Pies and Tarts Dessert Recipes - Cheddar Apple Pie Recipe

Ingredients

• 225 g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

• A pinch of salt

• 75 g/3 oz/1/3 cup butter, diced

• 100 g/4 oz/1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated

• 1 egg, separated

• Cold water, to mix

• 750 g/1 1/2 lb cooking (tart) apples

• 15 ml/1 tbsp apple juice or water

• 60 ml/4 tbsp granulated sugar

• Caster (superfine) sugar, for sprinkling

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Method:

1. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the butter and rub in with the fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Stir in the cheese. Add the egg yolk and enough water to form a firm dough. Knead gently on a lightly floured surface. Wrap in Clingfilm (plastic wrap) and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Put the apples in a saucepan with the apple juice or water and the granulated sugar. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes. Leave to cool slightly.

4. Halve the pastry (paste) and roll out one half. Use to line a 23 cm/9 in pie plate. Roll out the remaining dough to use as a lid.

5. Spoon the apple mixture into the pastry-lined plate and brush the edge with a little of the egg white. Cover with the remaining pastry.

6. Trim, knock up the edge and flute with the back of a knife. Make a hole in the centre to allow steam to escape.

7. Make leaves out of pastry trimmings and use to decorate the pie. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with caster sugar.

8. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Serve warm.