Recipe: Caramel Apple Pie
Serve Caramel Apple Pie at your next holiday party or get together. (Kate Wood/Wood and Spoon)
The nostalgic flavors of old-fashioned caramel apples absolutely sing in this slab pie. Baked in a jelly roll pan, this caramel apple pie features a double crust, spiced apples and a rich salted caramel sauce throughout. After baking, the pie can be cut into squares and served warm with scoops of vanilla bean ice cream.
To simplify the prep for this pie, you can make the pie dough in advance, storing in the fridge for up to a week or foil-wrapped in the freezer for up to 3 months. The caramel can also be prepared in advance, or you can opt for a store-bought variety. Either way, take advantage of the beautiful autumn apples and savor every bite of them with this caramel apple pie.
After baking, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. (Kate Wood/Wood and Spoon)
Caramel Apple Pie
- Prep Time: 45
- Cook Time: 60
- Total Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Ingredients
For the pie crust:
- 4-1/2 cups (585 gm) all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (230 gm) unsalted butter, cold
- 14 tablespoons (200 gm) shortening, cold
- 10 tablespoons ice water
For the caramel:
- 1-1/2 cups (300 gm) sugar
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, slightly warmed
- 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
- 4 tablespoons (55 gm) unsalted butter
For the pie filling:
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice (about the juice of one lemon)
- 6 cups (about 760 gm) of ½-inch peeled and diced baking apples. (I use about 6-7 large Golden Delicious apples)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
To prepare the pie crust:
- Give the dry ingredients a whiz in the food processor to combine.
- Pulse in the shortening and butter, just until evenly dispersed and pea-sized clumps form.
- Add 6 tablespoons of ice water and pulse; add in additional tablespoons of water until a dough begins to form. I usually need 8 tablespoons of water.
- Remove dough from food processor and separate in two round disks. Wrap in Saran wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes prior to use.
To prepare the caramel:
- Combine the sugar and water in a large saucepan (at least 6-quart) over medium-high heat. Allow the sugar and water to cook undisturbed about 10-11 minutes until the sugar has turned a deep amber hue. Carefully and slowly add the heavy cream in, whisking all the while to combine. Please note that the caramel will bubble, steam and sputter, so be sure to add the cream slowly and with care. Continue whisking and cooking until the caramel is smooth and well combined. Remove the pan from the heat and add the salt and butter, whisking until the butter is incorporated. Set aside while you prepare your pie ingredients.
To prepare the pie filling:
- Combine the lemon juice and apples in a large bowl. Add the flour, cinnamon and sugar and toss to combine evenly. Set aside while you assemble your pie.
To assemble your pie:
- Preheat an oven to 375 degrees. Prepare an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 2 teaspoons of water. Set aside while you prepare the pie.
- Roll out one-half of your dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch-by-17-inch rectangle. Once smoothed and sized, roll the dough back onto the rolling pin and transfer the dough into a 15-inch-by-10-inch-by-1-inch jelly roll pan. Gently press the dough into the edges of the pan and trim off excess dough, leaving a three-quarter-inch overhand around all edges. Use some excess dough to fill in spots where the dough may have cracked or wasn’t long enough.
- Sprinkle your prepared apples into the pan and spread out to fill evenly. Drizzle the caramel over the apples, being sure to distribute it evenly. You can re-warm the caramel slightly if needed.
- Roll out your remaining piece of dough to a 12-inch-by-17-inch rectangle. Roll the dough onto your rolling pin and transfer it to the pie. Center the pie top on the pan and fold the bottom edge over the top, crimping with your fingers as desired. Use a knife to vent the pie and brush the egg wash over the top crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the caramel inside is bubbling. Rotate the pie during baking as needed to brown evenly.
Kate Wood’s recipes can be found on her Wood and Spoon blog and on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
