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Apple Cinnamon Slab Pie, apple dessert recipes for fall
Brittany Stage

Apple Cinnamon Slab Pie

Apple cinnamon slab pie bakes on a rimmed sheet pan and feeds a large crowd without any fuss. It has a flaky double crust and a well-seasoned apple filling that slices into clean rectangles, making it one of the most practical fall desserts you can bring to a holiday table.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour for the crust, plus extra for rolling
  • 2 tsp fine salt for the crust
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar for the crust
  • 1 1/2 cups cold unsalted butter 3 sticks, cut into small cubes
  • 3/4 cup ice water add 1 tablespoon at a time until dough comes together
  • 5 lbs firm baking apples Granny Smith, Fuji, or a mix, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick, about 10 medium apples
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar for the filling
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour for the filling
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt for the filling
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter cut into small pieces, for dotting over filling
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
  • 1 tbsp coarse sugar for sprinkling on top crust

Equipment

  • rimmed 18x13 inch sheet pan (half sheet pan)
  • large mixing bowl
  • rolling pin
  • pastry brush
  • sharp knife or pizza cutter

Method
 

  1. Make the pie dough. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and 2 teaspoons sugar. Add the cold cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work it in until the mixture looks like rough crumbs with some flat, pea-sized butter pieces remaining. Drizzle in ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork after each addition, until the dough just comes together when you press a handful. You may not need all the water. Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten each into a rectangle about 1 inch thick, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. While the dough chills, make the filling. Toss the sliced apples in a large bowl with the 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and lemon juice until evenly coated. Spread the apples on a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels and pat them dry for a couple of minutes to pull out excess moisture. This step keeps your bottom crust from getting soggy.
  3. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough rectangle out to roughly 20x15 inches, large enough to cover the bottom and come slightly up the sides of your 18x13 inch sheet pan. Carefully transfer it to the ungreased sheet pan by rolling it loosely around your rolling pin and unrolling it over the pan. Press it into the corners and up the sides without stretching it. Trim the overhang to about 1/2 inch around the rim.
  4. Spread the dried apple filling evenly over the bottom crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Scatter the small pieces of butter over the apples.
  5. Roll the second dough rectangle to the same 20x15 inch size. Drape it over the filling by rolling it onto your rolling pin and unrolling it across the top. Press the edges of the top and bottom crust together and crimp them by folding the edge under itself and pressing down with a fork or your fingers all the way around. Cut several slits or small vents across the top crust to let steam escape during baking.
  6. Brush the top crust evenly with the egg wash using a pastry brush, then sprinkle coarse sugar over the entire surface.
  7. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the crust is a deep golden brown and you can see the filling bubbling through the vents. If the edges are browning too fast before the center is done, tent those edges loosely with small strips of foil.
  8. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to slice into rectangles, about 4 columns by 5 rows for 20 pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For the cleanest slices, cool the slab pie completely before cutting. If you are using store-bought dough, buy two boxes of two-round refrigerated pie crust and press each pair of rounds together to form your two rectangles.