Apple pie is a pastry dessert with a crust and filling made of apples, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. It can be made in various styles and is popular worldwide. Although associated with American culture, it was invented in Europe and brought to America by European settlers.
An apple pie is a pastry dessert that features apples as the main ingredient. There are several styles of apple pie, ranging from traditional closed pies to lattice pies, and this dessert is a ubiquitous offering on the menus of many American diners and casual restaurants. Making apple pies isn’t limited to Americans, despite the saying “as American as apple pie,” and this dessert is popular in many regions of the world.
Like other desserts in the pie family, an apple pie consists of a pastry crust and filling. The crust is traditionally made with flour, shortening, and a small amount of water for lubrication. When done well, the crust should be light and flaky, with a rich golden color that emerges after baking. Some bakers use fancier crusts, including egg crusts, which tend to be richer. The filling is made by cutting apples and mixing them with toppings such as sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.
All apple pies have a bottom crust, which lines the pie plate. Some cooks pre-bake the bottom crust to keep it from getting soggy, while others skip this step. The filling is poured into the crust and then the pie is topped with a firm crust or lattice. The crust can be decorated with various patterns and designs, and is traditionally pierced to vent the pie so it doesn’t explode in the heat of the oven. Some cooks leave their apple pies open, arranging the apples in a decorative design so the pie is aesthetically interesting.
The apples used in pies are typically firm and tart, although softer apples may be used. Cooks can also add other fruits, such as apricots, blackberries or strawberries, to give the cake more texture and flavor. Apple pie can also be made with a custard base, in which case one slice of the pie reveals a cross section of rich custard and apple slices. The seasoning can also vary widely; some cooks make very sweet apple pies, while others prefer heavily spiced versions with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and just a pinch of sugar.
Although people associate apple pie with American culture, apple pie was invented in Europe. Several apple pies have been made since at least the Middle Ages, including pies, and the tradition of making apple pie was brought to the Americas by European settlers. North America is an excellent environment for growing apples, which may explain why apple pie has become so popular in the United States.
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