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Caramel Bottom Apple Pie

A classic apple pie baked over a caramel base in your favorite cast iron skillet.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Cooling Time2 hours
Total Time3 hours 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Caramel Base

  • 4 tablespoons of butter
  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar

Apple Pie Filling

  • 4 pounds of granny smith apples, peeled and thick sliced (about 3 pounds prepped)
  • 12 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of apple cider or lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cloves

Assembly

  • 2 portions of pie dough (store bought or scratch made)
  • egg wash (1 egg whisked with a teaspoon of milk)
  • course sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°
  • Place a large rimmed baking sheet on a rack below the rack you plan to bake the pie on to catch any drips that may bubble over the edges of the pie 

Make the caramel base layer…

  • Place a 10” cast iron skillet over medium heat 
  • Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the skillet, add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and cook while stirring for about 2 minutes or until the brown sugar has dissolved and mixture is smooth 
  • Transfer the skillet off of the heat to cool a bit while you prepare the filling (the butter may separate a bit as it cools, but do not remove it, it will reintegrate during the baking process)

Make the apple pie filling…

  • Place a large skillet over medium heat and add all of the pie filling ingredients 
  • Mix until everything is evenly distributed and cook the apples for 5-7 minutes or until they are slightly tender, but still firm
  • Transfer the filling off of the heat to cool for about 20 minutes 

Assemble the pie…

  • Place a layer of pie crust over the cooled caramel layer and gently press any air bubbles out from underneath 
  • Add the cooled pie filling and spread evenly
  • Add your top layer of pie crust as a whole sheet or sliced into strips and arranged in a lattice pattern and crimp the outer edges
  • Brush the top crust with an egg wash and sprinkle with course sugar

Bake the pie…

  • Bake the pie in a 350° oven for 60-65 minutes or until the crust is golden brown (rotate the pie about half way through to ensure even baking and loosely cover the pie with foil if it begins to brown too much before the hour mark)
  • Transfer the pie onto a cooling rack or cutting board
  • Allow the pie to cool for at least an hour before slicing
  • Slice the entire pie and transfer the leftover slices into an airtight container to store at room temperature for up to 3 days