How To Make The Perfect Apple Pie For Thanksgiving

When you visit The Shops @ Rockvale in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, you can’t miss homemade apple pies for sale everywhere. As keyword one of the perfect apple pie, you learn that Lancaster bakers have their very own keyword one secret ingredient.

A Thanksgiving Apple Pie to Start a Tradition

Naturally, the pie crust for apple pie is keyword two of our secret ingredients. To make the flakiest and tastiest apple pie crust, start by blending dry ingredients.

For a double crust apple pie or a lattice top apple pie, sift together in a large bowl:
. 4 cups of flour
. 1 teaspoon salt
. 1 tablespoon granulated or brown sugar
. 1 quarter teaspoon cinnamon

To this add, 1 3/4 cups of butter-flavored solid shortening such as Crisco.

Using a fork or a pie crust hand blender, blend dry ingredients and shortening until crumbs form.

In a small bowl, place:
. 1/2 cup ice water
. 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
. 1 well-beaten egg

Directions:

Whisk by hand or use an electric mixer to blend until light and frothy.

Slowly add wet ingredients to the flour mixture until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour before rolling.

Remove the chilled dough and lightly flour surface where you plan to roll the dough. Cut dough in half and roll out each half to fit the size of the pie pan.

For lattice, use one half of the dough, rolled into a rectangle and cut into 1/2 inch wide by about 6 long inch strips. Use remaining dough to roll and cut into autumn leaves for the top of the apple pie.

The Perfect Apple Pie Filling for Thanksgiving

To make an authentic Lancaster County style apple pie filling for Thanksgiving, the ingredients include:
. 6 medium size, fresh apples
. 3/4 cups brown sugar
. 1 tablespoon maple syrup
. 2 teaspoons apple cider or juice
. 1/2 cup cornstarch

Directions:

Peel and remove apple seeds and cores. Place in a large bowl. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, apple cider or juice, and cornstarch. Mix thoroughly until apples are well coated.

Place apple pie filling evenly into an unbaked pie crust. Place the second crust on top. Pierce the top crust with a fork and brush with a beaten yolk egg. Add pie crust autumn leaves and brush leaves with remaining egg yolk.

If you plan to make a lattice top apple pie, start lattice by placing one lattice strip vertically at the far edge of the pie. Next, add a horizontal lattice strip. Repeat this pattern until the last lattice strip meets the opposite edge of the pie. Brush lattice strips with the beaten yolk. Use remaining dough to make autumn leaves and brush with remaining egg yolk.

Bake at 375 degrees F. until the crust is golden brown. About 30 thirty minutes.

I find this recipe makes the perfect apple pie crust and apple pie filling for Thanksgiving as well as for any time I get an urge to serve apple pie and coffee.

Here in Lancaster County, we serve our apple pie with a slice of our state’s famous dairy fresh, cheddar cheese on top. We place cheddar on top in the last five minutes before the pie is finished baking so it melts slightly.

Pennsylvania is one of the country’s most recognized makers of cheeses. The Shops @ Rockvale have several places to dine where apple pies are served from the ovens. Thanksgiving at the Shops @ Rockvale always includes a perfect apple pie dessert.