Apple-Cranberry-Currant Pie with French Topping
Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker
Beth Secrest once baked four to eight pies a day at the Northern Lights Saloon on the border of Glacier National Park. Now she puts her baking expertise to use at home, where she created this dressed-up apple pie.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a small bowl, combine brandy and currants. Cover and let stand until currants are plump, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.
Step 2
2
Preheat oven to 375°. Sort cranberries and discard any that are bruised or decayed. Rinse and drain berries.
Step 3
3
In a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons flour, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. With a slotted spoon, lift currants from brandy; reserve brandy. Add currants, cranberries, and apples to sugar mixture and mix well. Taste and add more granulated sugar if desired. Pour filling into unbaked 10-inch pie pastry in pan. Drizzle evenly with reserved brandy.
Step 4
4
In another bowl, mix 1 cup flour and the brown sugar. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until mixture forms small lumps. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling. Set pie in a foil-lined 12-inch pizza pan or 10- by 15-inch baking pan.
Step 5
5
Bake on the bottom rack until juices bubble around edges and through topping, 55 to 65 minutes. If pie browns too quickly (check after 30 minutes), cover loosely with foil.
Step 6
6
Set pie, uncovered, on a rack until cool to touch, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cut into wedges.
Ingredients
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup currants
1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries
About 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons plus 1 cup unbleached or regular all- purpose flour
1 tablespoon finely shredded orange zest
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples (about 2 1/4 lb.)
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks
Directions
Step 1
1
In a small bowl, combine brandy and currants. Cover and let stand until currants are plump, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.
Step 2
2
Preheat oven to 375°. Sort cranberries and discard any that are bruised or decayed. Rinse and drain berries.
Step 3
3
In a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons flour, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. With a slotted spoon, lift currants from brandy; reserve brandy. Add currants, cranberries, and apples to sugar mixture and mix well. Taste and add more granulated sugar if desired. Pour filling into unbaked 10-inch pie pastry in pan. Drizzle evenly with reserved brandy.
Step 4
4
In another bowl, mix 1 cup flour and the brown sugar. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until mixture forms small lumps. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling. Set pie in a foil-lined 12-inch pizza pan or 10- by 15-inch baking pan.
Step 5
5
Bake on the bottom rack until juices bubble around edges and through topping, 55 to 65 minutes. If pie browns too quickly (check after 30 minutes), cover loosely with foil.
Step 6
6
Set pie, uncovered, on a rack until cool to touch, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cut into wedges.
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