This beautiful skillet apple pie is a simple and rich caramel apple pie that everyone will fall in love with after a single bite.
At one point I wanted to share a story with you about how I was watering plants in the garden when a hummingbird stopped by my ear and I looked over then we stared at one another for a few seconds before it fluttered away. I wanted to share how loudly the beating of its wings was and how it was so close I could feel the air moving. I thought I’d share how those brief moments completely changed my perspective on life while I thought about the incredible journeys these small birds make just to survive. But then I realized how cheesy that all sounds and how overly “bloggy” that all was. I saw a hummingbird. We looked at each other and it flew away. It was kind of neat, but let’s not make it anything more special than what it really was. I am just not that kind of girl. Sometimes I wish I could be, but I’m not.
When it comes to autumn flavors, I am definitely one of the people who goes crazy for pumpkin everything. I may sneak into a Starbucks a few miles away where no one knows me and order a Venti PSL. I may or may not be wearing Ugg boots at the time. I may or may not have been on a hunt for a sweater that says "Freaky for Fall." Lately, I’ve been craving all things apple. Perhaps because the part of me that understands that it is still technically summer wants to stick to sweet fruit.
I love a simple pie and while this skillet apple pie might not seem terribly simple, but trust me it is. Despite all the decoration on top, you can get as fancy or simple as you want. I don't recommend a full second top crust because you need a lot of steam to escape the pie to prevent a soupy filling. If you don't know how to do a lattice pie crust, it is easy! Simple lay strips going one way, then add them going the second way. Lift up every other strip that was going the first direction to create the weaving pattern. I've been loving the braid in pies and as long as you go slowly, it is easier than braiding your own hair. As for the leaves and apple cut outs? I got this pie crust set from William-Sonoma and it makes this skillet apple pie - and any other pie - look super fancy with practically no effort!
Skillet Apple Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter cut in cubes cold
- 4 tablespoons shortening
- 4 – 8 tablespoons ice water
For the Filling
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 6 – 7 Granny Smith apples peeled and sliced thinly
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- Egg wash*
Instructions
- Make the pie crust. Mix together the flour, salt, and sugar together. Cut in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles large bread crumbs. Slowly add in the water, one tablespoon at a time, gently mixing it in and adding more water as necessary for the dough to just come together. Turn the dough onto plastic wrap and shape into a disc. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Start the filling. Add the butter, both sugars, spices, salt. water, and vanilla together in a small saucepan. Heat on medium-high. Stir until the butter is melted and heat until bubbling. Boil for about 3 minutes undisturbed, then remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
- Toss the apples into a bowl and add the lemon juice over the apples. Coat in the cornstarch. Set aside.
- Turn a little over half the pie dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out until it is about ¼ inches thick. Place the dough into a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Tuck the edges of the dough under the crust, leaving a centimeter or so overhang. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Mix the apples with the caramel mixture, Pour into the pie crust. Freeze.
- While the filling is freezing, roll out the remaining pie crust to top. Choose any method you wish.
- To make the design I created: Cut 6 strips that are about 1 ½ inches wide. Lay the longest two on the middle point of the pie to look like a plus sign. Spaced evenly, add a second lattice crust on one side, then the other, lifting the opposite lattice piece as necessary. Repeat on the other side. Cut a long strip of crust, leaving a centimeter of the dough still attached to the rest of the crust, cut another strip the same width, again still attached. Cut a third strip, but going through to separate the three strands. Braid as normal. (I find chilling my hands with an ice cube, then drying before touching the dough helps when braiding). Take out the pie and add the braid to the edge of the pie, leaving most of the braid inside instead of hanging over the edge of the crust. Create another braid as needed to cover the pie in the braid. Roll out the dough and cut out leaves and the apple, arrange the leaves on the side of the crust. Freeze again for at least 30 minutes.
- Leave the pie freezing as you preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Take out the pie and Brush the crust with egg wash.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, then cover the edges with aluminum foil. Bake again for 55 – 65 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and steaming.
Notes
*Recipe and photos updated 9/5/16
Sabrina says
This pie looks beautiful, Amanda! Cool cooking method, too.
Christine Berres says
I rolled out of bed today and it was raining. I got to work and saw en email with a link to this post. Fall had saturated everything, my inbox, my keyboard... like destiny was prompting me to click the link to the full post. 😉
I love it. What a beautiful, beautiful pie. And I loved the post. I'm telling you - make your own t-shirts and sell them here! 😛
Amanda says
Haha I think I might take you up on it. If anything, I will make at least one for myself and wear it everywhereeeeee! And yes, fall is definitely in full swing - despite the heat!
Colleen says
Ok..your pie is very Fallish looking and I'll bet it's as good it looks! But...my thing is your hummingbird "close encounter"...Don't minimize that special moment. How lucky you are that that tiny little creature was so curious about you. I am envious. I had something similar one day as well. I was sitting on our front porch and a little hummer flew by and then came back and just hovered right in front of me looking in my face. That was as special to me as your moment was to you. I think we are lucky...
Amanda says
Yes, it was special and very neat. I felt kinda lucky. I just find that sometimes bloggers will sometimes over exaggerate moments and turn them into mind blowing, life altering events. Maybe it is that way for them, but it often feels a bit much to me. But I do definitely appreciate the moment the little hummingbird and I had! They are such amazing little creatures, aren't they? I am glad we were both able to have similar experiences!!
Rachel says
This looks amazing! My husband is a huge apple pie fan. It looks so good in that cast iron skillet and I would totally eat it for breakfast too!
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says
Your pie looks beautiful, Amanda! I love how you sliced them - they look like hasselback potatoes; I love the way you arranged them. The crust looks perfectly golden and flaky too. I'd eat this for breakfast too! :p
June @ How to Philosophize with Cake says
What a cool pie! Never would have thought of using a skillet to make one but it sounds great. Love the way you sliced the apples, so pretty 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This looks delicious! Love that it's in a skillet- the presentation is out of this world 🙂
Marsha @ Marsha's Baking Addiction says
This pie looks so delicious! My family would love it!