Easy Apple Pie

1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 recipe No-Roll Pie Crust (below)
Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a very large bowl stir together the 1/2 cup sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add apples. Stir to combine. Let stand while making No-Roll Pie Crust (below).

2. For pie crust, with your hands firmly press two of the dough portions onto bottom of a 9-inch pie plate and up the sides; continue pressing to form an edge at the rim. Set aside.

3. Divide remaining dough portion into 6 equal parts. On waxed paper, pat each dough portion into 3-inch circles; set aside. Transfer apple mixture to pie shell. Top with dough circles. Sprinkle with additional sugar.

4. Place a baking sheet on oven rack; place pie plate on baking sheet. Bake pie for 65 minutes or until filling is bubbly in the center. If necessary, cover top of pie with foil the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning. Remove pie from oven; remove foil; place on wire rack to cool completely. Makes 8 servings.

No-Roll Pie Crust: In a bowl stir together 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl stir together 1/2 cup cooking oil and 1/3 cup milk; add all at once to flour mixture. Stir with fork until dough mixture comes together. With floured hands form ball. Divide in three equal balls. Proceed with Step 2 above.

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 recipe Pastry for Double-Crust Pie (see below)
1 tablespoon butter

1. In a large mixing bowl toss apples with lemon juice. Combine granulated sugar, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add to apples and toss until apples are coated. Set apple mixture aside.

2. Prepare Pastry for Double-Crust Pie. Divide dough in half. Form each half into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 ball of dough into a 12-inch circle. Ease pastry into a 9-inch pie plate.

3. Transfer apple mixture to pastry-lined pie plate. Dot with butter. Trim pastry even with pie plate. For top crust, roll out remaining dough. Cut slits in top crust. Place top crust on the filling. Seal and flute the edge.

4. To prevent overbrowning, cover the edge of the pie with foil. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake for 20 to 25 minutes more or until the top is golden brown and apples are tender. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Pastry for Double-Crust Pie: Stir together 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2/3 cup butter until pieces are pea size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon cold water at a time, until all the dough is moistened (6 to 8 tablespoons water total).

Make-Ahead Tip: Up to seven days ahead, prepare pastry; roll into rounds. Stack between waxed paper on a baking sheet. Wrap, seal, label, and freeze. Thaw at room temperature before using. Pastry also may be refrigerated for up to three days.

Crunchy Apple Pie

1 recipe Pastry for Single-Crust Pie (see below)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples
1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Prepare Pastry for Single-Crust Pie. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim; crimp edge as desired.

2. For Crumb Topping, stir together brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, and the oats. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until the topping mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl stir together the granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, the cinnamon, and salt. Add apple slices and gently toss until coated. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate. Sprinkle Crumb Topping over apple mixture.

4. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes more or until top is golden. Remove from oven; sprinkle pie with pecans. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 8 servings.

Pastry for Single-Crust Pie: In a bowl stir together 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup butter until pieces are pea-size. Using 4 to 5 tablespoons cold water total, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of water at a time over the flour mixture, tossing with a fork until all of the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.

Autumn Apple Pie

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter
6 to 7 tablespoons cold water
2/3 to 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 to 8 medium apples, peeled and sliced (7-1/2 cups)
1/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries, or snipped dried apricots or figs, or raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons butter

1. For pastry, stir together 2 cups all-purpose flour and salt in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of mixture, then gently toss with a fork. Push to side of the bowl. Repeat, using more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all is moistened. Divide dough in half. Form each half into a ball.

2. On a lightly floured surface, flatten one ball of dough with your hands. Using a rolling pin, roll dough from the center to the edge, forming a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Transfer pastry to a 9-inch pie plate. Carefully ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch it. Roll out remaining ball of dough to a 12-inch circle.

3. For filling, stir together sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add apples and dried fruit, if desired; toss to coat. If apples lack tartness, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Transfer apple mixture to pastry-lined pie plate. Trim bottom pastry to the edge of pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; place on top of apples.

4. Make decorative cutouts in top crust to allow steam to escape. Place top crust on filling. Trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold top crust under bottom crust; seal and flute as desired. Cover edge of pie with foil to prevent overbrowning.

5. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil. Bake 20 to 25 minutes more or until top is golden. Cool on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers, and use within 2 days. Makes 8 servings.

Mile-High Apple Pie

1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 lb. cooking apples, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (about 12 cups)
1 recipe Oat Pastry for Caramel Apple Pie, OR one 15-oz. pkg. rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust (2 crusts)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Preheat oven to 475F. In very large bowl combine butter and cinnamon; add apples and toss gently to coat. Spread apples evenly in a parchment paper- or foil-lined, large roasting pan or two 15x10x1-inch baking pans. Roast (one pan at a time if using baking pans) 4 to 5 inches from heat for 7 to 10 minutes or until apples start to brown on edges, turning once halfway through. Cool apples in pan(s). Reduce heat to 375F.

2. Prepare Oat Pastry or let refrigerated pastry stand at room temperature according to package directions. Line 9-inch pie plate with half of pastry as directed.

3. In very large bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, and salt. Add apple slices and any juices; stir to coat. Transfer to pastry-lined pie plate. Trim top crust to edge of pie plate. Fold top pastry edge under bottom pastry; crimp edge. Cover edge of pie with foil to prevent overbrowning.

4. Place on middle shelf in oven; place foil-lined baking sheet on lower rack beneath pie. Bake 30 minutes; remove foil from pie. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes more or until top is golden and filling is bubbly. Remove to a wire rack. While warm, drizzle with some of the caramel topping. Cool completely. Serve with remaining topping. Makes 8 servings.

Oat Pastry: In medium bowl, stir together 2 cupss flour, 1/2 cup quick cooking oats, and 1 teaspoon salt. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over part of mixture; gently toss with fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all dough is moistened. (You will need 8 to 10 Tbsp. total water.) Divide in half; form each half into a ball. On lightly floured surface, flatten 1 dough ball. Roll from center to edge into 12-inch circle. To transfer pastry, wrap around rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry even with rim of pie plate. Fill pie plate with filling. On lightly floured surface roll remaining dough into 14-inch circle; cut slits for stream to escape. Place on top of fruit filling; trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold top crust under bottom crust; crimp edge. Makes pastry for 2-crust pie.