A simpler and healthier Apple Pie!

Who can resist a good Apple Pie?

I feel like it is one of those classic desserts that has truly come to be associated with tradition, comfort and family ! 
Raise your hand if your mum or nan ever made one of these as a kid! Or any kind of pie really...

To me, pastries have always been a creative platform. A way of being inventive with all those flavours and textures! 
And I always love giving new techniques and ingredients a go!

This Apple Pie I created has all of those flavour notes and textures you'd expect for this traditional dessert, only with a not so common ingredient in it. 
That's right, the filling is purely made up of chopped apples, dates and some spices to flavour. That's it. No sugar or butter galore. We'll leave that to the crust. 

Dates are one of those ingredients I've seen repeatedly on desserts that are meant to be healthier, or vegan. It gives them the most amazing sweetness, exotic punch and ooey gooey texture we all love! Which I though would be just perfect for this pie!

Now, without further a due....

Ingredients

For the CRUST :

• 300 grams of butter (room temperature)
• 200 grams of icing sugar
• 1 pinch of salt 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 500 grams of all purpose flour

For the FILLING :

•  10 - 12 apples
• 750 grams of pitted dates
• ​1 tbsp cinnamon 
• ​1 tbsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground ginger

Method

For your crust, mix your butter and icing sugar in a stand mixture until they are well incorporated and creamy. 

​I honestly don't know how I didn't start to make dough with icing sugar years before!! It makes the pastry so incredibly light and just sweet enough!

Now, add your eggs, one at a time. 
​Keep mixing for another two minutes. 

Now, sift your flour in a large bowl and make a whole in the centre to place your sugar and butter mixture. 

Making this mixture beforehand will ensure a perfectly light and buttery pie crust! Just the way I like it !

Now you'll need to mix it up nicely! I use a Manual Pastry Dough Blender like the one you see in the picture, but, if you haven't got one, you can use your wrists to incorporate the dough as your hands may be too warm and melt the butter. I recommend you run them through the cold tap so they are chilled.

Click here if you'd like shop the Pastry Dough Manual Blender !
​It is great if you like to bake!

Once your dough is well mixed, roll into a ball and cover in plastic fill. Refrigerate for several hours before use. 

In the meantime, let's get working on our pie filling, which is only made up of two main ingredients!!

​Take half of your apples and chop into squares (to go in the food processor)
Chop the other half into thin slices for those delicious apple layers!

In a food processor, add your chopped apples and dates, along with the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and any other condiments you'd like to add!

Make sure it looks nice and pureed like in the photo down below. 

Next is getting the crust ready. 
When you take out your dough from the fridge, it may come out a bit hard. 
Just work it a little with your hands and it will start softening immediately after a few minutes in room temperature. 
Dust some flour around your working area and, with a rolling pin, roll out your dough. 
Place on your pie tray. 

Let's get to layering! My favourite part!!

First, add a layer of your apple and dates mixture, followed by a layer or your thin Apple slices. 

Repeat until you reach the top! Easy, right?

Now it is time for some pie art! 
Feel free to be as creative as you wish with the top layer of your pie!

You can cut your crust dough into flowers, circles, squares, braids, and pretty much anything you'd like! 

I went with loads of florals for a nice Springy feel!

If you'd like, in order for the crust to get golden, create an egg wash by simply beating one egg and adding just a bit of water, to brush on top of pie once it is done and ready for the over. 

Bake for 45 minutes at 180 degrees C or 350 F. 
Let cool for at least 20 minutes before you serve!

​Goes incredibly well with some ice cream or salted caramel sauce!

I hope you enjoy this incredibly delicious and easy creation of mine to make and enjoy with your family these days! Remember, If you do try one of my recipes, don't hesitate to share your delights with me on social media via (@tatianabellator) or Pinterest!
​I'd love to see what you came up with!

Xx,

​Tatiana