Illinois Apple Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon peel.
• Line one crust in a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Layer 1/3 of apples into pie crust. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and repeat until done. Sprinkle with lemon juice and dot with butter.
• Place second pie crust on top of filling and flute the edges. Cut vents in top crust and brush with milk for a glazed appearance if desired.
• Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 40 to 50 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line pie pan with bottom crust.
• Peel and slice apples.
• Put 1/2 of the apple slices in prepared pie pan.
• Sprinkle apple slices with 1/2 cup sugar, a little nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Add rest of apples and top with rest of sugar (1/2 cup), a little nutmeg cinnamon, flour and butter or margarine cut into small pieces.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Cover with top crust.
• Crimp edges together with fork.
• Sprinkle top with sugar and cut steam vents in top crust.
• Put pie on baking sheet in case of spill-overs.
• Bake for 1 hour at 350°F.

Steps:

• For the dough: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and process until the largest pieces of butter are pea-size. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Stir the vodka, vinegar and 1/4 cup ice water in a small bowl (or 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water if you're not using vodka). Drizzle the wet ingredients over the dough, and then mix with a fork until shaggy pieces form. Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands a couple of times until it comes together (it will look quite dry, which is fine). Transfer the large clumps of dough to a work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ice water over any remaining smaller bits of dough in the bowl and knead again to bring it together. If the remaining dough is still too dry to come together, add more ice water in 1 tablespoon increments. Add to the dough on the work surface and press together into a single mass, incorporating any dry bits. Then pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick block. Divide the block into 4 pieces with a bench scraper or knife. Stack the pieces on top of one another, tucking any unincorporated dry bits in between the layers. Flatten the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick block. Repeat this process (cutting, stacking and flattening) three more times; this creates layers of butter in the dough that produces a wonderful flaky, almost puff pastry-like crust.
• Divide the dough in half and form into 1-inch-thick discs; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. The dough can be made 3 days ahead. Keep it refrigerated or freeze it for up to 3 months.
• To fill and assemble: Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2-inch wedges. Toss the apples, brown sugar, flour, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl. Let the fruit sit for 30 minutes to extract the juices.
• Meanwhile, soften one dough disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thick (about 16 inches in diameter). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate. Soften the second disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Then roll it out to the same thickness and diameter as the first disc.
• Carefully transfer the second disc to a 9-inch pie dish. Lift the edges so the dough slumps down into the dish. Press the dough firmly against the sides and bottom of the dish. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to firm up. Remove the first disc from the refrigerator and let it soften for 5 minutes.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil and place it on the center rack.
• Scrape the apple filling into the pie dish, creating a mound in the center. Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl and brush the edges of the dough. Place the other disc over the filling. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the bottom edge up and over the top edge; press together to seal. Crimp the edge and brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Cut several vents in the top evenly spaced. Freeze the pie for 10 minutes.
• Put the pie dish on the preheated baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. Continue to bake for 45 minutes, and then loosely tent with foil. Continue baking until the crust is a deep golden brown and the juices are thick and vigorously bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes longer. The juices will start to bubble at around 75 minutes, but they will thicken and bubble faster in the last 15 minutes; don't be tempted to pull it out until the bubbles are really going. (If using a clear pie dish, check underneath to make sure the bottom crust is evenly browned.) Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let it cool at least 4 hours before serving. (Yes, it smells amazing, and yes, people love warm pie. But if you don't give it time to set up properly, the filling will be runny when you cut into it.)

Steps:

• Make the dough by hand. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean sized bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• Make the dough in a food processor. With the machine fitted with the metal blade, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade, and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Make the filling. Put the lemon juice in a medium bowl. Peel, halve, and core the apples. Cut each half into 4 wedges. Toss the apple with the lemon juice. Add the sugar and toss to combine evenly.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apples, and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer, about 2 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the apples soften and release most of their juices, about 7 minutes.
• Strain the apples in a colander over a medium bowl to catch all the juice. Shake the colander to get as much liquid as possible. Return the juices to the skillet, and simmer over medium heat until thickened and lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the reduced juice and spices. Set aside to cool completely. (This filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated or frozen for up to 6 months.)
• Cut the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough into a disc about 11 to 12 inches wide. Layer the dough between pieces of parchment or wax paper on a baking sheet, and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
• Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan with one of the discs of dough, and trim it so it lays about 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pan. Put the apple filling in the pan and mound it slightly in the center. Brush the top edges of the dough with the egg. Place the second disc of dough over the top. Fold the top layer of dough under the edge of the bottom layer and press the edges together to form a seal. Flute the edge as desired. Brush the surface of the dough with egg and then sprinkle with sugar. Pierce the top of the dough in several places to allow steam to escape while baking. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Bake the pie on a baking sheet until the crust is golden, about 50 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving. The pie keeps well at room temperature (covered) for 24 hours, or refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Steps:

