MJ baked a pie! Shocking!
Actually, I thought I would finish off my first year of blogging with something completely different and post a pie recipe! With this post I actually had to add a “dessert” section to my recipe index. 🙂
I’ve always been a fan of apple pie, but haven’t made many of them, but then I haven’t made many pies at all. I’m actually more of a cobbler person. However, I couldn’t resist the high praise from the two young girls that promised me that this Caramel Apple Pie would be the best apple pie you’d ever eat! It sounded like a dare to me. So I took the challenge and do not regret it!
This pie IS the best apple pie I have ever eaten. It wasn’t anything like I thought it would be. I thought – due to the word “caramel” – that it would be really, really sweet. However, the opposite was true. I used Granny Smith apples and the pie maintained some of the tartness of the apple but was sweetened, but not too much, by the caramel. The caramel actually melted into the apples but, since some of it is poured over the crust before baking, I also ended up with this sweet, crispy lattice crust. It was perfect!
I did make a couple of changes that I noted in the recipe with italics. I loved the outcome, so the next time I make this, and I will make it again, I’ll make it the same way. O.K. – now brace yourself – I didn’t make my own crust. I used readymade crust, but like I’ve said before – I’m not a baker and when I do bake, I’m a lazy baker. 🙂
Caramel Apple Pie
One of the best apple pies you’ll ever make!
- 1 crust for bottom and 1 crust for lattice top
- 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- juice from 1 lime
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon, optional (I reduced this to 1/2 tsp.)
- Prepare your crust and lattice pieces for assembly because the caramel mixture thickens quickly once it is made.
- Cut the lattice strips and have them ready to assemble. Place in the refrigerator and cover until time to place over pie.
- Place the bottom crust in pan. Brush with egg whites to keep crust from getting soggy. Place this in the fridge as well until time to assemble. (I forgot to brush with egg whites, but it didn’t seem to matter.)
- Preheat oven to 425ºF (218° C). You should bake the pie on the middle rack.
- Peel and slice the apples. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the lime juice.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste.
- Whisk in the water, white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let simmer for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly to thicken the caramel.
- Work quickly because the caramel mixture thickens as it cools. Pour about 2/3 of the caramel over the apples. Mix well.
- Pour the apple mixture into the bottom crust of the pie pan. Cover the apples with a lattice crust.
- Gently pour the remaining caramel sauce evenly over the lattice crust.
- Place a pan under the middle rack, to catch any run off.
- Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350ºF (175ºC). Continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes, until apples are soft.
- Let cool and enjoy!
This recipe is similar to Apple Pie by Grandma Ople on Allrecipes.
In order to savor this delicious pie, Bobby and I split a quarter of the pie for 4 consecutive days until it was gone. Each night we changed it up a bit. Here’s how we enjoyed it:
- A plain piece of pie about 30 minutes after coming out of the oven – the best!
- A piece warmed in the microwave then served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- A piece with a slice of cheddar cheese on top then warmed under the broiler (did this twice – YUM!)
All three were excellent!
If you make this pie, let me know. I’ll pass it on to Julia and Sera who will be thrilled!
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I am so making this today!!!!! I hope you are having a great day!! Thanks for all of your sweet comments on my blog!!!
Save me a piece!!! 🙂 Perfect time of year for it. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by my friend!
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Yummy pie!!
LOL, welcome to the dark side! You pie sounds fabulous…and you aced that lattice topping!!!
For a first timer, you pie sure came out looking gorgeous and delicious! Congrats on finishing your first year of blogging and “Yay” for that dessert section for the index. 🙂
MJ baked a pie… shocking, indeed 🙂
But she baked a hell of a pie 🙂
My belated birthday wishes to your blog, MJ! 🙂 The pie is looks to die for and congratulations on being featured on Midweek Fiesta! This recipe totally deserves to be in the limelight. That caramel puts this pie one step ahead of all apple pie recipes that I have tried. I have bookmarked it and will try it as I’m crazy about pies in general. It looks spectacular. For someone who claims to be a lazy baker, that’s one impressive creation. Are you telling us the truth? 😉
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congratulations!!This is one of the featured posts of Midweek Fiesta today!!Hope to see you there…
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your recipe is being featured on Today’s Menu Round Up.
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=25855
Please go grab a “featured” button.
THANK YOU for sharing your recipe with us at Cast Party Wednesday.
—Sheryl—
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Congratulations on 1st annivasary!!This looks so delicious & fabulous!!,Thanks for sharing with Midweek Fiesta…
CONGRATS on completing 1 year! what a milestone.. and this gorgeous apple pie is a fitting tribute! looks absolutely perfect
Oh my gosh that looks crazy good. I’m wondering if I could be even lazier and use ready made caramel lol
Hi MJ,
WoW I am impressed with the weave for your top pie crust. Sometimes one of my bands will break, your weave looks perfect! This is a great Caramel Apple Pie that I can’t wait to make. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Happy blog anniversary 🙂 This pie looks lovely and so neatly shaped. Great job MJ !
