In our house holiday pies are never an afterthought. They are an event in and of themselves. My daughter Gabriella likes to remind me that her stomach has a special division devoted exclusively to dessert. She's a girl after my own heart, because I know exactly how she feels.
So, with Thanks-giving right around the corner, I am already thinking about pie. Last year our family went apple picking and got a little carried away. Thus, with an abundance of apples on hand, I was inspired to create the ultimate apple pie using my favorite Honeycrisp apples. Honeycrisps have a sweet flavor that has notes of honey and pear, but their juiciness can make them tricky to bake with.
After years of baking fruit pies, one of the key things I have learned is to use a good aluminum pie pan. This will ensure that you have a crisp crust. The other thing I do when I have a juicy fruits like Honeycrisp apples is to begin cooking the fruit on the stove so the filing has a chance to thicken a bit before it bakes.
My Honeycrisp apple pie has a flaky buttery crust with a spiced apple filling. This gloriously sweet and crispy pie is definitely worth saving room for. In our house we all try to eat a smidge less turkey and take a long Thanksgiving walk, because there is nothing like a slice of homemade apple pie.
- Amy McCauley of Hinsdale is the paper's food columnist. Readers can email her at [email protected].