OLD FASHIONED APPLE PIE WITH FRENCH CRUMB TOPPING

OLD FASHIONED APPLE PIE WITH FRENCH CRUMB TOPPING image

Provided by NIKKI SMITH

Categories Pies

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 21

PIE FILLING
7 c 7 c. sliced, peeled mcintosh or good cooking apples (about 7)
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 Tbsp nutmeg
dash of ground cloves
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp cornstarch or flour
3 Tbsp finely ground nuts (optional)
1 unbaked pastry shell
CRUMB TOPPING #1
1/3 c butter
1/3 c brown sugar
3/4 c flour
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)
CRUMB TOPPING #2
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c chopped nuts
3 Tbsp dark corn syrup
2 Tbsp butter, softened

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch (or flour). Mix together with apples, brown sugar, spices, and lemon juice. Sprinkle wafers or nuts on bottom of pie shell. (This keeps crust from becoming soggy.) Spoon apple mixture into pie shell.
2. Make French Crumb Topping by mixing 1/3 cup butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar together. Cut in 3/4 cup flour. Stir in nuts. Sprinkle topping over apples in pie plate. Bake for 50 minutes or until topping is golden and apples are tender
3. NOTE: If you prefer to use conventional top crust, brush unbaked top crust with egg yolk and 1 tablespoon cream mixed together. Dust with sifted powdered sugar when pie comes out of oven. Or use the following topping on top of the crust before baking.
4. Mix all ingredients together and spread over unbaked top crust. Bake for about 50 minutes.
5. TIP: For a lovely taste thrill, mix 3 or 4 teaspoons of cinnamon into 1 quart softened vanilla ice cream. Refreeze. Serve a scoop of the cinnamon ice cream on warm apple-pie slices.