If you are only going to bake one thing this season it should probably be an apple pie. Why are you only baking one thing though!? Maybe you’re allergic to ovens. Maybe you have a phobia of flour. I don’t know. I don’t want to judge here. But guys, can we just bake a pie today or what?
And while we’re at it, let’s put some bourbon in that pie, ok? If you’ve never baked with booze before don’t fret. We’re really just after the flavor: caramel, warm oak and vanilla. The actual alcohol content greatly decreases anytime you bake with liquor, as alcohol has a pretty low boiling point. Which is why you can make homemade vanilla extract with vodka. Science.
First let’s talk crust. You can buy one or make your own. For this pie I made my own. I love a flaky, unsweetened crust. Perfect backdrop for a sweet pie with ice cream. 🙂
Perfect pie crust, makes one double crust pie (or two single crusts. Math.)
Needed: 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 15 tablespoons cold butter (almost 2 sticks, but not quite) and 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon cold water.
In a food processor combine the flour and salt, pulse for a second or two. Cut in the butter and pulse until just crumbly. Now slowly pour in the water as the food processor is turned on low. (You can also do these steps by hand with a little more effort, I’m just lazy.) Once you’ve added all the water use your clean hands to work the dough into a ball. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for an hour (or up to overnight). When you’re ready to use your dough let it sit out on the counter for a few minutes before rolling out.
Spiced Bourbon Apple Pie, filling for one pie.
Needed: 3-4 sour apples, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tablespoon corn starch, 2 tablespoons bourbon, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional).
Peel and thinly slice the apples. As you can see from the photo I believe in very thinly sliced apples. The thinner your slices the more area for the spiced bourbon coating to stick to. I use a Mandoline
and highly recommend them. It’s one of my favorite kitchen tools. Set aside your apples and in a small bowl whisk together the milk, corn starch, bourbon, cinnamon and sugar. Pour over the apples and gently mix them up so that all slices get coated. Add in the pecans if using. Roll out your pie crust and lay in your prepared baking dish. Pour in the filling and lay on the top pie crust. Make sure to add a few slits to the top pie crust to allow steam to escape as baking. I crimped my edges using the side of a fork and I added a little label using Alphabet Cookie Cutters
. Brush the top with an egg wash and bake at 375 F for an hour.
If you don’t have or don’t want to use bourbon you can substitute 2 teaspoons vanilla extract instead. Bake a pie this week! Your house will smell amazing. xo. Emma
96 Comments
I made this pie for Thanksgiving and it was AMAZING. Absolutely the best apple pie I have ever made, and I have made SO many in my lifetime. By the way – using the mandoline was key to the success of this recipe.
Pretty darn cute.
Oh my! I usually don’t bake, but I absolutely have to make an exception for this recipe. And Knob Creek just happens to be my favorite bourbon. I already have a date to bake with some girlfriends this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great recipe! I made this pie this afternoon and just loved it 🙂
Wow! I wanna eat that so much!!! Perfect for cold winter-days in bavaria 🙂
In the oven now. It looks promising. What an original twist, I love it!
I used Red Stag Spiced Cinnamon Bourbon… Super yummy!
So on this pie, I already make a delish apple pie and the
bourbon with really make it pop.
I’m making this pie today! complete with ‘Caturday’ instead of ‘Apple Pie.’ Also, the link leading to this recipe on your recipe’s page instead sends you to coconut frosting. :[
I’m not a huge fan of apple pie but my husband is, I’ll be making this for him (;
booze + fruit + dough = LOVE (Yes, please and thank you!)
this looks so amazing! the “apple pie” cut outs are the cutest. mmmm bourbon.
a truly innovative job leaving my mouth to water when i look at this luscious apple pie
I used this recipe (substituting vanilla for the bourbon) to attempt my first ever apple pie and the result was pure perfection. Amazing recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Jessica
http://bridenomore.blogspot.com/
Oh yum! I’m the resident pie baker during family gatherings, and I’m always looking for fun and different pie recipes. I love the idea of bourbon and apples together – yum yum – thank you for sharing! In return, I’ll tell you one of my favorite recipes. Chai Spiced Apple Pie. It’s a Martha Stewart recipe, probably on her website somewhere. Delicious and just a little different.
