Printable Area
Deep Fried Apple Pies with Cheddar Crust
Recipe courtesy Zac Young
- Total Time:
- 2 hr 55 min
- Prep:
- 35 min |
- Inactive Prep:
- 2 hr |
- Cook:
- 20 min
- Level:
- Intermediate
- Yield:
- About 28 mini pies or 8 large hand pies
Ingredients
- CRUST:
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1/4 cup finely grated sharp Cheddar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cups cold sparkling water
- 1/4 cup cold vodka
- FILLING:
- 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 4 Granny Smith apples, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Scant teaspoon salt
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Canola oil, for frying
- Special equipment: ravioli plaque
Directions
For the pie crust: Rub the butter, cheese, flour, sugar and salt together with your hands in a work bowl until the butter is pea-size. Mix together the sparkling water and vodka and work into the dough until fully combined. Divide in half and wrap with plastic. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
For the filling: Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Cook until brown and nutty, about 1 minute. Add the apples and then the sugar, cinnamon, salt, lemon zest and juice. Add the bourbon and cook on medium-high heat until the apples begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook until thick, about 1 minute. Let the filling cool.
To assemble: Heat 8 cups oil in a heavy pan, cast iron is preferred, to 375 degrees F.
Divide each disk in half and roll to 1/4-inch thick. Place one sheet on a ravioli plaque and fill the indents with a heaping tablespoon of cooled filling. Top with the other sheet and press out mini pies. (Alternatively, cut the dough into 6-inch rounds, place 1/4 cup cooled filling in the center and fold over. Use water to moisten and seal the edges.)
Fry in the oil until dark golden brown, about 2 minutes for minis, 1 1/2 minutes on each side for the large.