Apple Slab Pie

Hiding underneath a delicate pastry crust, glistening from a sprinkling of sugar you’ll find tender apples sautéed in butter, wrapped in spices of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. And if that’s not enough, finish with a splash of pure vanilla, a touch of brown sugar and a dollop of creamy mascarpone cheese.

Slab pie is an old school way of baking pies. They’re easy to transport and easy to slice up and share making them perfect for large gatherings.

Apple pie is a favorite in our family, and it’s been made in many forms. Autumn seems to stir up our craving for apples. My Dad taught me to peel an apple. Though he didn’t cook, the man could put an edge on a knife better than anyone I’ve ever known – his knife skills were legendary. And he made something as simple as peeling an apple magical.

For apple pies, I use a mix of apples creating a delightful balance of flavor and texture. In this version I grabbed Granny Smith for its slightly tart taste plus Fuji for a sweeter component, along with Gala and Ginger Gold.

The apples are sautéed in butter, then tossed with spices of cinnamon, allspice, and freshly grated nutmeg, a gentle pour of pure vanilla extract, sweetened with dark brown sugar plus flour to set the juices. Then stir in a scoop of mascarpone cheese for an unexpected touch of creaminess.

Pile the apples into a pastry crust, nestled in a rimmed sheet pan, top with another layer of pastry crust, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Off to the oven to bake until the crust is a gorgeous golden hue.

Sweet apples, encased in a tender, flaky crust makes for a wonderful dessert for Friendsgiving or any holiday get together.

Serve it warm, cold or at warm temperature – and perhaps à la mode!

Apple Slab Pie

For the pastry:

¾ cup butter

¾ cup shortening

3 cups flour, plus extra for rolling the dough

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons sugar, plus extra for dusting the pie

⅔ cup cold water

1 extra-large egg

1 tablespoon half and half

For the pastry:

Lightly spray a quarter sheet baking rimmed baking pan, about 12-½” x 9”. Preheat the oven to 375-degrees. Cut the butter into cubes and freeze along with the shortening for about 30 minutes. Combine the flour, kosher salt, and sugar in a food processor and process for about 5 to 10 seconds.

Cut the shortening into pieces and scatter along with the butter on top of the flour mixture and pulse about 10 times, or until the pieces are the size of peas.

Add the cold water and process for about 10 to 15 seconds, just until the pastry dough starts to come together. The pastry dough will still be crumbly in appearance. Don’t over process or your pastry will be tough. Turn the mixture out on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper. Gently pull the dough together using the parchment paper, pressing it into a disc. Set aside about ⅓ of the dough for the top crust.

Roll the dough into a rectangle, measuring about 14” x 11” x 1/8” thick, turning occasionally and dusting with flour as needed, so the dough doesn’t stick to the paper. Roll up around your rolling pin and gently place it into a rimmed baking sheet, fitting the dough into the corners and up the edge of the pan. Chill while you prep the apples.

For the apples:

Use your favorite apples or a blend. You’ll need about 2 to 3 pounds for 10 cups sliced.

4 tablespoons butter

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

1 Ginger Gold*, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

½ cups dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ cup mascarpone or softened cream cheese

Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the apples and cook stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.

*Ginger Gold is an apple that is slightly sweet and tart, making it an interesting addition to pies. McIntosh and Jonagold are always wonderful.

Add the mascarpone cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the apple mixture is smooth.

In a small bowl whisk the brown sugar with the flour and the spices.

Stir the sugar, spices, and flour into the apples and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes.

Remove the apples from the heat and add the vanilla extract, and check for seasoning, adding more kosher salt of brown sugar to suit your taste. Set aside to cool while you roll out the top crust.

To assemble:

Roll out the pastry for the top crust, into a large rectangle, about 14” x 10”. Pile the cooked apples into the pastry shell spreading them evenly.

Lift the pastry and place it on top of the apples. Turn the edges of the pastry together and tuck under then crimp with a fork, sealing the edges together.

Whisk the egg with the half and half. Lightly brush the top of the pie with the egg wash and sprinkle the extra sugar over the top of the pastry. Using a sharp knife cut 1” slits across the top of the pastry to allow the steam to escape while the pie bakes. Bake in a 375-degree oven for about 45 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown in color.

Set the pie on a wire rack to cool before slicing, allowing the juices to set.

This makes a generous pie, enough to feed you and 12 of your closet friends.

It’s baking season! One thing we always keep on hand is a great vanilla extract. Our “go to” brand is Nielsen-Massey. Their vanilla extracts are made using a cold extraction process, allowing the flavors to develop slowly over weeks instead of days. https://amzn.to/48QCpdg

We switched to King Arthur Flour years ago and have never been disappointed with the quality. We primarily bake with their all-purpose flour, but they also have a wide variety of flours, including bread, cake, pasta and gluten free. https://amzn.to/3AVEuYC

Cutting boards are an essential component to any kitchen. Our favorites, boards made by John Boos. They’re gorgeous, durable and are available in a number of wood finishes and sizes. https://amzn.to/4ftsNYq

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