If there was ever a time for apple pie, it’s now. November is here and with it the return of infinitely long nights. My to-do list is a mile long and the holidays are closing in far too quickly for my comfort. When everything seems uncertain, I’m all for taking a step back and digging into a slice of pie – butter and apples are a fine antidote to anxieties, and thus far have never let me down.
Sweetened with maple syrup and honey, the pairing gives dimension to a blend of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples. The all-butter graham crust is incredibly flaky and golden, with that familiar buttery brilliance we all crave. This maple honey apple pie is a fresh take on classic apple pie to fall in love with this season.
Ingredients
Graham Pie Crust
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, divided
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup graham flour
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 2 Tbsp vodka
Filling
- 5 cups peeled and diced apples (Honeycrisp & Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, warmed
- 1/4 cup honey, warmed
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp arrowroot starch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Assembly
- 1 Tbsp cold milk
- 1 Tbsp Turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Prepare dough: Grate 8 Tbsp butter into a small bowl; cut remaining 8 Tbsp butter into small cubes and place in a second bowl; chill bowls in freezer for 15 minutes. Whisk together flour, graham flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl; place bowl in freezer to chill for 15 minutes. Chill buttermilk and vodka in freezer for 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle cubed butter over chilled flour mixture and toss with a spatula to coat. Use a pastry blender to cut in butter until the biggest pieces are the size of peas; fold in grated butter. Drizzle buttermilk over flour mixture; use a spatula to gather dough together until it forms large clumps. If needed, add vodka 1 tablespoon at a time, then gently knead just until dough comes together. Divide dough in half and gather each half into a ball, wrap in plastic and flatten slightly to form a disc. Chill dough in the refrigerator at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days, or place in a freezer bag and freeze 1 to 2 months).
- Place one disc of dough on a floured board and dust dough with flour. Roll out dough (roll dough in one direction, then lift up dough and rotate a quarter turn and roll, then repeat) until dough is a 12 to 13-inch circle. If dough starts to stick, use a bench scraper to lift dough from board. Transfer dough to a standard 9-inch pie dish; trim overhang to one inch. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Place second disc of dough on floured board and dust dough with flour. Roll out using same procedure, until dough is 1/8-inch thick. Flour a maple leaf cookie cutter (or decorative cutter of your choice) and cut out leaves for the top (re-roll scraps once if needed). Chill leaves in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Prepare filling: Combine apples, maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, arrowroot starch, and salt in a large bowl, tossing gently to combine. Spoon filling into chilled bottom crust and top with chilled leaves. Fold up dough overhang and crimp with a fork to seal. Chill assembled pie in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425°F and place a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil in the center of the oven. Brush pie with milk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar; place pie on preheated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F and continue baking another 55 minutes, until filling is bubbling and crust is golden brown. If pie is browning too quickly, cover with foil for remaining baking time. Cool pie on a wire rack for at least 4 hours (filling thickens as it cools). Once pie is cut, store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Notes
If your apples are tart, add up to 1/4 cup sugar to the filling (to taste).
Arrowroot starch is a natural thickener and creates a smooth, shiny sauce. Available online or in the natural foods section.
Nutrition
- Calories: 395
- Carbohydrates: 54
26 comments
This is stunning! Love all the leaves on top- pinning 🙂
Laura, this maple honey apple pie is absolutely gorgeous!!! I need that maple leaf cookie cutter!!!!
What a gorgeous pie! I’m coveting a slice this rainy California morning. It would be just perfect with a cup of steaming hot coffee.
Gorgeous Laura! Sounds so delicious!
Ooooh, gorgeous… and I LOVE those cutouts xxx
The graham crust sounds so interesting – love the color and the texture looks perfect!
I’m a huge fan of apple pie—and I love all your delicious twists and turns on the classic! The maple, the graham crust, your leaf shaped toppers—they all make this one of a kind pie extra special!
Pie is always the answer-ALWAYS! 😛 And I love the sprinkling of the coffee sugar on top too!
This may be the most perfect looking pie I have ever seen!! Oh my gosh. WOW! wishing my pies looked like this! 🙂
I love the fact that you’ve sweetened the filling with maple syrup and honey! It sounds warm and comforting and the color on the pie crust is making me salivate!
Phenomenal, Laura! I should have guessed that you would one day soon turn classic pie crust pastry into something magnificent with the additions of graham flour and spices. It is so YOU! Also, I love the twists on classic apple pie filling by sweetening with pure maple syrup and honey. Your pie looks simply divine, my friend. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! xo
Wow Vodka in the pastry – can you taste it in the final recipe or does it cook off?
This looks like a delicious Autumnal pie.
Hi Angela, no you can’t taste the vodka. It evaporates in the oven and makes the crust nice and flaky.
Yep, pretty sure this is the pie of my dreams 😉 What a gorgeous treat (my pie making husband is furiously taking notes reading this!) and I love the apple + honey combo!
I love the touch of maple & honey! This pie looks cosy, rustic, and perfect for early November angst. 🙂
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing Laura, like something grandma would have made but way better!
This beauty takes apple pie to the next level, Laura! I love the flavors in there!
Loving this, Laura! Maple and honey sounds like such a wonderful combination. And with fresh-picked farm apples, of course!
Ahhhhh pie season. How I love thee. I love that this is kind of a step-up from a traditional apple pie, it has just enough delicate changes to make it unique, but still radiates fall and Thanksgiving.
Beautiful Laura! Love the graham crust, especially 🙂
I haven’t ever used graham flour. I bet the combination of flavors in your pie is oh so good.
I saw the picture of the unbaked crust and leaf cutter on Instagram and GUSHED to my mom about how beautiful and perfect it was and made her look look at my amazing college friend’s blog 🙂
Aww, thanks Rachelle! You are the sweetest :). Hope you had an amazing time in Italy!
SO gorgeous! That crust is so caramelised, and I love how you added maple and honey to the apples – such a good idea. So autumnal!
This apple pie sounds delicious! Love how you did the filling and crust 🙂
Send me a few slices, a whole pie — pick your battle 😀