Looks so good thanks for sharing at Taste This Thursday!
The apple pie looks great, and I am guessing it tastes great too!
I don’t make many pies, but I might just try this one, it looks wonderful.
The pie looks gorgeous, MJ! Truly a perfect way to finish off your first year of blogging!
I don’t bake often too..only on special occasions and when my cravings call for it!
Happy anniversary to your blog, btw…and more power!
I would love it if you came by CAST PARTY WEDNESDAY and shared your recipe with us. Thanks, I hope to see you there!
—Sheryl—
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/?p=25565
MJ, what a wonderful rustic look you’ve achieved with this pie. Caramel and apple are two flavors that are as timeless as peanut butter and jelly and this looks simply delicious. Wonderful creation, as usual!
Oh my gosh, you just said the magic words…”caramel”. That is one beautiful pie!
Oh MJ that pie looks absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to try it on my own. I love apple baked things… and I love cinnamon.. this would be the perfect treat for me… we could exchange apple pie and ajwa… right? 😉
Delicious!!!!
Congrats MJ, what a perfect recipe to celebrate….
This pie actually made me smile….
Oh, I love apples and caramel together, the perfect match! Your pie looks so delicious…yum!
Congratulations on your 1st blog anniversary! What a gorgeous and tempting pie!
MJ….this pie is GORGEOUS! I would never believe you are not a big pie baker. Because I gotta tell you….this is just picture perfect. Actually, I like the storebought crusts and usually have pretty good success with it…..but I’ve NEVER made a pie that looks like this! I love how the light is playing off your lattice crust too! I love apple pie, and I bet the caramel paired with tart Granny Smith’s is just perfect! I’m telling you MJ….if you open up shop….I’ll order one right now! : )
MJ, congrats…the pie looks delish and the lattice on top is soo beautifully done…and the click on top with sun rays on it…is making me wish I could just dig in…YUM!
Hey, one year of blogging already? Congratulation, MJ! Now, on that apple pie. I keep scrolling up and down to look at the picture again, and again. Are you sure this is not professionally made? hmmm? It looks so perfect, you know.
Love the photo and the lighting.
~ ray ~
I love apple pie! It’s my favorite dessert of all time! And one of the only pies I bother making! Glad it was worth the baking for you.
I had no choice but to feature this pie. Apples and Caramel are the greatest. A beautiful and delicious pie. It jumped out at me and I knew selfishly, I wanted a bigger photo, on my blog so I did it. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this with Bake with Bizzy.
😉 Thank you Darlin!!!!!!
Ahhh this looks delicious! I love the combo of caramel and apples, and with the cheese thrown in as a bonus … I’m drooling just thinking about it!
The lighting on those pictures is amazing.
that pie sounds delicious!
Now you really got me drooling, talk about a delicious looking pie. I can even smell it in my mind. Thanks, I love your site.
This sounds delish and looks amazing! I love your lattice top pie crust! Have a wonderful week!
“I’m actually more of a cobbler person.” That describes me pretty well, too. Love to eat pie, but prefer to make cobbler. Gotta say, though, for someone who doesn’t make many pies, yours looks spectacular. Really great pictures. But I’m a sucker for texture in pictures. Anyway, this looks good. I’m not a big maker of desserts, but this is a serious candidate for my Big List ‘O Recipes To Make. Thanks.
This looks absolutely delicious. Would love for you to share this with us over at foodepix.com.
Thanks for all of the great comments and congratulations on my first year of MJ’s Kitchen! It’s been a fun year and nothing of what I expected. It’s been better! I look forward to spending more time with all of my new foodie friend bloggers and non-bloggers! You’re all great!
Apple and Caramel are a match made in heaven – and this pie sure does look heavenly. Look at that pretty crust! A large slice, please, with some vanilla icecream please!
Hello –
I’m not a great baker but your Caramel Apple Pie recipe is going to get a try!
Thanks. Allen.
I haven’t made apple pie either. But I always want to make something with lattice.
Congratulations on your first year…wishing you many more 🙂
This pie is gorgeous, and I would have thought it would be extra sweet with the word caramel in the title, but glad that is not the case 🙂
Brilliant job! This looks like the work of a pro! Like you, I too don’t like my dessert too sweet. Would love to try your version of apple pie…I am sure it will work for me too.
That’s one delicious looking pie! I could eat apple for every single meal and not get sick of it.
