Wade’s Brandy Apple Pie

My daughter’s boyfriend, Wade Hausken, brought over an apple pie last year for us to try. He boldly claimed it to be “the BEST apple pie you’ll ever have”. I totally laughed at him. Because, let’s face it, that is like saying you have the best coffee. Yeah right.

But guys, his pie might be the best. Sooooo good! 

Key Ingredients for Brandy Apple Pie:

• Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Allspice: These spices add warmth and depth to the pie. Experiment with different spice ratios to suit your taste. You can also add a pinch of cloves or ginger for extra flavor.
• Apples: While Wade recommends Jazz apples as the best apples, you can use other varieties like Granny Smith apples, Pink Lady, or Golden Delicious. Mixing different apple varieties can create a more complex flavor profile.
• Flour: For a gluten-free option, you can use a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour to replace the all purpose flour.
• Brandy: If you don’t have brandy, you can use apple cider or apple juice as a substitute. Alternatively, you can omit the alcohol altogether.
• Pie Crust: You can use a store-bought pie crust for convenience or make your own from scratch. Experiment with different crust options like a graham cracker crust or a gluten-free crust if desired.

One of the secrets, besides the brandy, of his great pie is his use of thin apple slices. He says that is so they stack up tightly and give you as much apple flavor as possible in each bite. I totally agree! I mean, look at that slice! Chock full of apples!

Wade even agreed to show us how to make the filling for his pie live on Facebook Live. You can watch that video below, if you like. 

Step By Step Instructions for Brandy Apple Pie: 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
2. Using either a homemade pie crust or a pre-made pie crust, press the pie crust dough into your pie plate and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of cornstarch, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, and a pinch of salt.
4. In a large bowl, toss the 5-6 thinly sliced apples and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
5. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared pie crust.
6. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Cut in 1/2 cup of butter to the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
7. Spread the topping mixture over the apples.
8. Cover the edges of the pie crust with foil or a pie shield and, as brandy is flammable, be sure to place a baking sheet under the pie pan while baking. This step ensures safety in the kitchen.
9. Bake the pie for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
10. Remove the foil or shield and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
11. Let the pie cool slightly before serving. Enjoy with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream, and maybe a little extra brandy on the side.

One of the secrets, besides the brandy, of his great pie is his use of thin apple slices. He says that is so they stack up tightly and give you as much apple flavor as possible in each bite. I totally agree! I mean, look at that slice! Chock full of apples!

This is a kid that got a countertop apple peeler (see above) for highschool graduation. I mean, it’s a cool gift and I totally want one (that apple peeler was soooo fast!) but when was the last time you thought of giving a high-schooler an apple peeler?

By the way, THIS APPLE PEELER is the one he has. And it works great!

If you watch the FB Live video, you’ll catch me remarking on how perfect those apple slices are. Which, I found out, she sliced. I don’t know about you all but my slices are all over the place for width and height. Definitely not that pretty and uniform!

How do you make a crumb topping for apple pie?

Simply blend flour, butter, and sugar and top the pie. You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe, below.

What apple do you recommend? Granny Smith?

Wade prefers the Jazz apple for his pies (or Pink Lady, in a pinch). I’m a fan of the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Usually, I’ll use a combo of several to get a nice depth of flavor.

Do I need to add the salt, lemon juice, or vinegar my recipe calls for?

Yes! Many of you checking out this pie recipe are currently participating in the NellieBellie Pie Challenge and I want to remind you that having an acid in your fruit pie is really important. Usually, your pie recipe will have salt and lemon juice or a vinegar. Don’t skip those! They are necessary ingredients!

This recipe uses lemon juice AND salt. Sometimes you’ll come across them that use vinegar which sounds really odd. Trust me, even the small amount in the recipe is necessary!