Dutch Apple Pie

Dutch Apple Pie is the perfect mid-autumn treat. A crispy, short, short crust pastry, gooey, spiced-apple filling and a sweet, spicy crumble topping makes for a delicious, heartwarming pie. This easy recipe is my twist on the classic Dutch dessert. So lets begin.....

Short Crust Pastry

• 8oz Self-Raising Flour
• 4oz Butter
• About half a cup of water

Method

1. Use a butter knife to cut the butter into the flour, once the butter is roughly incorporated rub the flour and butter together. 
2. When the butter and flour is one uniform crumb mixture add the cold water one table spoon at a time mixing in between. Keep adding water until a dough is formed.
3. Very lightly knead the dough, then wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 20 minutes whilst you make the other components.

Crumble topping

• 6oz Plain Flour
• 2oz Granulated Sugar
• 1oz Demerara Sugar
• 1oz Soft Brown Sugar
• 4oz Butter
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp Ground Nutmeg

Method

1. Throw all of the ingredients in a large bowl and rub them all together until a uniform crumbly mixture.
2. Set aside to make the apple filling.

Apple Filling

• 2 Medium Sized Cooking Apples
• 3 tbsp Plain Flour
• 4oz Granulated Sugar
• 2oz Demerara Sugar
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp Ground Nutmeg

Method

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl and then add the lemon juice (this will look really dry but will turn into a gooey syrup in the oven- so don't be tempted to add more lemon juice).
2. Peel and Slice the apples into thin-ish slices and add each piece of apple into the mixture made in step 1 to avoid it from browning. 
3. Set aside for Assembly.

Assembly

1. Preheat the oven to 190° C.
2. Take your short crust pastry out of the fridge and roll out onto a lightly floured surface so that it is big enough to fit your chosen tart/ pie dish.
3. Place the pastry in the tart dish and crimp the crust edges if desired.
   
4. Blind bake the Pie crust in the oven for about 10 minutes.
5. Cover the bottom of the pastry crust with all of the spiced-apple filling, making sure that its evenly covered.
6. Sprinkle the crumble topping on top of the apple filling, (keep some of the crumbs larger than others to create a variety of crumbs) lightly press the crumbs down.
   
7. Place the pie into the oven for about 40 minutes.

Enjoy!!