Rum Raisin Apple Pie
Posted on 25 November 2008 by joy
I’m convinced that few things in life are better than warm apple pie. Life can only get better with rum and raisins inside your apple pie… right?
Are you brave enough to whip up a homemade pie this Thanksgiving? The rolling and slicing isn’t as daunting as trying to find a spot in the oven for your pie come Turkey Day. If you do decide to squeeze a pie into your oven schedule, think about this Rum Raisin Apple Pie. It’s only the stuff dreams are made of.
Rum Raisin Apple Pie
Gourmet November 2006
- 3 tablespoons dark rum
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 6 medium apples, ranging from sweet to tart (2 1/2 lb)
- Pastry dough for a double-crust (just the recipe for the double crust)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons milk
- 1 tablespoon sanding sugar
Bring rum with raisins to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, 1 hour.
Put oven rack in middle position with a large heavy baking sheet on rack and preheat oven to 425°F.
Rub together brown sugar, flour, zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt with your fingers in a large bowl until no lumps remain. Peel and core apples, then cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges and add to sugar mixture, tossing gently to coat. Add raisins with any liquid and toss until combined.
Roll out larger piece of dough into a 13-inch round (keep remaining piece chilled) on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate (4-cup capacity) and trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Chill shell while rolling out top crust.
Roll out smaller piece of dough on a lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin into an 11-inch round.
Spoon filling evenly into shell, then dot top with butter. Brush pastry overhang with some of milk, then cover pie with pastry round. Trim pastry flush with edge of pie plate using kitchen shears, then press edges together and crimp decoratively.
Lightly brush top of pie with some of remaining milk and sprinkle all over with sanding sugar. Cut 3 steam vents in top crust with a small sharp knife.
Bake pie on hot baking sheet 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue to bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes more. Cool pie on a rack to warm or room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours.
Cooks’ notes: •To achieve an ideal balance of tart and sweet apples, we used 2 Golden Delicious or Gala, 2 Winesap or Granny Smith, and 2 McIntosh or Northern Spy (you’ll need 6 apples total).
•Raisins can be soaked in rum 1 day ahead, cooled completely, and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
•Pie can be made 8 hours ahead and kept, uncovered, at room temperature.
