Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Four and Twenty Blackbirds Salted Caramel Apple Pie
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie
- Total: 3 hr 55 min
- Prep: 1 hr 30 min
- Inactive: 1 hr 30 min
- Cook: 55 min
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie
- Total: 3 hr 55 min
- Prep: 1 hr 30 min
- Inactive: 1 hr 30 min
- Cook: 55 min
Ingredients
Pie Crust
1 recipe your favorite (2-crust) butter pie crust
Salted Caramel
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water
1 stick (1/2 cup) fresh unsalted butter
1/2 cup fresh heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (recommended: Maldon sea salt flakes)
Apple Filling
4 to 6 lemons
5 to 6 medium to large apples*
Apple Filling Seasoning
1/3 cup raw sugar (castor, unrefined, large granule sugar)
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
Assembly
1 egg beaten
Raw sugar, for sprinkling on top
1 teaspoon sea salt (flake)
Directions
Special equipment:
Mandolin for slicing, and a pastry brush.- To make the pie crust:
- Prepare one 2-crust batch of your favorite all butter pie crust. Roll the bottom crust to fit a 9-inch pan, and cut the top crust as a lattice, approximately 1-inch in width or as desired. Chill the rolled crust while you prepare the salted caramel and apple filling.
- To make the salted caramel:
- Cook the sugar and water together over low heat until just dissolved. Add the butter and bring to a slow boil. Continue cooking at a low boil until the mixture turns a deep, golden brown color, almost copper.**
- Once the mixture has turned a copper color, remove it from the heat and immediately add the heavy cream - the mixture will bubble rapidly and steam - be cautious as the sugar will be very hot.
- Whisk the final mixture together well over low heat and sprinkle in the sea salt. Set the caramel aside while you prepare the apple filling.
- To make the apple filling:
- Juice the lemons into a large mixing bowl. Core, peel, and thinly slice the whole apples. Dredge all the apple slices in the freshly squeezed lemon juice to prevent browning and to add flavor. Set the prepared apples aside.
- To make the apple filling seasoning:
- In a large measuring cup or small mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and Angostura bitters. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples in the mixing bowl. Use your hands to gently mix and coat the apple slices.
- To assemble the pie:
- Preheat the oven to 375 to 400 degrees F (depending on the hotness of your oven).
- Gather your rolled pie crust, salted caramel, and apple mixture. Begin by layering 1/3 of the apples in the bottom of the crust so that there are minimal gaps. Pour 1/3 of the caramel over the apples. Add 1/3 of the apples and caramel for a second layer, and then add a third layer of apples, and then the caramel again. Cook's Note: Save a small portion of the caramel to pour on top once the lattice is assembled.
- Assemble the lattice crust and flute the edges of the crust. Pour the last bit of caramel on top. Brush the crust with the beaten egg and lightly sprinkle with raw sugar and sea salt.
- Bake the pie on a baking sheet larger than the pie pan for 20 minutes (otherwise the caramel will bubble over and burn on the bottom of your oven). Reduce the oven temperature to 325 to 350 and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. You can test the apples for doneness with a long toothpick or small knife. The apples should be just soft.
- Let the pie cool, then slice and enjoy.
Cook’s Note
*A mixture of Crispin, Granny Smith, and Cortland is nice if you can. **This process can take awhile depending on the heat source. Keep an eye on it, if the caramel begins to smoke, you've burned it and you'll have to start over. A mandolin works great for producing very thin slices.
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Delicia.teo
I’ve made this recipe for over ten years and it delivers every time! There are a few things that I’ve modified. 1) Use a Tenderflake crust. Although admirable to make your own pie crust, this can be tricky and time consuming. 2) Make a dry caramel if you want the caramelization to occur faster. I’ve made the caramel as suggested and it took a good hour before you reach that lovely dark copper colour. Dry caramel techniques of melting the sugar first over low heat, slowly by 1 tablespoon at a time, before you add hot cream and then butter and salt will take you 20 mins. Also, wait til the caramel is thicker before you add it to your pie, or you’ll end up with a very runny pie. Also taste your caramel to make sure you’ve got the right amount of salt. 3) Lastly, after you assemble your pie and brush on your egg wash, I sprinkle the top with a good dusting of turbinado sugar for an extra crunch. It’s a huge hit every time! This is easily my family’s favourite apple pie.
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