French Apple Pie, also known as French Apple Tart, is a classic apple pie from France containing two layers of apple slices that are mixed in apple sauce. This pie is different from other apple pies in the way it is prepared. The pastry base is more like cookie dough as it uses the European Sweet Pastry crust, also known as Pate Sucree and the base is precooked before it is filled with the apple stuffing. This way the crust does not turn soggy, unlike other apple pies.
French Apple Pie Recipe Overview
Ingredients Used
The key ingredients of French Apple Pie are all-purpose flour, salt sugar, butter and ice cold water for the crust. The apple filling is made with firm apples, which should be a mix of tart and sweet apples to give a nice flavor to the pie (such as Granny Smith, Macintosh, Winesap, Jonagold, Jonathan, Golden Rome), sugar, honey, unsalted butter, a little lemon juice, lemon zest and a little salt.
Preparation
French Apple Pie has two layers of crust, which are pre-baked before they are baked for the second time with the apple filling. The crust is prepared by making the dough for the base. Flour, sugar and a little salt are mixed and kneaded well by adding ice cold water. Once the dough is kneaded to the consistency where it sticks to the fingers, this dough is allowed to chill in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, butter is melted in a skillet and sugar is added to this and allowed to melt. When this butter mixture turns golden brown, the skillet is layered twice with apple slices (that has been tossed in sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest) and cooked a while and then allowed to cool. Cooked apples are turned upside down on a plate. Meanwhile, the dough is rolled out and layered in a skillet and baked till golden brown and the crust is filled with the cooked apple slices (double layer) and baked again, till the edges of the apple slices turn a little brown.
Serving French Apple Tart
French Apple Pie is usually served warm topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or creme fraiche.
Nutritional Value of French Apple Tart
French Apple Pie is high in vitamin C and iron, because of the apples used in the filling. However, the pie is rich in calories because of the fat used in the crust and browning of apples. If served with whipped cream or crème fraiche, the calories increase further.