To top off this feast, a classic Deep-Dish Apple Pie is the ultimate partner to that Boiled Fruit Cake. Since you have the oven going anyway, this recipe focuses on a “precooked” filling—this prevents the dreaded “soupy” bottom and that annoying gap between the crust and the fruit.
🍎 Deep-Dish Cinnamon Apple Pie
The Ingredients
The Crust:
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2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
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1 cup (225g) Cold unsalted butter, cubed
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1 tsp Salt
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1 tsp Sugar
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6–8 tbsp Ice-cold water
The Filling:
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6–8 Large apples (Mix of Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp for sweetness)
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3/4 cup Light brown sugar
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2 tbsp All-purpose flour
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1 tbsp Lemon juice
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1 ½ tsp Ground cinnamon
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1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
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1 tbsp Butter (to dot on top)
The Instructions
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Make the Dough: Pulse flour, salt, and sugar with cold butter until it looks like coarse crumbs. Add ice water 1 tbsp at a time until the dough just holds together. Divide in two, wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
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Prep the Apples: Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/2-inch wedges.
The “No-Gap” Trick: Toss apples with sugar and spices and let them sit in a bowl for 30 minutes. Drain the liquid into a small pot, boil it down to a syrup, and pour it back over the apples. This ensures the apples don’t shrink inside the pie!
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Assemble: Roll out the bottom crust and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish. Fill with the apple mixture and dot with bits of butter. Top with the second crust (solid with vents or a lattice).
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The Bake: Brush the top with an egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
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Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes.
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Lower heat to 190°C (375°F) and bake for another 30–40 minutes until the crust is deep golden and the filling is bubbling.
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🥧 Which Apple Should You Choose?
| Apple Variety | Texture After Baking | Flavor Profile |
| Granny Smith | Firm / Holds shape | Very Tart |
| Honeycrisp | Crisp / Juicy | Sweet & Honey-like |
| Braeburn | Softens slightly | Balanced / Spicy |
| Gala | Very Soft | Sweet (Best mixed with others) |
The Final “Grand Slam” Spread
You have curated a massive, soulful meal. Here is how to time the final stretch:
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Make Ahead: The Boiled Fruit Cake and Apple Pie dough can be made a day early.
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The Main Event: While the Pork Belly and Potato Bake are in their long-roast phase, prep the Cornbread Poppers.