The Comforting Barefoot Contessa Deep-dish Apple Pie Recipe

Barefoot Contessa Deep-dish Apple Pie embodies the quintessential comfort of homemade desserts that spark memories and warmth.

Traditional baking techniques combine with rustic charm to transform simple ingredients into something magical.

Seasonal fruits shine when transformed through careful preparation and thoughtful spicing.

Warm, fragrant aromas will drift through your kitchen, beckoning family and friends to gather.

Sweet, tender apples nestled within a golden, buttery crust promise pure indulgence.

Each slice tells a story of culinary tradition and loving craftsmanship.

The result promises a dessert that connects generations through its irresistible appeal: prepare to be delighted.

Indulge in the Richness of Deep-dish Apple Pie

• Savor Rich Seasonal Comfort: Deep-dish apple pie captures autumn’s warmth with layers of soft, tender apples seasoned with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a nostalgic dessert that feels like a comforting hug.
• Master Professional-Level Baking Technique: This recipe transforms home baking into an elegant art, teaching precise methods like crimping edges, creating steam vents, and achieving a perfectly golden, flaky crust that looks professionally crafted.
• Deliver Impressive Flavor Complexity: Multiple spices and citrus zests elevate the classic apple pie, adding depth through subtle hints of allspice, orange and lemon zests that dance across your palate, making each bite unexpectedly sophisticated.
• Enjoy Stress-Free Preparation: Despite looking complicated, the recipe follows straightforward steps any home baker can confidently execute, promising delicious results without requiring advanced culinary skills or expensive equipment.

Key Components for Deep-dish Apple Pie

• All-Purpose Flour: Soft and smooth flour that forms the tender, flaky base of the pie.
• Unsalted Butter: Cold and high-quality butter creates a rich, delicate pastry texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pie crust.

• Apples, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious: Firm and tart apples that hold their shape and provide balanced sweetness during baking.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create a caramelized texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the apple filling and prevents excess liquid.
• Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Allspice: Warm spices that add depth and complexity to the apple flavor.
• Salt: Balances and enhances the sweetness of the filling.

• Egg: Creates a golden, shiny crust when brushed on top.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides a sweet, crisp sprinkle on the pie’s surface.
• Lemon Zest, Orange Zest: Adds bright, citrusy notes to the apple filling.
• Lemon Juice, Orange Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds a subtle tangy flavor.

Step-by-Step Guide for Deep-dish Apple Pie

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank your oven to 400°F (200°C). Ensure the rack is centered for perfect baking.

Step 2: Prepare Apple Treasure

• Apple slices
• Lemon zest
• Orange zest
• Lemon juice
• Orange juice
• Granulated sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground allspice

Gently toss until each apple piece is beautifully coated.

Step 3: Craft The Bottom Crust

Roll out the first pie dough disc generously. Drape it smoothly into a deep pie dish, allowing slight overhang around edges.

Step 4: Layer Apple Goodness

Pour the spiced apple mixture into the crust. Spread evenly, creating a mountain of deliciousness.

Step 5: Crown With Top Crust

Brush bottom crust edges with egg wash. Carefully place second dough disc on top. Trim edges, folding and crimping to seal the pie’s delectable treasure inside.

Step 6: Create Stunning Finish

Brush entire top crust with egg wash. Sprinkle with sugar. Slice 4-5 steam vents across the surface.

Step 7: Bake To Golden Perfection

Place pie on a baking sheet. Slide into preheated oven. Bake 1-1¼ hours until crust turns golden and filling bubbles tantalizingly.

Step 8: Let Pie Rest And Serve

Allow pie to cool slightly. Slice and serve warm, revealing its irresistible layers.

Expert Hints for Deep-dish Apple Pie

• Pick Sturdy Apples: Select Granny Smith varieties that stay firm and maintain crisp texture during baking, preventing mushy filling.
• Freeze Pastry Ingredients: Chill butter and dough thoroughly to guarantee an incredibly flaky, tender pie crust with delicate layers.
• Shield Pie Crust: Brush bottom crust with egg wash to create a protective barrier that stops juices from soaking through and causing sogginess.
• Slice Apples Uniformly: Cut apple pieces into consistent sizes ensuring even cooking and balanced softening throughout the filling.
• Catch Potential Overflow: Position pie on a rimmed baking sheet to collect any bubbling juices and protect your oven from messy spills.

