Sometimes you just want comfort food and a big hug.  When you feel like this, a homemade apple pie can’t be beaten.  It is the perfect feel good food.  A bit of effort required here but the result is well worth it.

Ingredients:

Pastry
– 350g Plain flour
– 250g butter
– 30g Golden caster sugar
– 150ml Ice cold water
– 1 x Egg

Filling
– 2kg Apples (I used Braeburn)
– 50g Butter
– 100g Light soft brown sugar
– 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
– Lemon juice

Special Equipment:
Food Processor
26cm Pie dish

Serves – 6/8

Method:
Step 1 – The peel
Okay you need to get your head into peeling here! Peel and core all the apples. Cut half into large chunks, place in a bowl and then squeeze over some lemon juice. Cut the remainder into smaller chunks, place in a separate bowl and squeeze over some lemon juice.

Step 2 – The freeze
Take the butter for the pastry and cut into small cubes. Place the cubes in the freezer.

Step 3 – The cook
Place the sugar, cinnamon and butter into a large pan and place on a medium heat. When the butter and sugar have melted add the large apple chunks and cook for 10 mins then add the smaller chunks and cook for a further 5 mins. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Step 4 – The pastry
Place the flour, sugar and butter from the freezer into a food processor. Blitz until you have a roughly combined mixture. Add the water and then pulse until the pastry just comes together. Tip out onto a work surface and bring together with your hands. There will be lumps of butter, don’t worry about this. Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for an hour.

Step 5 – The roll
Remove the pastry from the fridge and cut in half. On a floured surface, roll out one half of the pastry and place in the pie dish. Using a slotted spoon, carefully place the cool apples into the pie dish. Be careful not to get too much of the juice that will be with the apples or you will have a soggy bottom!
Beat the egg together and egg wash the rim of the pie. Roll out the remaining half of pastry and place on top of the pie. Trim the edges and then run a fork around the rim to seal. Egg wash the top and then sprinkle on some golden caster sugar. Cut a small cross in the centre and then place in the fridge for an hour.

Step 6 – The bake
Preheat your oven to 190 fan. Place the pie into the oven and cook for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Step 7 – The serve
Serve a generous bowlful with lashings of custard or a big scoop of vanilla ice-cream.