Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Rustic Apple Cider Pie

I had bought some apple cider and one of my sons suggested that I make an apple pie with the apple cider.  He works at a restaurant so he had visions of the apple cider caramelizing with the apples prior to baking.  I thought sounded like a great idea, so I hunted up a recipe to try that out on.    

I loaded the pie up with the apple pie spices too.  I wanted a spicy rich rustic pie to go with the apple cider flavor.   It delivered a really flavorful pie that smelled the house up like a cozy warm fall morning.  I wasn't happy with the crust.  I tried a ready made off brand pie crust.  It wasn't worth it, best to stick with the tried and true crust I mention below.

Ingredients:
For the filling:
3 lbs. Gala apples (about 6-7 medium apples)
2/3 cup apple cider
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground ginger
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2  tablespoons of large sugar crystals
Homemade pie crust as per your recipe or a ready made crust for a double crust pie.  (My favorite ready made pie crust is Pillsbury or the one from IGA.)

In a large pot mix the apples, all but 2 tablespoons of the cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, and salt.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often until the sugar has dissolved and the apples are evenly coated.  Mix the remaining cider with the cornstarch into a paste and stir this into the apples, stirring constantly, boil until the liquid is thickened and clear; about 1 minute.  (You are not cooking the apples just thickening the juices.) 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Prepare a double pie crust 9-inch pie pan.  Fill the shell with your apple pie filling.  Place the top crust on in any manner you prefer.  Brush the heavy cream over the top crust and dust with sugar crystals.  Be sure to cut vent holes in the top crust.  Bake about 55 minutes, the crust is golden and the apples are tender.  If the top starts to brown too quickly tent with foil.  I always make a foil ring around my outer crust and leave it on the pie from the start of cooking and take it off for the last 15 minutes.
Yield: One 9-inch pie
Recipe adapted from: Fine Cooking
Look at this warm steaming cup of tea.  I have been trying out British teas.  This was a new one made by English Tea Shop.  It was very good. 


I found this little aluminium English serving tray at the Salvation Army for a few bucks.  I was so pleased to find it.  It is such a perfect size for a cup of tea and a dessert.   The chill will be in the air soon.  Have you gotten out your fall recipes to bake up a cozy smell in your kitchen?
Sherry
I will link this to:

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm
Strut Your Stuff Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff 
Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 
The Best Blog Recipes link party 
Anything Goes Party at Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo
Sweet and Savoury Sunday at Baking in Pyjamas
Tickle My Taste Buds Tuesdays at Lori's Culinary Creations
Fridays Unfolded at Nancherrow
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
The Party Bunch Weekend Linky at The Idea Room

13 comments:

Rosemary and Thyme said...

Wow, this pie looks amazing. I can sure go for a piece right now. Thanks for sharing.

Janet

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I have never used apple cider in my pies. Such a great idea. I found your recipe on the Tickle my Tastebuds linky party!

martinealison said...

Bonjour chère amie,

Moi qui sui en train de prendre mon thé, je salive en lisant votre recette et j'aimerais bien pouvoir m'emparer de cette belle part que j'aperçois sur l'une de vos photos.
Un très joli billet.

Gros bisous ☼

Martha's Favorites said...

Hi: I love those tin plates. Their colors are always so vivid. That pie looks so yummy. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

Angelina at Petite Haus said...

I could really go for a piece of this delicious looking pie right now! It looks so yummy!.

angie said...

das sieht soooo leckr aus!!! alles liebe von angie

Tante Mali said...

Oh yes!!! I'll do it tomorrow! My old apple trees are so good in growing fruits this year! Thank you so much, I'll have your fantatic apple cake!!!
All my best from an Austrian gardener
and a happy happy time
Elisabeth

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Thanks for sharing the apple pie recipe with us. It looks so delicious and I pinned. Have a great day.
Julie

Poppy said...

Hi Sherry,

You are quite the baker...and food stylist, to boot! Your rustic apple cider pie sounds autumn-y amazing, and I'm sure the house smelled like spicy fall; how appetizingly autumn!

Poppy

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

This is exactly the smell that I want wafting from the kitchen this time of year, but you're right! The crust is everything! I love the way you captured the steam in your photo. Thanks for missing me! Haha! Tumblr is almost all I could do for awhile. I had a serious virus that was turning to pneumonia. So hard to kick!

The Old Parsonage said...

My Dad will love this one. I thought your tea was hot cider - that's what I'm going to do. Heat up a cup!

Leann

Kathy said...

This looks amazing! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy

Alison Agnew said...

Yum! I love homemade apple pie, and this one looks rich and sweet. Featuring on this week's Fridays Unfolded!

Alison
Nancherrow