These apple pies are perfect with custard for a dinner party. These might require some adult assistance but they’re super fun to make for you and the kids! At school we use fluted loose bottom tart tins for this recipe, bit if you don’t have those you can use small ramekins or one large tart tin/ cake tin (just increase the cooking time to about 35-40 minutes depending on the size).
Ingredients
Shortcrust Pastry
- 250g Plain Flour
- 1 Tbsp Caster Sugar
- 140g Chilled Butter, cubed
- 2 Egg Yolks (keep the egg whites for glazing)
- 3 Tbsp chilled water
Apple Filling
- 500g dessert or cooking apples
- 60g sugar, plus 1 tbsp to glaze
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon, optional
- 1 Tbsp cornflour
Directions
- Start by making the pastry; sift the flour into a large bowl and add the butter. Use your hands to rub the butter and flour together until you get a breadcrumb like texture. Stir in the sugar with a cutlery knife.
- Mix the egg yolks and water together in a small bowl. Add 2 Tbsp of the egg mix to the crumb. Use a cutlery knife to quickly and evenly distribute the liquid. This will begin to create flakes of pastry – if the pastry seems dry or isn’t flaking, add another Tbsp of egg mix. Now use your hands to bring the pastry together. Knead the pastry a tiny bit to make sure the texture is even throughout.
- Roll out half of the pastry to 2mm thickness. Cut 6 rounds out and line 6 individual tart shells/ ramekins, making sure you press the pastry firmly into the edges. Use a cutlery knife to cut any overhanging pastry off and neaten them up. Place in the fridge and chill until firm. Preheat the oven to 190ᵒC.
- Make the apple filling; Peel, core, and roughly chop the apples into small pieces. Place in a large bowl and stir in the sugar, cinnamon and cornflour.
- Soon the apple filling into the pastry cases up to almost full. Use your remaining pastry to make the tops of the pies or even try out a lattice pattern (as seen in image above) and then brush with egg white.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp. Sprinkle with sugar to finish.
