The Ultimate Apple Pie

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 sticks chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 6 tablespoons block-style, reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1/4 cup very cold water
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Cooking spray
• 3 pounds peeled apples (a mix of Gala and Granny Smith), cored and cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Preparation:

1. Place flours, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a food processor; pulse 15-20 times. Add butter and cream cheese; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add water and lemon juice; pulse just until dough forms.
2. Transfer dough to a floured surface; form into a disk. Separate disk into 2 halves; wrap both tightly in plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 375°. Coat a 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. Turn 1 dough half out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 13-inch round; transfer to parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate. Fit remaining circle of dough into pie plate; trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Using a fork, lightly pierce dough all over; chill until firm (about 20 minutes), or freeze 10 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, combine apples and next 7 ingredients (through nutmeg). Spoon filling into dough in pie plate; top with chilled dough. Fold overhang under edge of bottom dough; crimp overlap decoratively. Brush egg over dough; bake in middle of oven 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden and apples are tender. Let cool. Cut into 8 slices and serve (best when warm - right out of the oven).

 

 Yields 8 servings (serving size: 1 slice). Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 40 minutes.  Recipe adapted from health.com.