I don’t know who came up with the phrase “simple as pie”. Does that mean as simple as it is to make pie .. or as simple as it is to eat pie? Because the former is definitely not always easy … largely because of the fact that pie involves pie crust.
However, my friend Lindsey recently made some *amazing* pie crust that has absolutely changed my view on crusts. For one thing, pastry is usually finicky and you have to be really careful on how you handle it. But this was SO low maintenance, easy to roll out and work with – it simply amazed me. It was 3 oz. of cream cheese, a stick of butter, and 1 cup of flour. Let the cream cheese and the butter come to room temperature, then blend it all together. And it is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Best tasting and easiest crust ever, at least in my book. Talk about win/win. Although, I don’t think I can really claim it is healthy. ;)
Once you have a good crust, I’m sure you can think of a ton of types of pie fillings, but this time of year apple pie is just so fitting. I tend to not measure things (so when I share recipes on my blog, I have to go and cook it first and measure as I go so that I know how what info to give you!). This one, though, I’m calling an “un-recipe” because I’m not giving you any very detailed info, just a general idea. I made this at home and we loved it. The goal is pretty much to make the apple pie as apple-y as possible. I grated up apples, and put them in a skillet. Maybe a little butter and brown sugar, but largely for the gooey part, add apple juice or apple cider to the skillet of grated apples and let that simmer down and reduce. For spice and, of course, more apple, add generous dollops of apple butter. Of course you can add more spices if you wish, too. But the combination of apples, apple juice or apple cider, and apple butter made a delicious and very apple-y filling for the pie.
It’s especially good when made from apples you gathered yourself from going apple picking with your family, of course. ;)
What is your favorite kind of pie?
Even though the name says “pie”, it is nothing like a pie – Boston Cream Pie is my absolute favorite. Something I’m sure you see in abundance in your new home town!
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had Boston Creme Pie! I’ve had Boston Cream Pie doughnuts … but never the real thing… I do love the doughnuts, though, so now I want to try it!
I’m a little bit in a state of disbelief about your piecrust. Seriously? I never would have guessed!
I LOVE pie, but you are so right about how long it takes to make one. And what a mess it makes too! Those two things are my biggest hangup these days. As a child, I loved pie so much that I always asked for it instead of cake on my birthday. We still do birthday pies frequently in our home, my husband usually requests blueberry. My favorite birthday pie was pear pie – very similar to apple, but it was always made with my grandmother’s pears from her tree, which I learned are very hard pears. Grocery store pears just make mushy pie. So now my favorite is good old apple pie. Though pumpkin runs a close second. Oh I’m so hungry now!
I know! I never would have guessed either!! I was really shocked. But it is. so. good. :)
Oh, and I’m totally on board with birthday pies. Your description is so mouth watering. :)
My favorite is definitely apple pie with a side of ice cream, chocolate fudge and nuts over it! I wish I had the patience to make an apple pie from scratch. I’ll make it one day. Your pie looks so yummy!
Mmmmmmmmmm sounds delicious!
cream cheese crust… man, that sounds ah-maze-ing. And super simple, which I’m a fan of, especially in the whole pie-making department. And my favorite pie of all time is strawberry rhubarb. I bet it would be pretty awesome with the cream cheesy crust too :)
Rhubarb is my favorite!! And people often seem surprised by that, so I’m glad to know a fellow rhubarb lover. I do really like strawberry rhubarb pie too. Wow, I’m so hungry now..
Seriously??? Wow… I so want to try this pie crust (purely as a scientific experiment, of course ;)). You made my favorite pie: apple. Does anything say chilly mornings, colored leaves, and toasty sweaters better than apple pie? Hmmm… now I’m feeling homesick for some true autumn days…
Psh, scientific whatever! You know you want to eat it. ;) And yeah, autumn .. New England for the win! ;)
I neither love pie nor making pie . . . a great disappointment to my husband, I think. But now you make me want to try it again!
Ahhh, I am a pie lover for sure. Not always so good about making it though, ha! But much more likely to with this recipe :)
I’m going to have to try this one! I’ve used he same pie crust recipe since I was in high school and I’m always looking for a new version. I think my favorite pie is actually a quiche! I use the exact same crust for my sweet and savory pies. Just make extra dough and you can do pies, quiches, cornish pastys, anything you need a basic crust for.
How long do you cook it for and on what temp?
I didn’t include any info on that … because honestly, when I learned this crust, I didn’t get that info myself, haha! Part of why I called this an un-recipe. But it’s really about the same as standard pie crust as far as time/temp go. As far as the pie crust itself, I suppose it depends on what type of pie you’re doing, like if you’re doing something like a meringue pie or something like that where you bake the crust first, then fill it, vs. a pie where you fill it uncooked and bake it altogether. As far as the apple pie specifically, I honestly never pay a whole lot of attention to the time/temp (which is part of why I tend to be much more of a cook than a baker), so I don’t remember exactly. Probably somewhere around 325 for 45 min, covering the pie with foil for the bulk of that time. Sorry I don’t have more detailed info, though! In general, though, you can just go with the cooking time/temp you normally would with regular pie crust.