EASY SKILLET APPLE PIE...

So I'm fully aware that it's not apple season, but I can't recall a season when I've ever turned down an apple pie. I LOVE apple pie - but I've never made one...until now. A friend of mine told me about this version of a "fake-out" apple pie last week and I immediately knew I had to try it. Well I tried it - and I'm truly amazed at what a 10in cast iron skillet, two store-bought pie crusts, a few fresh apples, traditional apple pie seasonings, and 10 minutes of my time created. Oh and did I mention that there is a layer of homemade caramel on the bottom of the pie??? It's SO GOOD! It tastes and looks exactly like a homemade pie from my grandmother's kitchen. It's pure heaven when it's served piping hot with a side of ice cream. If you are already planning ahead for Easter, Mothers Day, Thanksgiving (anyone other than me already thinking about Thanksgiving??), then this pie would be absolute perfection... :) 

Here is what you need and what to do:

1 10 in cast iron skillet
3 large granny smith apples, peeled
3 large braeburn apples, peeled
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg white
2 store-bought pie crusts (a14oz package)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cut the peeled apples into 1-in slices and place them in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the bowl. Toss the apples and make sure they are completely and evenly coated with the other ingredients. Set the bowl aside.

3. Add the butter to the skillet that is set over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar. Stir continuously until the sugar is melted.

4. Take the skillet off the heat and add the first pie crust over the top of the butter-brown sugar mixture. Pour the apples over the pie crust. Make sure they are evenly distributed in the skillet.

5. Place the remaining pie crust over the apples. Cut a few slits in the crust to allow the steam to escape while backing. In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Then brush the egg white evenly over the top of the pie crust. Then sprinkle the crust with about a tablespoon of granulated sugar.

6. Bake for about 1 hour or until the top of the pie is golden brown. You might want to place a cookie sheet on the rack under the skillet just in case the filling spills out of the skillet while it's baking. This didn't happen to me, but just in case! If the top is browning too fast, cover it with aluminum foil until the filling has baked. Again, this didn't happen to me, but just in case!

7. Once it has baked, remove it from the oven and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Scoop it out with a spoon (because trying to cut it like a regular pie just won't work!). Top with ice cream and or whipped cream. It's best eaten the day it's baked!

Enjoy!

Images by me