Gerry's Apple Pie

I really need to share this one with you. I think this is as good as it gets. I've made apple pie with crumb topping for years. I made the final changes a few years ago by adding syrupy cider. When our kids were little I always made apple pie with crumb topping and I sprinkled the top with chocolate chips before baking, they loved it.

Ingredients

  • Pie crust - see other recipes

Filling

  • 8 cups sliced apples I used Melrose or Jonathan
  • 3/4-1 cup sugar
  • 2 T. butter in small pieces
  • 1/4 c flour
  • 1 tsp. of cinnamon
  • 2 cups apple cider boiled down to a rather thick syrup, you?ll need about 4 T. freeze the rest.

Crumb topping

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup butter

Instructions

For the Pie

  • Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1 t. cinnamon and 2 T. flour.
  • Sprinkle over apples.
  • with 2 tablespoons butter and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 4000.
  • Add 1/4 c flour to apple mixture.
  • Sprinkle cider syrup over apple mixture and put in pie shell.

For the Crumb Topping

  • Put sugar and flour in food processor.
  • Add cold butter in small chunks.
  • Pulse to large crumbs.

To Finish

  • Crumble crumb topping over all.
  • I use it all and press down lightly over apples.
  • Put a handful of chocolate chips on it for the kids.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes, until pie is bubbly.
  • Cool on a wire rack to room temperature or you just can?t wait to try it.

Notes

I make a double batch of the crumb topping so I can use it as a topping for the Blueberry Muffins somewhere in this book. It freezes well.