How to make the perfect pie crust
Paula Haney, owner of Hoosier Mama Pie Company, demonstrates the steps for how to create a delicious, beautiful pie crust. For more video, visit subscribe to this channel, or follow us @TribVideo.
Sohla Bakes an Apple Pie Recipe from 1796 America (& Medieval England!) | Ancient Recipes With Sohla
It's a culinary reenactment of the American Revolution as Sohla makes two historic versions of apple pie, pitting the US vs. the UK. First up, Sohla recreates the oldest known recipe for apple pie from 1390 England, then bakes up a 1796 recipe for apple pie from the first ever American cookbook.
RECIPES:
1796 American Apple Pie (from American Cookery):
For the pie crust:
- 1-2 egg whites
- 8 ounces all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 6 ounces cold, salted, European-style butter
For the filling:
- 5 to 6 pounds of small, mixed, market apples
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon rose water
- granulated sugar to taste
Steps:
1. For the pie crust: Whisk the egg white until just frothy. (This is just to break it up so it’s easier to add to the dough.)
2. Add the flour to a medium bowl. Cut the butter into thin slices and add to flour. Using your hands, rub the flour into the dough until you have peas sized pieces of butter running throughout the flour.
3. Drizzle in the egg white a little bit at a time, stirring with a spoon until the mixture mostly comes together. Gently knead to bring together into a ball, cover with a towel, and set aside in a cool place to rest for 30 minutes.
4. Roll the dough out to ⅛-inch thick, dusting the surface with flour as needed. Use the dough to line a pie pan, trimming any excess dough so 1-inch of the dough hangs off the rim of the pan. Crimp the dough, cover with a towel, and set aside in a cool place to rest.
5. For the filling: Cut the apples into quarters, keeping the seeds and skins intact. Add to a medium pot and add enough water to come ½-inch up the side of the pot. Cover, bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are completely tender. Cool slightly, then mash the apples through a coarse mesh strainer or colander. Add lemon zest, rose water, and sugar to taste. Set the filling aside to cool.
6. To bake: Scrape the filling into the prepared crust and bake at 375 until the crust is golden brown.
1390 English Apple Pie (from The Forme of Cury):
For the crust:
- 300 grams all-purpose flour
- 60 grams bread flour
- 150 grams lard, melted
- 150 mL boiling water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling:
- 4 pounds of small, mixed, market apples
- 3 medium pears
- ½ cup roughly chopped dried figs
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Steps:
1. For the crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the all-purpose and bread flour. Add the melted lard, boiling water & salt to the flour mixture. Use a wooden spoon to stir until combined.
2. Tip the dough onto the counter and knead until smooth.
3. Cut off about ⅓ of the dough, cover, and set aside. (This will be for the top) Form the remaining dough into a ball, then flatten slightly. Using a pie dolly, jam jar or your hands, mold the still warm dough into a pie shell with straight sides. Try to make sure the dough is the same thickness on the sides, that the dough on the base is not too thick and that there are no holes. Flatten the reserved dough into a thin disk slightly wider than the top of the pie shell. Chill for at least 30 minutes or until really firm.
4. For the filling: Peel, quarter, and core the apples and pears. Add the apples and pears to a food processor and pulse to roughly chop. Add the dried figs, raisins, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and process into a coarse puree. Or you can do it the medieval way & crush them all together in a large barrel.
5. Scrape the mixture into the chilled pie shell, top with crust and crimp. Use a dowel to poke a hole in the top of the dough to release steam while baking.
6. Bake at 400F until deeply browned.
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CREDITS
Host
Sohla El-Waylly
Created By
Brian Huffman
Executive Producers
Sarah Walker
Brian Huffman
Jon Erwin
Executive Producer
Sohla El-Waylly
Co-Producer
John Schlirf
Writer
Jon Erwin
Historian - Scripts
Ken Albala
Post-Production Supervisors
Jon Erwin
John Schlirf
Editor
Craig Brasen
Colorist
John Schlirf
Mixer
Tim Wagner
Manager, Rights & Clearances
Chris Kim
Executive Creative Director, A+E Networks
Tim Nolan
VP, Marketing Production, A+E Networks
Kate Leonard
VP, Brand Creative, History
Matt Neary
Music Courtesy of
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Classic Dutch Apple Pie
How to make classic homemade Dutch Apple Pie. Perfect for dessert on a cool fall evening, served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream...pure heaven! Watch to learn how I make this.
What you'll need:
1 - 9 pastry pie crust (see how I make mine here: )
3 lbs apples (I use Gala but traditionally use Golden Delicious or Granny Smith)
2-3 Tbsp lemon juice
6 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp corn starch
1 Tbsp water
1 tsp cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Prepare a single pastry pie crust in a 9 glass baking dish. You can either make your own or use a premade crust. Set aside.
Preheat your oven to 425*.
Peel, core and slice your apples and place in a large bowl filled with water and the lemon juice.
In a large pot, melt butter or margarine. Add in sugars and stir to combine. If the mixture is dry, add in 1 Tbsp water to make it a liquid. Add in remaining ingredients and mix well. Drain the apple slices and add to the butter and sugar mixture. Gently mix the apples with the sauce being sure not to break up the apple slices. Pour mixture into your prepared pie shell.
For the topping:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp cinnamon
6 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
Combine the dry ingredients. Add in melted butter or margarine and mix until mixture is crumbly and thoroughly combine.
Evenly spread the mixture onto the pie, making sure it is all the way to the edges.
Place pie in oven and bake for 15 minutes and turn heat down to 350* and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes.
**Alternatively you can skip the Dutch topping and make a traditional apple pie by placing a second pastry pie crust on the top. Roll out dough to 10 diameter and place onto the top of the pie after filling with apple mixture. Crimp the edges and cut 4-8 vent holes in the top crust to let excess steam out. Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with additional sugar if you go this route. Bake as directed above.