Apple pie, the soft traditional dessert: recipes.

The apple pie is the dessert that has always made both adults and children dream all over the world. How can we forget the intense and sweet aroma of a freshly baked pie? And the joy of biting into a nice slice with a glass of cold milk before going to bed? The protagonist of homemade desserts, the apple pie is an aromatic and rustic treat, delightful in its essentiality.

The ingredients to make it, in fact, are those that we usually all keep in our pantry. Clearly, there are variations, but generally speaking, it is a dessert that can be made with what is available at home. The only rule for making the perfect apple pie is that the star ingredient, the apple, must be of the highest quality.
The apples used must be sweet and juicy, preferably organic, so that you can also use the peel if you want to bake a more rustic version. In our section dedicated to fresh fruit, you will find the apples that are right for you. But now, let's embark on the discovery of the apple pie!

Apple Pie: Here is the traditional classic recipe

For the traditional apple pie recipe, you will need 700g of apples, three fresh eggs, preferably organic, 70g of butter previously softened, 300g of 00 flour (if desired, you can mix whole wheat flour with 00), 200g of sugar, a glass of milk, one edible organic lemon, and a packet of baking powder.
First, peel the apples and cut them into pieces, sprinkling them with lemon juice to prevent browning.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, and once done, whisk the yolks with the sugar until completely dissolved. Add the butter while continuing to beat the mixture.
Pour in the milk and mix until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous batter, without lumps. At this point, you can finally add the sifted flour, baking powder, and lemon zest. Now you can fold in the beaten egg whites and the apples into the batter. Pour the mixture into a greased cake pan, covering the surface with a few thin slices of apple and a few dots of butter. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about fifty minutes. And now, take it out! Your pie is ready to enjoy. Perfect for a family snack or as a homemade dessert for a packed lunch, your pie will truly wow everyone.

Discovering Grandma's Apple Pie

For the grandma's apple pie, that is, the rustic and original one, fragrant and “crumbly,” you will need 300g of shortcrust pastry, 4 eggs, 2 tablespoons of flour, 80g of sugar, 200ml of milk, 100ml of cream, 1 edible lemon, 2 medium-sized apples, and 20g of powdered sugar.
Get a removable bottom mold so there is no need to grease it. Start by preheating the oven to 180°C. Roll out the pastry with a rolling pin and place it in the tart mold of about 20 cm in diameter. Then, prick the bottom with a fork and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. In a separate bowl, grate the lemon zest and extract its juice. In a bowl, combine the eggs (two whole eggs and two yolks) and the zest, then add the sifted flour, cream, milk, and granulated sugar, mixing with a whisk. Peel the apples and slice them thinly, drizzling with lemon juice. Arrange the slices on the pastry in a circle and pour the egg and sugar mixture on top. Sprinkle the surface with a bit of sugar and bake the tart for about 45 minutes at 180°C. Your grandma's lemon cream tart is ready!

Eggless Apple Pie? Yes, it can be done!

The eggless apple pie is the perfect alternative for those who are not very tolerant of this ingredient or for those who simply do not have eggs available at home. For this recipe, you will need 2 organic apples, 100g of wholemeal flour, 120g of 00 flour, 120g of sugar, 100ml of seed oil (not olive oil as the flavor might be too strong), a packet of baking powder, 200ml of cow's or plant-based milk, a bit of lemon juice, and a pinch of cinnamon.
First, clean the apples, then peel them and make thin slices, drizzling with lemon juice to prevent browning. In a bowl, combine the sifted flour, sugar, and baking powder, then add the milk, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, and the oil, mixing until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Fold in half of the apples into the batter and continue mixing. Pour the mixture into a baking pan lined with parchment paper, then neatly arrange the apples on the surface and sprinkle with a bit of sugar. Bake at 180°C for 40 minutes. And here is your eggless pie, truly delicious.

Gluten-Free Apple Pie? This can also be done!

The gluten-free apple pie is a very tasty dessert, ideal for anyone who is gluten intolerant. The star of this recipe, besides the apple, is indeed rice flour, gluten-free. Don’t wrinkle your nose: rice flour is truly delicate, and desserts that use this ingredient are surprisingly good, as they are light and delicate. For this dessert, you will need 200g of rice flour (take a look at our selection; if you are not familiar with this ingredient, you might be surprised by the many varieties available), 50g of potato starch, 150g of brown sugar, 4 eggs, 100g of melted and cooled butter, 3 apples, 1 lemon, and a packet of baking powder and cinnamon.
To prepare your gluten-free pie, pour sugar and eggs into a large bowl and whisk (or use an electric mixer) until you obtain a light and frothy mixture. Add the melted and cooled butter (this is important, otherwise, you may cook the eggs) and continue mixing.
Incorporate the sifted rice flour, potato starch, baking powder, lemon zest, and a pinch of cinnamon and mix the ingredients.
Then, add 2/3 of the peeled apples, cut into pieces and drizzled with a bit of lemon juice, and fold them into the mixture. Pour into a 20-24 cm diameter mold, preferably a removable one, lightly greased and floured. On top, arrange the thin apple slices, then sprinkle with about 10g of brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Bake at 180°C for about 30 minutes. At this point, your gluten-free apple pie will be ready to eat, and a heavenly aroma will waft through your kitchen.

Vegan Apple Pie: No Eggs and No Dairy

We couldn’t fail to propose a vegan apple pie as well. Without eggs and dairy, this dessert is perfect for anyone looking for a light and fluffy pie while following a vegan or vegetarian diet. You will need 120g of 00 flour, 120g of whole wheat flour, 125g of raw brown sugar, 1 packet of cream of tartar or regular baking powder, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a pinch of salt, 60ml of sunflower seed oil, 100ml of orange juice, 140ml of soy milk or other plant-based milk, 2 large apples, and 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Meanwhile, wash the apples, cut them into quarters, remove the core, and slice them thinly. Combine the liquid ingredients: oil, milk, and orange juice, with the dry ingredients and mix well to form a homogeneous batter. Add two-thirds of the apples, mixing to coat each slice with the batter. Line a cake pan with parchment paper and pour in the mixture. Then decorate as desired, brushing the surface with maple syrup (or use a bit of sugar) and bake at 180°C in a static oven for 50 minutes.

As you can see, there is something for everyone. The apple tart is truly the quintessential dessert, the “once in a lifetime” experience that should be tried at least once. It’s up to you to choose the recipe that convinces you the most. We at Spaghetti&Mandolino will be here to provide you with the ingredients you need. Between flour, eggs, and apples, on our site, you will find everything you need for a cake with a truly Italian flavor. So, which variation have you chosen?

Maria Nardone

S&M