From the Witches Kitchen
Spiced Apple Pie for Samhain
A classic double-crust apple pie with cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon: a warming Samhain dessert for sharing.
Prep Time
1 hour
Cook Time
1 hour
Serves
8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 x 23cm ready-rolled shortcrust pastry sheets, or homemade pastry for a double-crust pie
- 7 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 100g caster sugar
- 100g light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Finely grated zest of ½ lemon
- 1 large egg, beaten, for brushing
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar, optional
Kitchen Witch Notes
Apples are a traditional symbol of Samhain’s harvest and remembrance, while cinnamon and nutmeg bring warmth to the darker days. Make it for the people you want around your table.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm or at room temperature with cream, custard or vanilla ice cream. Any leftovers are excellent cold the next day.
Introduction
Apple pie is simple autumn comfort: sharp fruit, warm spices and a crisp golden lid. Give it time to cool before slicing so the filling settles into proper pie, rather than delicious chaos.
Method
- Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Roll out or prepare the pastry. If making your own, chill it for at least 1 hour first.
- Mix the apples, both sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and zest in a large bowl.
- Line a deep 23cm pie dish with one pastry sheet. Spoon in the apple filling, leaving any excess liquid behind in the bowl.
- Lay the second pastry sheet over the filling. Trim, seal and crimp the edges, then cut four small slits in the top to let steam escape. Put the pie on a baking tray.
- Brush with beaten egg and scatter with demerara sugar if using. Cover the edges with foil for the first 25 minutes.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and reduce the oven to 190°C/170°C fan. Bake for a further 30–35 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Cool for at least 3 hours before slicing.
Swaps & Variations
Use Bramley apples for a tarter filling, or a mixture of eating and cooking apples. Add a handful of blackberries or raisins, if you like. A plant-based pastry and milk wash make this easy to adapt.
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