| Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Difficulty: Moderate | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 324 | 15g | 9g | 45g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 20g | 3g | 4g | 0.20g |
As a true New England native, I find my heart often wanders back to the local flavors of my home town – the salty, savory seafood dishes, the comforting, earthy stews. Yet, there is one recipe that stands out to me every fall, a flavor that transcends my usual culinary expertise and instead harks back to my mother’s kitchen: the aromatic, spiced Apple Pie with Clove. Over the years, I’ve crafted, tweaked, and honed my take on this family staple, merging my learned knowledge with our shared family heritage.
A Symphony of Flavors
What truly sets the Apple Pie with Clove apart is the unique interplay of tart apples with the warm, almost haunting flavor of cloves. Made up of a buttery, flaky crust that envelops a filling of thinly sliced apples, the unique coupling of spices — cinnamon and clove, creates a dessert that is both comforting and refreshingly different.
Health Benefits and Pairing Options
The use of apples and clove isn’t just for flavor; they come with their own roster of health benefits as well. Apples, as Healthline reports, are high in fiber and water—two qualities that make them filling and good for digestion. Moreover, cloves are high in antioxidants and are known to have several medicinal properties as stated by Medical News Today.
While perfect on its own, the Apple Pie with Clove pairs beautifully with a classic vanilla ice cream or a sharp, mature cheddar. If you’re looking for a main course to match, consider a traditional pot roast, or to keep the spirit of my New England roots alive, perhaps a well-seasoned baked haddock or lobster.”
From my family’s kitchen to yours, I bring you the Apple Pie with Clove. Beyond its sweet-spiced allure lies a dessert that carries a whiff of home, a slice of love, and a slice of my yearly kitchen journey. With this delectable pie, every day is a celebration—an indulgence, a memory, and a familiar comfort. Enjoy!”
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
- 1/2 cup ice water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples (about 6 medium apples)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon white sugar, for top
Method
Step One
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cut in the 3/4 cup diced chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring the dough until it pulls together. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
Step Two
Roll out one of the balls to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Arrange onto the plate. Keep the other ball in the refrigerator.
Step Three
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Step Four
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large pan over medium heat. Mix in the light brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Add in the thinly sliced apples and lemon juice. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes until the apples are just tender. Remove from heat.
Step Five
Pour the apple mixture into the pastry-lined pie plate, and evenly distribute the apples. Don’t pour the liquid from the pan, if there’s some left.
Step Six
Roll out the remaining ball of dough. Arrange it on top of the pie and seal the edges. Make several slits in the top crust to vent steam. Brush the top crust with milk, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Step Seven
Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Check the pie, and cover the edges with aluminum foil if they are browning too quickly. Continue to bake until the crust is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling, about 20 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack before serving.
