Ingredients
2-1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour1 teaspoon salt1/4 cup shortening10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened7 to 9 tablespoons ice waterFILLING:8 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 7 large)1-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar1/4 cup apple cider or juice1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon each ground allspice, nutmeg and salt3 teaspoons vanilla extract1 tablespoon lemon juice2 tablespoons butter, melted1/4 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose FlourVanilla ice cream, optional
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide pastry in half so that one ball is slightly larger than the other. Shape each piece into a disk about 1-in. thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and let stand 15-30 minutes. Meanwhile, place apples in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, salt, vanilla and lemon juice. Add the butter and flour; stir until combined; set aside.
Roll out the large disk on a lightly flour surface to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry even with edge of plate. Add filling. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top.
Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Gently place a sheet of foil on top of pie. Bake for an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the top crust is golden brown and the filling bubbly.
Cool on a wire rack overnight. To serve warm, heat individual slices in the microwave. Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.
