The heirloom apple that makes this apple pie so tasty hails from Benton County, Arkansas. What makes it so special? The fragrant, tart, and tasty apple ripens to a deep red while still on the tree, but it continues to ripen after it is picked and transforms to a nearly black hue. Keep an eye out for these beautiful apples for your Thanksgiving pie. The Arkansas Black Apple Pie just needs a drizzle of Caramel Sauce and a scoop of ice cream to make your night perfect.
Provided by: SmallRecipe.com
Categories: Dessert
Total time: 7 hours 0 minutes
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients:
| 5 to 6 Arkansas Black or Granny Smith apples (about 3 1/2 lb.), peeled and thinly sliced |
| 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) or apple cider vinegar |
| 1 cup granulated sugar |
| 1/4 cup all-purpose flour |
| 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon |
| 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg |
| 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice |
| 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt |
| Double-Crust Pie Pastry |
| 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced |
| 1 large egg |
| 1 tablespoon water |
| 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional) |
| Caramel Sauce |
| Ice Cream |
Steps:
- Prepare the Apple Filling: Place apples and fresh lemon juice in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Stir together granulated sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, ground allspice, and kosher salt in a bowl; add to apple mixture, and toss well to combine.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 425°F. Unwrap 1 chilled pie dough disk from Double-Crust Pie Pastry, and place on a lightly floured surface. Let stand at room temperature until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle dough with flour, and roll into a 12-inch circle. Carefully fit dough circle into a 9-inch deep-dish glass pie plate, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Spoon filling into prepared crust, packing lightly to fill crust. Smooth out filling until even. (Do not mound in center.) Sprinkle diced butter over apples.
- Unwrap remaining chilled pie dough disk, and place on a lightly floured surface. Let stand at room temperature until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle dough with flour, and roll into a 12-inch circle. Cut dough round into 10 (3/4-inch-wide) strips. Arrange strips in a lattice design over filling; trim strips to be even with the bottom crust’s 1-inch overhang. Fold dough edges under, and crimp. Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Prepare the Egg Wash: Stir together large egg and water in a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, brush egg mixture evenly over piecrust. Sprinkle granulated sugar over piecrust, if desired.
- Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Loosely cover pie with aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F until crust is golden brown, apples are tender, and juices are bubbly, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, removing foil for the last 10 minutes of baking to finish browning crust. Transfer pie to a wire rack, and cool completely, about 3 hours. Serve pie with Caramel Sauce and, if desired, ice cream.
Arkansas Black apples are prized for their distinctive dark, almost purple, skins. If you can find them in your area, this simple recipe for caramelized skillet apples is a great way to let them shine. And if not, you can use any firm apple you prefer. Serve these apples alongside any roasted meat, from turkey to ham to chicken, for an easy and delicious side dish.
Provided by: SmallRecipe.com
Categories: Dessert
Total time: 15 minutes
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients:
| 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar |
| 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt |
| 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, cloves, or allspice |
| 1/4 cup unsalted butter |
| 5 cups unpeeled red apple slices (from 3 [1 3/4 lb. total] apples) |
| 3 tablespoons apple cider |
Steps:
- Stir together brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl, and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium. Add half of the apple slices in a single layer. (Don’t overcrowd the pan.) Cook, turning once, until slightly softened but still quite firm, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon. Repeat process with remaining apples.
- Return cooked apple slices to hot skillet, and add cider and reserved brown sugar mixture. Cook over medium, gently turning occasionally, until apples are glazed, browned, and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer fried apples to a serving bowl or plate. Serve warm.
What to do with Arkansas Black apples?
If you can find them in your area, this simple recipe for caramelized skillet apples is a great way to let them shine. This simple recipe is the perfect way to let Arkansas Black apples shine on your Thanksgiving table.
How long does it take for Arkansas Black apples to grow?
When grown from seed, Arkansas Black apples begin to produce fruit in about five years. The fruit set and quality improves with maturity, eventually causing the tree to produce an abundance of large, softball sized deep red to black apples.
What kind of apple trees grow in Arkansas?
Believed to be a natural offspring of the Winesap apple, the Arkansas Black was discovered in Benton County, Arkansas. It enjoyed a brief popularity in the late 19th century because of its dark red to black colored fruits and long storage life. Arkansas Black apple trees are compact, spur-bearing apple trees hardy in zones 4-8.
What does an Arkansas Black apple taste like?
Arkansas Black apples are vivid red to dark purple with a somewhat waxy skin. Its flesh is golden hued and juicy with a fine-grained and crisp texture. Its highly aromatic and sweet-tart flavor mellows and becomes more palatable with storage.