Submitted by DeAnn Rucker

About the cook: I am a home cook and former owner of a small time diner. I grew up cooking along side my mother and grandmother (now deceased) and knew from an early age that I just loved to cook! My daughter has continued the tradition and has completed an associates degree in culinary arts but we still fall back on the old fashioned basics when cooking at home.

About the dish: This recipe grew from a love of apple pie and the apple dessert pizzas (pizzerts) made popular at fast food pizza restaurants

National Origin: American

Serves: 8

Estimated Time: 1 to 2 Hours

Ingredients:

Pie crust ingredients:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, well chilled
1/2 teaspoon salt
4-5 Tablespoons ice cold water
Cake batter ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/8 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
Toppings:
2# baking apples (Braeburn, Honeycrisp, etc.)
1/8 cup lemon juice (fresh or concentrated)
Hot to boiling water
Cinnamon to taste
Whipped cream (optional)

Preparation:

Step 1 – Prepare pie crust:
Cut 1/2 cup chilled butter into 1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour. Mix in salt. Slowly add ice cold water 1 tablespoon at a time just until dough holds together. Wrap in plastic wrap, slightly shape into a ball and partially flatten. Set in refrigerator to chill while preparing the other components.
Step 2 – Prepare the apples:
In a large 4-5 quart bowl, place lemon juice.
Wash (do not peel), core and half apples. With cut sides down, thinly slice all apples and place in bowl with lemon juice. Cover apple slices with very hot to boiling water and let set until ready to use.
Step 3 – Prepare cake batter mixture:
With a whisk, thoroughly mix together 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, brown sugar and melted butter. Let set while finishing pie crust.
Step 4 – Remove pie crust from refrigerator and roll out on a floured surface to fit 8-9″ pie plate. Place in pie plate and allow edges to drape over sides of the pie plate.
Step 5 – Pour cake batter mixture into prepared pie shell and spread to edges.
Step 6 – Remove apple slices from hot water and allow to briefly drain on a paper towel. Slices should be slightly pliable (the thinner the slices and the hotter the water the better). Curl slices into rose patterns (skin side up) or simply place onto top of cake batter mixture into a decorative pattern, slightly pushing the apples partially into the batter mixture. Sprinkle top with cinnamon to taste. Bring edges of pie crust up and over the edge of the pie to form a rough edge or decorate edge to your liking.
Step 7 – Bake pie at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and knife inserted into center of cake batter comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped cream (optional). Also good cold.

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