apple pie to warm your winter evening!

Apple pie is one of those dessert that most people enjoy all over the world. As intricate as it might seem, apple pie is quite easy and quick to make. It's the perfect combination of sweetness on top of thin crunchy crust. Essentially it is made by layering thinly sliced apple sauce over a pie crust. One of the most tempting aspects of an apple pie is its aroma which is a mixture of sweetness of baked apples and the warm and pleasant smell of the spices. Whenever I bake an apple pie my entire house smells very warm and fragrant. In winters, apple pie is just the sweetness and warmth that you need to feel cosy. Apple pie is often served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top. Some people use canned filling for the pie but there's nothing as good as homemade filling made to your preference. Not only is it delicious but also it keeps your home smelling fresh. Whether you like your apple pie on its own  or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it is a dessert that will surely delight all your senses. So light some candles, slice some apples, invite your friends, and enjoy this heavenly apple pie in this extreme cold weather.

 

Ingredients:

For the pie crust 

• 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks cold unsalted butter 
• 7 tablespoon ice cold water 

For the filling 

• 4 apples 
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon butter 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 
• 2 drops of vanilla essence 
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice 
• 1 tablespoon corn flour mixed in water  

For the egg wash 

• 1 egg 
• 1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

• Start by preheating your oven to 180 degree Celsius.
• To make the pie crust you need a food processor.
• In the food processor add in flour, sugar, salt and combine it on medium pulse.
• Once the dry ingredients have been fully incorporated you need to add the butter. Dice the butter and add it to the processor. Dicing of the butter makes it easier to combine and doesn't leave clumps in the dough.
• Mix it on medium pulse until the mixture forms crumbs and becomes powdery.
• Now, one tablespoon at a time you need to add in the water while the mixer is still on. The speed of the processor should not be high as that will over knead the dough. Keep adding the water until the dry mixture forms the consistency of a dough and turns into a small ball. You don't want to add a lot of water as that will make the dough sticky. Poke your finger in the dough if it sticks together then it is ready.
• Lightly dust your countertop with flour and put the dough on top of it. Using your knuckles knead the dough two to three times, make sure you don't over knead it. 
• Once it forms a smooth round ball put it aside, cover it with a kitchen towel and let it rest until you make your filling.
• For the filling you need to slice your apples or dice them into very small cubes
• In a saucepan put in apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, nutmeg and stir it  together on medium heat. Do this until the brown sugar starts to form a sauce.
• This will take about 10 to 15 minutes for the apples to be fully covered in the spices.
• In a small bowl, prepare your corn flour slurry by adding 2 tablespoons of room temperature water to 1 tablespoon of corn flour. Add that in the saucepan and mix it well. This will thicken the sauce and make it into your desired filling consistency.
• Once your sauce has thickened, turn the heat to low, add in the butter and vanilla extract, and combine it all until a shine forms on the top. 
• Put the saucepan aside and let the mixture cool.
• Take your dough, put it on to your floured countertop and make two parts of it.
• Put one part aside and roll out the other using a rolling pin.
• Once the desired thickness is achieved, wrap the dough around your rolling pin and carefully place it into your pie pan. Make sure the pan is dusted with flour.
• Take the other half of your pie crust ,roll it out and using a knife, cut strips approximately 1 inch in width. 
• Add in your apple filling to your pie pan, and using the strips form a lattice design on top of your pie.
• In a small bowl, whisk an egg with a dash of milk to create an egg wash. With the help of a pastry brush rub a thin layer of it on your pie lattice to give it a shiny sheen look.
• Bake the pie for 30 minutes until the top becomes golden brown.
• Enjoy it with a scoop of ice cream!