Tried this pie this weekend for a party we had. HUGE hit! (*Next time I may add a little of the bourbon butter you posted about last year too!)
xo*
so I just baked this right now, and I’m in love. What a wonderful recipe. Thank you for sharing!!
xo
N
mannuellanadine.com
yummmyyyy! made this today (no bourbon in the cupboard so went w/o this time around) and it is the BEST apple pie i’ve had! the PERfect amount of sweetness…and scrumptious crust. can’t wait to try it with the bourbon.
thanks for sharing!
This looks divine. It’s a must for the season, for sure! xx
i love Apple Pie so much, i could make it all the time 😀
Lara from http://onlyselfmade.blogspot.de
The use of Bourbon totally inspired me to try this recipe out but using Butterscotch Schnapps and my own pastry. In case anyone is interested my recipe is here:
http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/butterscotch-schnapps-apple-pie/
Thanks for the inspiration Emma!
xox Becky, K.
FOODGASM! I am a big fan of Apple Pie – every year on my birthday my mom makes her famous apple pie at my request. Maybe next time I’ll try making it myself using this absolutely delish recipe
Finally! Apple pie! My absolute favorite during the Fall. It’s so very yummy and I can’t wait to try out this recipe 😀
http://horsesofares.blogspot.com
I made this pie tonight! AMAZING! I have several apple trees growing in my back yard and it was a beautiful day for picking. Had just seen your recipe and thought “why not!?” Whipped it up after dinner and it turned out just incredibly.
Love Knob Creek. Good choice! I’m making this today for sure. 🙂
Oh my god. I need to make this soon.
http://caitylenox.blogspot.com/
This must be heaven! Thanks for sharing!
Done! I’m going to the store right now and baking it this weekend!
I love apple pie!!
Wow that looks SO delicious!
Val
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Yummi … how did you do the letters? I tried something similar, but just don’t seem to gat that picture perfect result …
This looks lovely! I picked apple’s yesterday, so I think i’ll be making this. I used to bake all the time but never do anymore, it’s terrible!
I love cake with apples 😀 it’s my favourite.
Wow, i adore apple pie but never tried it with bourbon, Yum.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Yummy yummy!! This looks so good!
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/
oh my goshh. this looks amazing!
xo, cheyenne
Love it! I also love how you put “Apple Pie” on the pie.
Xx
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
The pie looks divine and so so yummy.
I just made cookies from I Like You by Amy Sedaris, and on the same page was a recipe for a bourbon apple pie which I figured I should try it out. Now with your recipe here it must be a sign! I’ll bake one this weekend 😉
this looks awesome, i will have to try it with a wheat free flour!
Yummo. That looks so good.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
You don’t need to tell me twice! This looks amazing–definitely going to try it soon. Thanks for the recipe!
Apple pie is my favorite! Though I’ve pretty much gotten my recipe down, the addition of Bourbon sounds so yummy!
-Alyssa
The Glossy Life
This is the such a cute approach to decorating a pie. Imagine that on a cherry pie or pecan pie? Yum! Apple pie in the fall time is just amazing on a cooler day.
M.
this is so frigging adorable~ I love them apples~
-liv
http://chocolivlovelaugh.blogspot.kr/
I loved your Cranberry Apple Pie from your previous site and trusted it last fall. I think I’m going to have to test this one for deliciousness as well.
Your blog is so cute!!!!
it look so tasty, my mouth gets all watery. can’t wait to bake loads of apple pies this autumn!
http://bravebrunette.blogspot.com
That is the cutest! I need one to the sofa!
www.sushiturtlesandlife.blogspot.com
The butter makes it perfect pie crust doesn’t it?
Yum! My husband is gonna love this recipe! Two of his favorite things!
How I love apple pie and yours looks and sounds delicious. We and do always make a couple in the fall, however sadly not this year because a late frost damaged all the buds just as our apple trees were blossoming, so no local apples for us 🙁 But we do get nice ones imported from our friends in the States so maybe we’ll have at least one crisp. Can’t go without fall app,es all together!
Hi Emma! Thanks for one more recipe with apples!! I have to try this one today, can’t wait!!! xoxo
Looks amazing. Going to have to try this.
http://amesstobemadex.wordpress.com
I almost thought I could smell it.
http://catherinedenton.com
Catherine Denton
Oh my gosh that looks fantastic! I love the look of that pastry!
