Description
Szarlotka, the traditional Polish apple pie, features a buttery crumbly crust filled with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a crisp crumble. This classic dessert is perfect for cozy gatherings and offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
For the Filling
- 4 cups peeled and sliced apples
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch pie dish to prevent sticking.
- Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cold cubed butter, granulated sugar, and egg. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the ingredients together until the dough forms a crumbly texture, ensuring the butter remains cold for a flaky crust.
- Form the Base Crust: Press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pie dish to create the pie crust base.
- Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, mix the peeled and sliced apples with 1/2 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly until the apples are well coated, enhancing their flavor and preventing browning.
- Assemble the Pie: Pour the apple filling into the crust, spreading the apples evenly to cover the base.
- Add the Crumble Topping: Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the apple filling to create a rustic crumble topping that will bake crispy.
- Bake: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the filling is bubbling, indicating the apples are cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing to let the filling set, then serve and enjoy your homemade Szarlotka.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a balanced sweet and tangy flavor.
- Ensure the butter is cold when mixing into the flour for a flaky crust texture.
- Letting the pie cool before cutting helps the filling set and prevents it from running.
- Optionally, dust the cooled pie with powdered sugar for a decorative finish.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Polish
