So as my birthday arrives I tend to make something special for me, but it is never a cake. This year it was a pie, a delicious, easy, apple crumble pie.
The pie pastry will give you enough dough to make two pie bases, which quite often I will do, just make two pies at once, I have a delicious blueberry crumble pie recipe or a delicious Strawberry, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble Pie recipe that I make, but this time I chose to decorate my pie with a plait around the edge, it looked great and baked really well.
The crumble topping can be made by hand if you don't have a food processor, just rub the butter into the flour and sugar using your fingertips.
This is delicious served with vanilla ice cream or custard, is easy to make and you really need to try it.
Recipe
Pastry:
2 2/3 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk
Filling:
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 cups chopped peeled granny smith apples (about 5 medium apples), peeled, cored, diced
Crumble Topping:
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Pour the milk and oil into a jug, but do not stir it. Add the oil mixture to the flour. Stir until mixed well, knead for a minute or two, then shape into 2 flat balls (it will be crumbly, squish it together). Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease a large pie dish with cooking spray or butter.
Roll out half of the pastry between two sheets of baking paper. The pastry can be crumbly, if it is keep flipping it over, while rolling, as I find it the easiest way to get both sides smooth. If it splits or cracks around the edges pinch it together. Roll out until it is 3-5mm thick and will cover the base and sides of your pie dish. If you have cracks or holes, use a little pastry from the leftover pastry, to press onto the cracks. It doesn't matter if it isn't perfect looking, just make sure there are no holes in the base.
Place the pie base in the oven for 10 minutes. Cool slightly.
Meanwhile, make the filling: In a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add diced apples and toss to coat.
To make the crumble topping: In a small food processor add sugar, flour and butter, blitz until you have fine crumbs.
Pour over the apples onto your cooled pie base.
If you like, it is purely decorative, but delicious, you can use some of the remaining pastry and make a plait around the edge. Just roll it out, cut out long thin strips and plait. Then place over the apples around the edge of the pie. This is optional.
Sprinkle over the crumble topping.
Enjoy!
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