Some recipes become family traditions, but others become a way to keep someone’s memory alive. Mama Jean’s Apple Pie is one of those special recipes. Made by Mama Jean every Thanksgiving, this beloved pie has been passed down through the family and continues to have a place on the holiday table each year.
Crust
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter or shortening
- ½ cup cold water
Mix the salt and flour. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or fork. Add ½ cup ice-cold water and mix well. Separate into 2 balls and roll out on a floured board.
Filling
- 8 cups finely (thinly) sliced apples, peeled
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes
Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, and lightly sprinkle with cinnamon. Dot with 2 Tbsp butter. Pour sugar mixture over apples. Cover with the top crust, flute the edges, and poke fork holes. Brush milk over the crust and sprinkle with sugar.
Baking
Bake at 425° for 45 minutes, until the crust is golden. After 20 minutes of baking, cover the edges of the crust with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning.
Tip: To achieve braided crust, follow the steps below. Double crust recipe for extra dough, or use a premade pie crust.
1. Roll out the extra dough to about ⅛ inch thick. Cut strips about ¾ to 1 inch wide and as long as you can, since you'll join pieces as you go. For a 9-inch pie you need about 30 inches of finished braid, so cut roughly 12 strips.
2. Chill the strips for 10 to 15 minutes. Cold dough is much easier to braid without stretching or tearing.
3. Brush the rim with water or egg wash. This is the glue that holds the braid on.
4. Braid three strips together. Pinch the tops together and braid loosely, like hair. Keep the braid flat and a little loose rather than tight, since a loose braid gives the chunky, overlapping look in your photo. Lay each braided section onto the rim as you finish it.
5. Join sections. Overlap the end of one braid with the start of the next, pressing lightly with a dab of water. Tuck the final ends under where they meet the starting point.