Who doesn't love apple pie? And everyone has an opinion about apple pie. About the crust. Should it be crispy or soft. The filling: with or without raisins. Lots of cinnamon or just a pinch. Tart or sweet. Good news: you can decide entirely for yourself.
We supply the mix for the perfect apple pie crust, deliciously crispy, every time. You can devote your culinary creativity to the filling.
Below is the basic recipe and ten variations. Start with the classic, and then go wild.
How to make a good filling
- Choose the right apple. Soft-tart apples work best: Elstar, Goudreinet, Jonagold, or Boskoop. Goudreinet and Boskoop break down nicely, while Elstar retains more bite. A mix of two varieties gives an interesting result.
- Don't cut them too thin. Cubes of about 1.5 cm. Thin slices become mushy, while large chunks stay firm.
- Keep the crust dry. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs or crushed rusks on the crust before adding the filling. This absorbs moisture. This is especially necessary with juicy fruit, otherwise the crust will quickly become soggy and you won't be able to serve nice slices of apple pie.
- A splash of lemon. A tablespoon of lemon juice mixed into the apples prevents browning and makes the flavor fresher.
- Let the mixture sit for a while. Ten minutes after mixing, moisture will draw out of the apples. Drain it before scooping the filling into the mold.
- Taste. Tart apples need a little more sugar, sweet apples a little less.
- Patience. Let the pie cool completely in the mold for 20 minutes. When warm, the filling is still runny. After that, it will cut cleanly.
Ten fillings
All variations are based on the basic recipe: 6 apples, 50 g sugar, and 10 g cinnamon. If it says "instead of", replace that ingredient. Otherwise, add it.
1. Classic with raisins and lemon
75 g raisins, soaked for 15 minutes in lukewarm water (or brown rum), plus the zest of half a lemon.
2. Apple and pear with ginger
4 apples and 2 firm pears instead of 6 apples, plus 1 teaspoon ginger powder or 2 tablespoons finely chopped candied ginger. Milder in flavor, with a warm touch.
3. Apple, cranberry, and orange
Soak 100 g dried cranberries with the zest of an orange for 15 minutes. Red, fresh, and a little festive. Perfect for the holidays.
4. Speculaas apple
2 teaspoons of speculaas spices instead of the cinnamon, and 4 crumbled speculaas cookies on the crust instead of breadcrumbs. Smells like Christmas Eve.
5. Apple with blackberries or blueberries
5 apples instead of 6, plus 150 g blackberries or blueberries (fresh or frozen, not thawed). An extra tablespoon of cornstarch through the filling. Purple juice between the lattice work—it couldn't look more beautiful.
6. Apple, caramel, and sea salt
50 g light brown muscovado sugar instead of the sugar. Pour 4 tablespoons of caramel sauce over the filling before adding the pastry, and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over it. Sweet, salty, dangerously delicious.
7. Apple, walnut, and honey
75 g coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, and 2 tablespoons of honey instead of half the sugar. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You'll never want anything else.
8. Apple and almond paste
Place 100 g of almond paste in slices on the crust, scoop the apples on top, and sprinkle 25 g of almond flakes over the lattice work before baking. The paste becomes soft and creamy.
9. Apple and rhubarb
4 apples instead of 6, plus 300 g rhubarb cut into 2 cm pieces. Increase the sugar to 100 g and add a tablespoon of cornstarch. Tart and fresh—springtime in a pie.
10. Scandinavian with cardamom and vanilla
1 teaspoon of cinnamon instead of 10 g, plus half a teaspoon of ground cardamom and the pulp of half a vanilla pod. Aromatic and refined—just a little different.
Vegan?
The mix itself is plant-based. Use plant-based butter and a plant-based egg alternative, and you can make any of the variations above vegan.
What's your favorite?
Do you have a filling that isn't listed here and want to share your favorite with us? Then let us know at hallo@dapeppa.nl. We'll add your recipe and you'll receive a DaPeppa surprise package.
We're already craving apple pie after writing this, so we're going to bake.