Mile High Apple Pie, aka deep dish apple pie can be such a disappointment. Sure, there are tons of apples in the pie, but the only thing that is “Mile High” is the crust, with the cooked apples typically 1-1 1/2″ below the cooked crust. And with all those apples in there, just about guaranteed that the bottom crust is soggy with apple juice. Not to mention my own pet peeve about apple pies, in that I like the apples to be cooked, but still have some firmness to them; not just a pile of apple mush in a crust.
With those problems in mind, I’ve stayed away from making this type of pie…until I was browsing through my old collection of Cook’s Illustrated (before I went digital and subscribed online) and came across this recipe in the Sept/Oct 2005 edition.
Their solution to the domed top crust and soggy bottom crust was to precook the apples, to remove some (just some) of the juice and so the apples would shrink while they precook.
The resulting pie is what a mile high apple pie should be: tons of apples that still have some firmness to them, a crust that is only 1/4-1/2″ above the apples, and a bottom crust that is just as tasty (and flaky) as the top crust.
Mile High Apple Pie, aka Deep Dish Apple Pie
12 1/2oz/355 grams (2 1/2 cups) flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
16 tbsp (2 sticks) butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and frozen for 10 minutes
3 tbsp sour cream
1/3 cup ice water , or more if needed
3 1/2oz/100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar
1 3/4oz/50 grams (1/4 cup) packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 pounds tart apples (firm), about 5 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 1/2 pounds sweet apples (firm), about 5 medium, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 egg white , beaten lightly
- Process flour, salt, and sugar together in food processor until combined, about 3 seconds. Add butter and pulse until butter is size of large peas, about ten 1-second pulses.
- Using fork, mix sour cream and 1/3 cup ice water in small bowl until combined. Add half of sour cream mixture to flour mixture; pulse for three 1-second pulses. Repeat with remaining sour cream mixture. Pinch dough with fingers; if dough is floury, dry, and does not hold together, add 1 to 2 tablespoons ice water and process until dough forms large clumps and no dry flour remains, three to five 1-second pulses.
- Turn dough out onto work surface. Divide dough into 2 balls and flatten each into 4-inch disk; wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until firm but not hard, 1 to 2 hours, before rolling. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let thoroughly chilled dough stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling.)
- For Pie: Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, zest, and cinnamon in large bowl; add apples and toss to combine. Transfer apples to Dutch oven (do not wash bowl) and cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring frequently, until apples are tender when poked with fork but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. (Apples and juices should gently simmer during cooking.) Transfer apples and juices to rimmed baking sheet and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. While apples cool, adjust oven rack to lowest position, place empty rimmed baking sheet on rack, and heat oven to 425 degrees.
- Remove 1 disk of dough from refrigerator and roll out between 2 large sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap to 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. (If dough becomes soft and/or sticky, return to refrigerator until firm.) Remove parchment from one side of dough and flip onto 9-inch pie plate; peel off second layer of parchment. Working around circumference, ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with one hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Leave dough that overhangs plate in place; refrigerate until dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, roll second disk of dough between 2 large sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap to 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate, leaving dough between parchment sheets, until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Set large colander over now-empty bowl; transfer cooled apples to colander. Shake colander to drain off as much juice as possible (cooked apples should measure about 8 cups); discard juice. Transfer apples to dough-lined pie plate; sprinkle with lemon juice.
- Remove parchment from one side of remaining dough and flip dough onto apples; peel off second piece of parchment. Pinch edges of top and bottom dough rounds firmly together. Following illustrations 1 through 4, trim and seal edges of dough, then cut four 2-inch slits in top of dough. Brush surface with beaten egg white and sprinkle evenly with remaining teaspoon sugar.
- Set pie on preheated baking sheet to catch drips and prevent the bottom crust from baking too quickly; bake until crust is dark golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer pie to wire rack and cool at least 1 1/2 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.
Source: Cook’s Illistrated, September 2005
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