Hi MJ! Congrats on finishing your first year with this delicious looking apple pie, and creating a dessert category (yes!)! I don’t make desserts too but I love eating them, especially apple pie like this. It’s so dangerous if I bake this at home… I don’t think I’d share with anyone… 😉
HI MJ, your pie looks perfect. I am not an apple pie lover either but with the caramel, it sounds like a hit. I could go for some of this. BTW, I am finally recieving your posts via e-mail. Have a great Sunday!!
This apple pie is on Allrecipes http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-pie-by-grandma-ople/ and it is definitely the best! It’s the only one I ever make anymore.
Julie, Thanks for the link to the allrecipe pie! The ingredients are basically the same. The only difference I saw is the allrecipes recipe pours all of the caramel over the crust, whereas this one mixes most with the apples, then some over the crust. I’m not sure how that would change the outcome. Either way – it’s a great pie! I adjusted the recipe to an adaptation. Thanks again!
That’s right MJ, I forgot about that. I always do it your way, too. It seems too messy to pour ALL of that sauce through the lattice!
Congrats for your anniversary, MJ! So happy to have been connected here with you. And what a wonderful treat to celebrate your feat..an apple pie..love that criss cross design on your pie. And like the sunlight peeing through..its making the pie look wonderful.
Love and warm hugs.
This is really your first sweet recipe here? (I’m a very recent follower…) It looks as if it was made by a very experienced and frequent dessert maker, so I hope to see more sweet treats here!
The cheddar cheese on top? It sounds so unusual I will certainly remember it next time I make an apple pie/tart. A very creative idea!
What nice comment! No – I’m not a baker. Baking requires measuring and I’m not a good at measuring things. I estimate A LOT! 🙂 Thanks for joining me here! I look forward to getting to know you!
MJ, this looks great! I am not much of a baker either yet I think I can handle this recipe.
Right now I’m only wishing I was your neighbor for a slice of your apple pie! It looks spectacular. Really.
Congrats on your first year!! Caramel apple pie oh I’m all over this, perfection!!
Hi MJ – this looks like a great pie, I’m loving the sound of the caramel on this. I was reading your notes at the end and was surprised by the idea of cheddar cheese melted on top – I never had cheese and apple pie before – I wonder what it’s like 😀
MJ… you need to bake more pies because your caramel apple pie is stunning!! I always think lattice pies are so beautiful and you did a superb job! I’m happy the pie was not too sweet.. that’s the problem I usually have with apple pie. I usually go for cherry or strawberry pie because of the tartness… so since this one has some tartness it may be the apple pie for me too. 🙂 PS.. I have never tried apple pie with cheese on top. Wow…I amso curious what it tastes like. I will have to give it a try since you did that one twice. 🙂 Have a great weekend! ~ Ramona
Thanks Ramona! Actually, making the lattice crust was the part I enjoyed the most when making this pie! 🙂 You have to try apple pie with cheddar – it’s so good!
That pie is a stunner–I’ve never had lattice crust look that good! Good call on the apples, too–Granny Smiths seem like the right choice to keep this from being too sweet.
If you say this is the best apple pie you’ve ever had, then I believe you – and have to make this asap!
I’ve had some good apple pie, so I’m very curious about what the “best apple pie” tastes like. It certainly looks impressive, and you really can’t beat the combination of caramel and apples.
Congratulations on completing your first year of blogging MJ! I look forward to many more of your delicious posts…
Now just look at that incredible lattice topping – it looks crispy gorgeous and I’ve always found lattice just so darn impressive on a pie 😉 – love it! I do like a good pie and when I saw the word “caramel” I imagined caramel syrup or something of that nature, so I’m glad you didn’t find it overly sweet; sounds like it might be right up my alley. What a great way to celebrate! Thanks MJ.
Thanks Kelly! It’s been a fun year and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and so many others!
haha i used to claim i wasn’t a baker… but things just keep coming out of my oven! …hm, that sounds a little dirty 😉 i do try to make my own crusts though simply because the pre-made store-bought ones have a whole lot of crap in them that scares me.
this pie looks phenomenal. 🙂 caramel and apples? heck yeah!
Totally agree with all of the crap in storebought pie crust; however, since I only buy about 6 crusts a year (mostly for quiche and calzone), I ignore the junk and embrace the convenience. 🙂
I prefer cobbler as well and like you I’m a pretty lazy baker. The easier the better and why go through all the trouble to make your own crust when they make pretty darned good crust anyway? This pie looks so good! I have never tried apple pie with cheddar cheese on top but if you say it’s yummy, I may have to give it a try.
I think I adopted the cheddar cheese on apple pie from my mother. I’ve been eating it that way most of my life.