4.8 from 162 votes
My Favorite (British) Apple Pie
My Favorite (British) Apple Pie combines a tender, buttery crust with a filling of Granny Smith apples gently cooked until just tender but still holding shape. The mild cooking of the apples in lemon juice and sugar balances tartness and sweetness for a classic pie experience. The crust is covered with an egg wash glaze, which turns golden and slightly crisp in the oven. This pie is often served with thick cream or custard, making it a comforting dessert that showcases apples in a simple, understated manner. The lightly sugared filling allows the fruit's natural flavor to shine through.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings:
1
pie
Calories:
4230 kcal
Course:
Cake
Cuisine:
British
Ingredients
CRUST:
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 oz butter (cold, unsalted)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 4 cups flour
FILLING:
- 5 large apple peeled, cored, and sliced into about 12 pieces each (organic, Granny Smith variety
- lemon juice juice of half a fresh lemon
- 3 Tbsp sugar (more or less to taste)
GLAZE:
- 1 egg slightly beaten with 1 tsp. of water, to brush the pie crust, white
TO SERVE:
- thick cream or custard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F (200º C).
- Place all the ingredients for the filling in a pot over medium-low heat. Cook gently, turning the apples by tossing them in the pot every few minutes. Cook until the apples are just starting to become softened, but are still firm and hold their shape. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Put the flour, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse a few times. Add a little ice water and pulse again until the mixture starts to come together. The pastry is ready; roll out and place into pie dish.
- With a knife, trim the pastry all along the pie dish, using the edge as a guide, then fill it with the apples.
- Roll out the remaining piece of pastry; wet the edge with your finger dipped in a bowl of ice water, until the entire perimeter is wet, then place the pastry on top of the pie. Trim the pastry, using the dish as a guide.
- Crimp the edges any way you like and then cut a hole in the center of the pie, about 1″ long.
- Brush the entire crust with the beaten egg white, which will ensure a lovely golden color.
- Bake in 400º F (200º C) oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the crust is a golden brown color. Ovens vary significantly, but I place my pies on the lower rack for about 20 minutes, then move it to the center rack so that the bottom crust cooks well, however adjust your placement and baking time according to your own oven.
- When ready, remove from the oven and immediately dust with Baker’s (extrafine) sugar (caster sugar in the UK) and let cool slightly before serving.
- Our cream in the US is very runny, so to mimic double cream in the UK, I slightly beat the cream until it starts to thicken, then pour it over a slice of pie in a bowl.
- Alternately, a homemade custard or Bird’s custard is lovely when served over this delicious apple pie: quintessentially British!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Adjust the sugar in the filling to taste or omit for a less sweet version.
- Serve the pie warm with thick cream or custard for a traditional accompaniment.
- The custard or cream serving is not counted in the nutrition facts of the pie.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1 pie
Calories
4230kcal
(212%)
Carbohydrates
584g
(195%)
Protein
60g
(120%)
Fat
191g
(294%)
Saturated Fat
118g
(590%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
10g
(59%)
Monounsaturated Fat
48g
(240%)
Trans Fat
7g
(350%)
Cholesterol
488mg
(163%)
Sodium
1264mg
(53%)
Potassium
1845mg
(39%)
Fiber
40g
(160%)
Sugar
166g
(332%)
Vitamin A
6280IU
(126%)
Vitamin C
54mg
(60%)
Calcium
200mg
(20%)
Iron
25mg
(139%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 pie
Amount Per Serving
Calories 4230
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 pie | |
| Calories | 4230kcal | 212% |
| Carbohydrates | 584g | 195% |
| Protein | 60g | 120% |
| Fat | 191g | 294% |
| Saturated Fat | 118g | 590% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10g | 59% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 48g | 240% |
| Trans Fat | 7g | 350% |
| Cholesterol | 488mg | 163% |
| Sodium | 1264mg | 53% |
| Potassium | 1845mg | 39% |
| Fiber | 40g | 160% |
| Sugar | 166g | 332% |
| Vitamin A | 6280IU | 126% |
| Vitamin C | 54mg | 60% |
| Calcium | 200mg | 20% |
| Iron | 25mg | 139% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.