Braided Apple Pie

Inspired by a Braided Apple Bread Recipe found through Pinterest, this variation was a big hit with friends and family!

Ingredients:

• 3 Granny Smith Apples
• 1 TBS Lemon Juice
• Cinnamon, To Taste (Approximately 1 TBS)
• Nutmeg, To Taste (Approximately 2 tsp)
• 1/8 Cup White Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 TBS Flour
• 2 TBS Butter, Room Temperature
• 1 TBS Cold Butter, Cubed
• Pie Crust or Puff Pastry (I used Puff Pastry to cut down on time)
• Extra Flour for Rolling Dough
• Egg Wash (Egg beaten with splash of water)
• Sparkling Sugar, To Taste (Found with sprinkles in baking aisle)
• Baking Spray

1. Pre-Heat Oven to 400 Degrees
2. Peel, Core, and Cut Apples in to Thin Slices. Place in large bowl.
3. Add Lemon Juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Flour, and Both Sugars to Apple Bowl. Give a Good Mix. A Brown, Syrupy Liquid Will Begin Collecting at Bottom of Bowl.
4. Melt Room Temperature Butter in Large Skillet Set to Medium-Low Heat. Add Apple Mixture, Sauté Until Mixture Begins to Caramelize and Apples Become Soft.
5. Turn Off Heat and Cover.
6. Roll Out Pie Crust or Puff Pastry on Wax Paper Coated in Flour Until Approximately 12″ x 8″.
7. Transfer Rolled Out Dough to Greased Cookie Sheet or Lightly Floured Countertop.
8. On Either Side of Rolled Out Dough, Cut Evenly Spaced Strips (Approximately 3″ in Length), Leaving Center Intact.
9. Spoon Sautéed Apple Mixture in Center of Rolled Out, Cut Dough. Randomly Disperse Cold, Cubed Butter on Top of Apple Mixture.
10. Beginning on Upper Left Hand Corner, Grab Strip of Dough and Pull Down and Across Apple Mixture, Tucking Any Excess Dough Underneath Apple Mixture. Grab Upper Right Hand Corner, and Pull Down and Across Apple Mixture, Tucking Excess Dough.
11. Repeat Step 10 Until All Strips Have Been Crossed Over.
12. Tuck Dough on Both Ends to Prevent Leakage.
13. Brush with Egg Wash, Then Sprinkle with Sparkling Sugar.
14. Bake Approximately 15 Minutes for Puff Pastry, Longer For Pie Crust (Until Edges Begin to Brown and Crisp).
15. Allow to Cool on Pan, Then Gently Transfer to Serving Dish.

Tags: Cheater Pastries, Dessert, Pinned It and Did It