Smart Storage for Deep-dish Apple Pie

• Preserve Freshness: Wrap the pie in a hermetic container with silica gel packets to absorb excess moisture and prevent soggy crust. These tiny moisture-absorbing heroes keep your pie crisp and delectable for longer.
• Long-term Storage: Freeze individual slices in vacuum-sealed bags to maintain optimal taste and texture. Slide each slice into a separate bag, remove air completely, and stack neatly in the freezer for quick single-serving desserts.
• Quick Refresh: Revive refrigerated pie by warming it in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes before serving. This method restores the crust’s crispness and reawakens the warm, spiced apple flavors, making each slice taste freshly baked.

Innovative Twists on Deep-dish Apple Pie

• Rustic Caramel Apple Pie: Drizzle caramel sauce between apple layers and sprinkle sea salt on top for a rich, complex flavor profile that elevates the classic recipe.
• Nutty Crumble-Top Pie: Replace the traditional top crust with a crunchy streusel made from chopped pecans, brown sugar, and butter for a textural twist that adds warmth and depth.
• Spiced Maple Apple Pie: Swap white sugar for maple syrup and increase warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to create a deeper, more autumnal taste that celebrates seasonal flavors.
• Bourbon-Spiked Apple Pie: Infuse the apple filling with a splash of bourbon and add a touch of vanilla extract to bring sophisticated, complex undertones to the traditional dessert.

Parting Thoughts on Deep-dish Apple Pie

Barefoot Contessa’s deep-dish apple pie emerges as culinary poetry, weaving classic American dessert traditions with sophisticated flavor profiles.

Pure comfort radiates from each slice, revealing layers of carefully spiced apple goodness.

Crisp pastry edges embrace warm cinnamon-kissed fruit, creating an irresistible harmony of textures and tastes.

Generous portions invite shared moments of delightful indulgence around family tables.

Barefoot Contessa Deep-dish Apple Pie Recipe

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s deep-dish apple pie brings classic American comfort straight from Ina Garten’s kitchen. Buttery, flaky crust cradles perfectly spiced apples that melt in your mouth, promising a slice of pure dessert happiness you’ll savor to the last crumb.

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Ingredients

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Fresh Fruit:

• 1.8 kg (4 pounds) Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, and cored
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

Dry Ingredients:

• 100 g (½ cup) sugar, plus 1 teaspoon for sprinkling
• 30 g (¼ cup) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
• 375 g (3 cups) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Fat Ingredients:

• 170 g (1½ sticks) very cold unsalted butter
• 75 g (⅓ cup) very cold vegetable shortening
• 6–8 tablespoons (about 120 ml / 4 fluid ounces) ice water
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water

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Instructions

1. Warm the kitchen oven to 200°C (180°C fan) | 400°F, ensuring proper temperature calibration for optimal pie baking.
2. Transform apples into bite-sized morsels by slicing each quarter into three delicate pieces, then generously coat with citrus zests, fresh fruit juices, granulated sugar, flour, salt, aromatic cinnamon, fragrant nutmeg, and warming allspice.
3. Carefully unfurl the first layer of pie pastry, gently draping it across the pie dish with a slight 1.5cm (½ inch) overhang, repositioning and re-rolling if necessary to achieve perfect coverage.
4. Lovingly transfer the seasoned apple mixture into the prepared crust, distributing the fragrant filling evenly across the pastry landscape.
5. Delicately paint the bottom crust’s perimeter with egg wash, then tenderly position the second pastry layer. Trim the edges to approximately 2.5cm (1 inch) beyond the dish rim, artfully tucking the top crust beneath the bottom and creating an elegant crimped border using fingertips or a fork.
6. Enhance the pie’s visual appeal by brushing the surface with egg wash, sprinkling a teaspoon of crystalline sugar, and creating 4-5 strategic steam-releasing incisions.
7. Carefully transfer the pie onto a sturdy baking tray, allowing it to transform in the heated oven for 1-1¼ hours until it achieves a golden-brown complexion with effervescent, bubbling edges.
8. Allow the pie to rest momentarily, letting its flavors settle before serving while still pleasantly warm.

Notes

• Crisp apple selection matters most for maintaining texture and preventing a watery filling during baking.
• Chilling pastry ingredients ensures a delicately flaky crust that melts in your mouth with buttery goodness.
• Protective egg wash creates a magical barrier against soggy bottoms, keeping your pie’s foundation perfectly crisp.
• Uniform apple slicing guarantees consistent cooking, so every bite delivers the same delightful soft-yet-firm experience.
• Strategically positioning the pie on a baking sheet catches unexpected juice eruptions, saving your clean oven from sticky messes.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 35g
• Sodium: 300mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 65g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 50mg