Ingredients:
- 320g all-purpose flour
- 225g unsalted butter, ice-cold and cubed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 8 tablespoons ice water
- 8 large apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 100g brown sugar, packed
- 50g granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions:
- Whisk the base. In a large bowl, combine 320g flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon sea salt. Note: Whisking ensures the salt and sugar are evenly distributed before the fat is added.
- Cut the butter. Work the 225g of ice cold, cubed butter into the flour using a pastry cutter. Stop when you see pea sized clumps.
- Hydrate the dough. Drizzle in 8 tablespoons of ice water, one at a time. Note: Only add enough water so the dough holds together when squeezed; too much leads to a tough crust.
- Chill the discs. Divide the dough into two even portions, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for 60 minutes.
- Prep the apples. Peel, core, and slice 8 large apples, then toss with 100g brown sugar, 50g granulated sugar, lemon juice, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 0.25 teaspoons nutmeg, and 3 tablespoons cornstarch. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
- Roll and line. Roll out the first disc to 30cm and drape into your 23cm deep dish plate. Handle gently to avoid stretching.
- Fill the center. Pour the apple mixture and all its juices into the crust, then dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cubed butter.
- Seal and vent. Roll the second disc, place it on top, and crimp the edges tightly. Cut four large vents to let steam escape.
- Wash and sparkle. Brush with the egg wash (1 egg + 1 tablespoon water) and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coarse sanding sugar.
- Bake until mahogany. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 50 minutes. Wait for the filling to bubble through the vents. > Chef's Tip: If you notice the edges of your crust are browning too quickly at the 30 minute mark, wrap them loosely with a strip of aluminum foil. This allows the center of the pie to continue cooking without burning the delicate crimped edges.