Grandma Thompson's Prize-Winning Apple Pie

Just in time for Thanksgiving!


Grandma Thompson's Prize-Winning Apple Pie

By Adell Shneer and The Canadian Living Test Kitchen (canadianliving.com)

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Thanksgiving weekend last year and The Village at Blue Mountain, Ont., was filled with the fragrance of freshly baked apple pies. For the first-ever Quintessential Apple Pie contest, bakers from this apple-growing region that rings Georgian Bay carried their pies – double crust, single crust, lattice top, streusel, Cheddar crust, even a chocolate apple combo – to the judging tables. Collingwood baking enthusiast Brenda Hall took first prize with a classic double-crust pie – a family recipe that's not too sweet but full and juicy with freshly harvested local McIntosh apples.

Servings: 8

Ingredients: Double-Crust sour_cream Pastry 1 egg_yolk2 tbsp (25 mL) coarse_sugarFilling:8 apples (such as McIntosh or Northern Spy), about 3 lb (1.5 kg)3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated_sugar2 tbsp (25 mL) cornstarch1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamonPinch each ground nutmeg and salt2 tbsp (25 mL) butter, softened

Filling: Peel and core apples; cut into 1/4-inch (5 mm) thick slices and place in large bowl. In small bowl, toss together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt ; add to apples and toss to coat. On lightly floured surface, roll out half of the pastry to generous 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness; fit into 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Trim to leave 3/4-inch (2 cm) overhang; fold under and flute edge. Scrape filling into pie shell; dot with butter.Roll out remaining pastry. Whisk egg yolk with 1 tbsp (15 mL) water; brush over pastry rim. Fit pastry over filling; trim to leave 3/4-inch (2 cm) overhang. Fold overhang under bottom pastry rim; seal and flute edge. Brush egg mixture over pastry. Cut steam vents in top; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake in bottom third of 450°F (230°C) oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F (180°C); bake for 65 minutes or until bottom is deep golden and filling is bubbling and thickened. Let cool on rack. (Make-ahead: Set aside for up to 24 hours.)