool and then add the apple filling.
Roll out the remaining pastry to a large circle and place over the filling.
Trim off the overhang and reserve to make decorations such as leaves.
Seal the edges together and make two small cuts in the pastry to allow the steam to escape.
Sprinkle with the extra castor sugar. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the pie stand for 30 minutes before removing from the pan.
Tips & Hints
Extra castor sugar can be sprinkled over the pie before serving if desired.