Cranberry Almond Apple Pie

Step 1

Prepare my pie crust recipe through step 5.

Step 2

Stir the apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Set filling aside as the oven preheats.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).

Step 4

On a floured work surface, roll out one of the discs of chilled dough (keep the other one in the refrigerator). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9×2 inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is smooth.

Step 5

Unwrap the almond paste. Flatten it out into a 9-inch disc to fit snug into the bottom of the pie. Place on top of the pie crust. Spoon the filling on top of the almond paste, leaving any excess liquid in the bowl (you don’t want that in the filling– discard it). Dot the pieces of butter on top of the filling. Stick in the refrigerator until ready to arrange the lattice.

Step 6

Remove the other disc of chilled pie dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into a circle that is 12 inches diameter. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut 24 1/2 inch strips. Remove the pie from the refrigerator and carefully thread the pie dough strips over and under one another to create the look in the pictures pie, pulling back strips as necessary to weave. Press the edges of the strips into the bottom pie crust edges to seal. Use a small knife to trim off excess dough. Flute the edges or crimp with a fork. With any leftover dough, cut into fall-inspired shapes and place on top of the lattice. (Alternatively, you can simply cover the filling with the 12-inch pie dough circle. Cut slits in the top to form steam vents. Trim and crimp the edges.)

Step 7

Lightly brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash mixture and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.

Step 8

Place the pie onto a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Keeping the pie in the oven, turn the temperature down to 350°F (177°C) and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes. After the first 20 minutes of bake time, I place a pie crust shield on top of the pie to prevent the edges from browning too quickly.

Step 9

Allow the pie to cool for 3 full hours at room temperature before serving. This time allows the filling to thicken up. Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.