Peel-to-Stem Apple Pie
 
 
The peel-to-stem apple pie is a labor of love, but totally worth it. It really makes use of every part of the apple by having you make an apple stock out of apple peels and cores, and then reducing that down with macerated apple juice to make a decadent apple sauce that gets incorporated into the pie filling. Delicious!
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
For the crust
  • 2½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup unsalted European-style butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • ½ cup ice
  • 1 cup ice water
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
For the filling
  • 2.2 lb sour apples, like Granny Smith
  • 2.2 lb sweet and firm apples, like fuji or gala
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1½ cups water
  • 3½ tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tsp glutinous rice flour
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For the glaze
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp demerara sugar
Instructions
For the crust
  1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cold butter cubes and toss so that they are coated with the flour. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour until the largest butter pieces are the size of peas. The rest of the mixture should look and feel like Parmesan cheese.
  2. Place the ice in a liquid measuring cup. Add ice water until it reaches the 1 cup mark, then stir in the apple cider vinegar.
  3. Add the ice water-vinegar mixture to the pie crust mixture by the tablespoon, mixing with your hands, until the dough comes together. Remove it from the bowl and cut it into two equal pieces. Pat each piece into a 2-inch thick disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  4. Once chilled, roll one disc of dough into a 13-inch round and the second into a 10-inch round on a floured surface. Fit the larger one into 10-inch pie plate, letting the extra dough hang over the edge. Place in the refrigerator. For the second disc of dough, place on a baking sheet, wrap with plastic wrap, and transfer to the fridge until you're ready to assemble the pie.
For the filling
  1. Peel, core, and slice the apples into very thin (1/16 to ⅛ inch) slices using either a very sharp knife or a mandoline. Reserve the peels and cores for later use. Transfer the apple slices to a large bowl. Toss with the sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and cinnamon, trying not to break them. Allow to macerate for 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the apple cores and peels. Place them in a medium saucepan. Add the water, cover the pan, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until only ½-inch of water is left, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain the liquid into a bowl or second saucepan, pressing on the solids to make sure you get as much of the liquid out of them as possible.
  3. Place two mesh strainers over two large bowls and divide the apple slices between the two strainers, allowing their juice to drain into the bowls for 30 minutes. Once done, transfer the apple slices to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
  4. Scrape the apple juice that you just collected into the pan with the apple stock. Cook over medium-high heat until it is reduced to ½ cup, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter, rice flour, and salt, whisking until well combined. Place back on the stove and cook for 2 more minutes, whisking constantly. Scrape this apple sauce into a bowl and refrigerate, uncovered, until it cools to room temperature, about 15-20 minutes.
To assemble
  1. Remove the chilled pie crust bottom from the fridge. Stack a quarter of the apple slices onto the crust. Spread a third of the apple sauce over the slices. Repeat this layering process until you have used all of the apples and sauce, ending with the apple slices for the final layer. Place the pie back in the freezer and chill for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and heavy cream until well combined.
  3. Remove the pie from the freezer and the second round of dough from the refrigerator. Center the dough over the filling and tuck the overhanging dough from the bottom crust over and onto the top crust to seal it. Brush with the glaze and sprinkle with the sugar. Cut four slits in the top of the pie to vent it. Freeze for 30 minutes.
To bake
  1. Heat oven to 400F. Place the pie on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
  2. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F. Bake for 55 more minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is golden.
  3. Allow to cool for at least 3 hours before serving.
Notes
Pie crust from Sister Pie
Pie filling from The Artful Baker
Recipe by Joanne Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/2019/11/peel-stem-apple-pie.html