Ooooh I LOVE the letters on the pie! Such a great idea:)
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
Love your stuff but I’ll have to give this a miss- I can’t stand whiskey!Rx
http://sandersonsmithstory.blogspot.co.uk/
I’m not one to choose apple pie over other options, but you sold me with Bourbon! I’ll do it!
😉
This pie looks sooo good!
That pie is a perfect 10!
It looks delicious!
Oh my, I’m getting hungry!!
http://www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
WHOA.
you had me at “spiced bourbon”.
yum! 🙂
Mee oh my, it’s PIE! I love me some pie, apple is one of my favorites…but really is there a bad kind of pie? (maybe meat pie?) Anywho these pics are killing me! I just moved to Amsterdam (from CA) and will be sadly pieless this fall as my tiny kitchen has a tiny, crappy oven. But luckily a Dutch specialty is apple cake so I’ll have to make do.
Love your stuff, huge fan right here!
Ok I’m inspired! http://www.bakingincouture.typepad.com
This looks really fantastic! Yum.
xo
Diana
http://unusuallylovely.com
i love this season. all the yummy baked goods are the BEST. this looks scrumptious.
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Looks so yummy.
this looks amazing, i love the letters on the top of the pie! the best part of fall is baking so i can’t wait to put my own gluten free, dairy free spin on this!
abigail
www.farandwildjewelry.blogspot.com
That looks so delicious. Baked an apple pie just yesterday 😀
xo
LOVE love love the “apple pie” written on top. i really want to do pies for my wedding- and how cute is this instead of having a card saying what it is? adorable! how did you cut out the letters??
sweatshirt-weather.blogspot.com
Mmmm… this reminds me of my friend’s BBQ last weekend. He is a fantastic baker, and made a beautiful homemade apple pie with fresh bourbon whipped cream. It was FANTASTIC. This looks just as amazing!
Yes! Apple pie and apple picking season! I love the letters on the pie! Cute!
Theresa
http://bomamma.blogspot.com
Where do you come up with these “extra” ingredients like bourbon? GENIUS! LOVE apple pie, and GOTTA GOTTA GOTTA try this spiced bourbon version!
XOXO
-Daisy Nguyen from PS BANANAS fashion blog:
http://psbananas.com
Okay, wow. In love with those letters. It makes it so cute and fun!
lifeatruestory4.blogspot.com
I love the word idea! How did you do those?
yum! Thanks for making me crave this 😉
Perfection.
www.suspironews.blogspot.com
Looks yummy! Reminds me of Snow White!
My blog: acolorfulcreation.blogspot.com
I would bake a pie any day! Especially apple (or dutch apple – my fav to make AND eat). I love holiday baking season, my oven will be working overtime… but also half-assing because its a little on the low temp side.
http://whiskeybreakfast.blogspot.com
Oh my yummm! Saving this and storing it so that after I visit an apple orchard, I have something wonderful to bake!!!
It’s been forever since I baked a pie. I did just finish making stamps that Elsie made…maybe I can make an Emma recipe next. Thanks for the inspiration guys!
Sam
http://liveandlove.typepad.com
That´s a beauty for sure! 🙂
This sounds delicious and the pastry letters are adorable !
Becky , K
http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.wordpress.com/
This looks yum! I am normally an apple crumble kind of girl, but the pastry in this looks delish!
so so pretty!!!
mmmm, looks yummy.
Looks delicious! Love the words on the crust..
I baked one last week, but with no bourbon. Looks like I’m gonna have to do another one! 🙂
This looks really good. When I saw the first picture, I immediately thought of “She´s an apple pie” from Kissogram, there should be more songs about pies and cakes. 😉
YUM!!!!! Reminds me of that scene in Harry Met Sally- I’m just as picky ordering! Alamode!
mintclothingcompany.blogspot.com
Xx,
Jess
This pie is all I want today in the evening. Looks sooo yummy!
Love the “apple pie” cutouts on top – I’m going to have to try that for sure! Yum!
xo,
Morgan
seemomogo.blogspot.com
YUMMY! My kitchen is in the midst of remodel crazy… how about I just nab a piece of this pie???
This look scrummy – I’m so ridiculously scared of making pies – its the fear of the dreaded soggy bottom!! I should really get over it and have a go, we have tons of lovely apples in our new garden that need to be used …