Best Apple Crumb Pie

Carol's Concoction.

I love apple pie, but honestly, who ever came up with the phrase, "Easy as Apple Pie" must have been a pie aficionada. Tell me, what's so easy about it?

Until I made this "Last-Ditch" version, combining a Apple Crumb recipe from Pinterest with my favorite Apple Crisp recipe. I was never happy with any recipe I tried in the past.
I wanted my apples to be softer, but not mushy.  (They never seemed to cook all the way through.) And I wanted the pie to be juicy, but not floating in liquid. (This was always the case.)
So I researched and came across a few ideas, adapted them and came up with this concoction.
Paul told me it was the best ever.  It's a keeper. 😊

Ingredients

For Pie Crust:
1 single pie crust
Follow recipe for Martha Stewart’s Pie Dough

For Filling:

  • 8 granny smith apples
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
  •  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

For Topping: Follow recipe from our Apple Crisp

  • 1 cup flour      
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar   
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 whole egg (slightly beaten)
  • 1/3 cup melted butter*
     

Instructions

Follow recipe for Martha Stewart’s Pie Dough
    Line a deep dish pie pan with one single crust. Poke a few fork holes across bottom.

  • Preheat oven to 450°F.

Topping:

  • Combine all dry topping ingredients using a fork until completely mixed and crumbly.

Filling:

  • Peel, core, and slice apples into thin slices (approximately ⅛ inch).
  • Toss apple slices with sugar, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest (if using), cinnamon, & nutmeg.
  • Layer apple slices in pie shell (it will be really full) and pour any leftover juice over the apples.
  • Top apple slices with topping and pat it down over the apples.
  • Carefully pour *1/3 cup melted butter over the topping.
  • Place pie pan on a cookie sheet (they tend to drip over if really full, this will save your oven).
  • Bake at 450°F for 15 minutes.
    Place a large sheet of foil over top to prevent over browning.
  • Reduce heat to 350°F and bake an additional 45-55 minutes.
  • (Poke the center of the pie to make sure the apples are soft all of the way through).
  • Serve warm or room temperature.