Description
Szarlotka, a traditional Polish apple pie, features a buttery crumbly crust topped with sweet cinnamon-spiced apple filling and a delightful crumble topping. This dessert is a perfect balance of tender apples and a crisp, golden crust, baked to perfection and ideal for family gatherings or cozy afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
Filling
- 4 cups peeled and sliced apples
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pie Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch pie dish to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal of the pie after baking.
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cold cubed unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and egg. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the ingredients together until the dough forms a crumbly texture, ensuring the butter is evenly distributed.
- Form Base Crust: Press half of the prepared dough evenly into the bottom of the greased pie dish to create the pie crust base, making sure it covers the bottom and sides uniformly.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In another bowl, mix the peeled and sliced apples with 1/2 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir gently until the apples are fully coated with the sweet and spiced mixture.
- Fill the Pie: Pour the apple filling into the crust-lined pie dish, spreading the apples evenly for consistent baking.
- Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the remaining half of the dough over the top of the apple filling to create a lovely crumbly topping that will bake golden and crisp.
- Bake the Pie: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling, indicating it is cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely before slicing to let the filling set and avoid spilling.
Notes
- Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Braeburn for balanced sweetness and acidity.
- Ensure the butter is very cold before mixing to achieve a crumbly, flaky crust.
- Let the pie cool adequately before serving to maintain filling stability.
- This pie can be served warm or at room temperature, optionally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- For a more intense cinnamon flavor, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top before baking.
