3poundsapples Honey crisp, Golden Delicious, Cortland, or Mitsu
2/3cupsugar plus more for sprinkling on the pie
1/4cupunsalted butter
1/4teaspoonground cinnamon
1pinchnutmeg
For the Dough:
2 1/2cupsflour plus more for rolling
4tbsgranulated sugar
1/2tspsea salt
16tbsunsalted butter chilled
4tbsice water
2tspcinnamon
1tspall-spice
1/2tspginger
For the Egg Wash
1egg
1tbspcream
For the Caramel
1cupbrown sugar
5tbspbutterunsalted
1/2cupcream
1tbspvanilla extract
1pinchsaltgenerous
Instructions
For the Caramel
Combine ingredients in small pot and heat over medium-low heat while whisking. Cook 7-8 minutes. You will notice when the caramel begins to thicken.
Remove from heat and set aside.
For the Filling
Once your apples are roughly chopped, put them in a bowl and add the sugar, spices and lemon juice. Toss them around to make sure they are evenly coated. Now in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook stirring until the sugar dissolves and it begins to simmer, about 2 minutes. Cover it up, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the apples soften and release most of their juices, about 7 minutes.
Strain the apples in a colander over a medium bowl to catch all the juice. Shake the colander to get as much liquid as possible. Return the juices to the skillet, and simmer over medium heat until thickened and lightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the reduced juice and spices. Set aside to cool completely. Chop into small piece once cool and return to bowl.
For the Crust
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and spices. Whisk together. Grate in chilled butter and drizzle in ice cold water. Mix using a fork. You can also whiz together in a food processor.
Shape into two disks, wrap in plastic and chill for 20 minutes.
Crack an egg into a small bowl and add a tablespoon of cream them mix well and chill until ready to use for egg wash.
Roll your pastry dough out to about 1/4" thick. One half of the dough is for the bases and the other half is for the lattice tops. You will probably want to chill the dough for the lattice tops until just before cutting the strips and arranging on top.
Cut into circles.
Brush with caramel.
Add about 1 tablespoon of the apple pie filling to the center of each circle. Brush edge with egg wash.
Arrange the lattice top and brush with egg wash again.
Cut and remove excess with the same round cutter you used for the base.
Sprinkle with sugar (and cinnamon if desired) and bake at 350F for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Video
Notes
It's easiest to assemble the cookies on the prepared baking sheet as they can be difficult to transfer.If you're short on time you can use frozen pastry dough; pre-made caramel and/or even store bought pie filling. That said, all the components are easy to make and you will DEFINITELY taste the difference if you take the time to make these from scratch.