• Peel and slice apples. Toss with sugars, cinnamon and flour. Set aside.
• Roll crust to make slightly larger to fit 10-inch glass pie pan. Fit bottom crust in pie pan. Turn in apple mixture and dot with butter. Put crust on top and crimp edges of crust together.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Wet hands with water and dampen top of pie. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Puncture top of pie with fork so the steam can escape.
• Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking for about 45 minutes more, until crust is golden brown. It's a good practice to place a piece of aluminum foil slightly larger than the pie under the pie plate to catch overflows. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a bowl combine apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Place mixture in a pastry-lined 9 inch pie plate. Dot with butter and adjust top crust that has been vented.
• Place in oven and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Turn oven temperature down to 275-300 degrees F (135-150 degrees C) and bake 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Let cool and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• For crust,combine flour and salt in mixing bowl.
• Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knifes until mixture is uniform.
• Add water; toss lightly with a fork until dough forms a ball.
• Divide dough into 2 parts.
• On lightly floured surface,roll bottom crust into circle 1/8" thick and about 1 1/2" larger than inverted 9" pie plate.
• Gently, ease dough into pie plate,being careful not to stretch dough.
• Trim edge even with pie plate.
• For apple filling:Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl.
• Stir until mixed well.
• Spoon into unbaked pie shell.
• Use remaining half of dough to roll top crust,as instructed for bottom crust.
• Lift onto filled pie.
• Trim 1/2" beyond edge of pie plate.
• Fold top edge under bottom crust;flute as desired.
• Cut slits or design in top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Brush top crust with milk;sprinkle with white sugar.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until crust in golden brown.
• Cool and serve .

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To prepare the piecrust, combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut in the shortening with your fingers or a pastry cutter, until the pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons water over the flour, and gently toss with a fork. Push the flour to the sides of the bowl, add the remaining cold water, and mix until all is moistened and combined. Divide the dough in half, and form each half into balls. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• In a large mixing bowl toss the apples with lemon juice. Combine the sugar, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the apples and toss until completely coated. Set mixture aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one ball into a 12-inch circle, and place into a 9-inch pie plate.
• Transfer the apple mixture into the pastry lined pie plate. Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the apple mixture. For the top crust, roll out remaining dough, place on top, and seal and flute the edge. Cut slits on top crust to allow steam to escape.
• To make the egg wash, crack egg in a small bowl, add a pinch of salt, whisk, and brush on top of the pie. Cover pie with foil to prevent over browning, and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes until crust is golden and apples are tender.
• Serve warm with ice cream or just plain.

Steps:

• Make the filling: Toss the apples with the granulated sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until the juices are simmering. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until the firmer apples soften but still hold their shape, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, cinnamon and salt and toss to thicken the juices, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool. (The filling can be made up to 2 days ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the shortening and 4 tablespoons butter; pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add 6 more tablespoons butter and pulse until pea-size pieces form. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse a few times. If the dough doesn't hold together when squeezed, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pat each into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
• Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface (or between 2 sheets of floured parchment) into a 12-inch round. (If the dough gets too warm, refrigerate until firm.) Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Add the filling, mounding it slightly in the center, and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Transfer the pie to the refrigerator.
• Roll out the remaining dough into a 12-inch round. Lay the dough over the filling and press the 2 crusts together around the edges. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp as desired. Brush the beaten egg over the top crust and edge; sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Pierce the top crust with a knife a few times to let steam escape. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Put a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom oven rack and preheat to 425˚ F for 30 minutes. Place the pie on the hot pan and reduce the oven temperature to 375˚ F. Bake until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 1/2 hours; rotate the pie as needed and cover with foil if the crust browns too quickly. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl stir together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and cloves.
• Place one of the pie shells into a 10 inch pie pan. Put 1/2 of the sliced apples into the shell and sprinkle half of the sugar mixture over them. Top with the remaining apples and the remaining sugar mixture.
• Cover apples with the top crust. Press edges with the tines of a fork to seal and poke holes in the top with a knife. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.

Steps:

• For the Crust: Blend flour, sugar and salt in a food processor.
• Add butter and shortening and cut in, until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add 6 tablespoons ice water and process until clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry (I never need more than 6 tablespoons).
• Gather into ball; divide into 2 pieces.
• Flatten each into a disk. Wrap each in plastic; chill at least 2 hours. Can be made a day ahead.
• For the filling: Position oven rack in lowest rack of oven and preheat to 400°F
• Mix all of the filling ingredients except apples in large bowl. It should be very dry and clumpy -- not really a 'sauce' at all.
• Add apples and coat.
• To assemble: Flour a sheet of parchment paper; roll out 1 dough onto paper until it is a 12-inch round.
• Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish by flipping the paper over, then gently pressing so that the dough is along the bottom of the pie dish. There should be an overhang all the way around.
• Add filling.
• Roll out second dough to 13-inch round. Cut into twelve 1-inch wide strips. Arrange 6 strips across pie, leaving gaps between the filling and the lattuce along the way (that will make weaving the others easier).
• Form lattice by arranging 6 strips across the first strips, taking care as you go. If one breaks, don't worry--just tuck the break underneath!
• Gently fold over the edges onto the lattice, pressing with a fork to seal.
• Brush lattice with milk, and sprinkle lightly with additional sugar.
• Cover edges with foil and bake pie 10 minutes.
• Without opening the oven (I know, its so hard to resist!), reduce oven temperature to 375°F
• Continue baking until juices are thickened and crust is golden, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Allow to cool for at least one hour before eating.