Pie just got easier

Just because apple pie is delicious doesn’t mean that making one is easy. But this recipe is for a pie with only one crust, not two, and with everything cooked in the same skillet.

SKILLET APPLE CRANBERRY PIE

Serves: 6

Pie dough (recipe at right) or 12 1/2 oz (354 g) store-bought pie dough

2 1/2 lb (1.13 kg) mixed apples (your choice, but avoid apples that fall apart like McIntosh), peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch (6-mm) thick

3 tbsp (45 mL) dark brown sugar 2 tsp (10 mL) fresh lemon juice 1/4 tsp (1 mL) table salt

1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon

2 tbsp (30 mL) unsalted butter 1/3 cup (80 mL) fresh apple cider 1/2 cup (125 mL) dried cranberries

2 tbsp (30 mL) heavy cream 1 heaping tbsp (15 mL) granulated sugar

Vanilla ice cream for garnish

1. Roll out the crust on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch (30-cm) round, transfer to a round platter and chill, covered, for 45 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator and let soften slightly for 15 minutes.

2. In a medium bowl, toss together the apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, salt and cinnamon.

3. In a 10-inch (25-cm) skillet melt the butter over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium and add the apple mixture and the cider.

4. Cook, tightly covered, stirring frequently, until most of the apples are tender, but still hold their shape, 12 to 15 minutes.

5. Transfer the apples to a rimmed sheet pan, leaving all the liquid in the skillet, and spread the apples out in one layer.

6. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until it is reduced and is quite syrupy. Add the reduced syrup and the cranberries to the apples and stir well. Let the apples and the skillet cool.

7. Preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C). Put the bottom rack in the lower third of the oven.

8. When the apples have cooled, transfer them back to the skillet, smoothing the top.

9. Carefully lift up the dough round that has softened on the counter and place it over the apples, letting the edges hang out over the rim of the skillet.

10. Ease the dough down, pressing it in gently where the apples meet the skillet. Trim the crust with a pair of clean scissors so that it is flush with the top rim of the skillet and fold the edges of the dough back in on top of the remaining dough to form a rim.

11. Re-roll the dough scraps, cut out several leaf shapes and place them in the centre of the dough. Brush the crust evenly all over with the cream and sprinkle with the sugar.

12. Bake the pie on the lower rack of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving, garnish with the ice cream.

Pie dough

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) flour

1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar

1/4 tsp (1 mL) table salt

10 tbsp (150 mL) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch (1.3-cm) cubes

2 to 4 tbsp (30-60 mL) ice water

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt, add the butter and, with your fingertips or a pastry blender, mix the dough until most of the mixture resembles coarse meal, with the rest in small (roughly pea-sized) lumps.

2. Drizzle 2 tbsp (30 mL) ice water evenly over the mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated.

3. Gently squeeze a small handful, which should hold together without crumbling apart. If it doesn’t, add more ice water, 1/2 tbsp (7.5 mL) at a time.

4. Turn the dough out onto a work surface. With the heel of your hand, smear the dough in a forward motion to help distribute fat.

5. Gather the smeared dough together and repeat the process. Form the dough into a disk.

6. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour. Remove the dough from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before rolling it out.