The Perfect Thanksgiving Pie

 Thanksgiving break is only a few short weeks away, which means everyone is itching to finish up classes and make their way home for a much needed break and the best meal of the entire year. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, from the early morning wakeup for the Turkey Trot to pulling things out of the oven at the last possible minute to make it on time to family dinner. When the world shut down due to the pandemic a few years ago, our family traditions had to be modified. A large gathering of extended family was no longer a viable or safe option. Instead, my family spent the entire day in the kitchen cooking a full Thanksgiving dinner. We didn’t have any commitments, there was nowhere to be, no time limits, and no pressure. We started cooking around nine a.m. and didn’t eat dinner until ten p.m. that night. There was music and dance breaks, and some ridiculously large messes were made. That was the day I decided Thanksgiving would be my favorite holiday for the rest of my life.

It’s somehow worked out for the past couple of years that we never have a big family commitment on the actual day of Thanksgiving. There’s always a couple brunches or dinners the week of, but the actual day has remained perfectly unplanned. We wake up bright and early to make it to the local Turkey Trot, which I never participate in (but I would absolutely smoke the competition if I did), then come home, put on the Macy’s Day Parade and start cooking. I have three dishes I like to be in charge of making: the cranberry relish, the sauteed green beans, and most importantly: the pies. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but pumpkin is definitely the second best Thanksgiving pie. The french apple pie has my heart and it always will. The perfectly golden exterior crust, filling made of fresh apples doused in cinnamon and sugar, and the gorgeous crumble on top makes it the most beautiful (and delicious) holiday dessert known to mankind. 

If you’re looking for a dessert to showcase your baking abilities or put everyone else’s contribution to thanksgiving dinner to shame, look no further. This recipe is guaranteed to be a fan favorite that you’ll be asked to bring to every family gathering from now to the end of time.

 

French Apple Pie

The Crust:

I like to use Martha Stewart’s Perfect Pie Crust Recipe for any pie I make. This is an all-butter dough, which means the end result is flaker, has a better color, and tastes a whole lot better than anything made with lard or margarine.

Filling:

7 Granny Smith or 4 Honeycrisp Apples peeled and thinly sliced

½  cup granulated sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp all purpose flour

2 Tbsp lemon juice

Crumble Topping:

⅔ cup all purpose flour

½ cup brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

4 Tbsp butter, cubed 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425℉

2. Combine all the ingredients of the filling, make sure the apples are evenly coated in the mixture.

3. Combine all the ingredients of the crumble topping in a bowl, then set it aside.

4. Put the filling in the already prepared pie crust, then add the crumble to the top.

5. Place the pie in the oven and let bake for 15 minutes.

6. Reduce the oven’s temperature to 350℉ and bake for an additional 35 to 40 minutes.

7. Let the pie rest for an hour before cutting or serving.

8. Enjoy!