Matt Jackson Studios
Dutch Apple Pie (appeltaart)
A Dutch tradition that dates back to the Middle-ages! It starts with a flaky homemade pie crust, then a deliciously flavorful apple pie filling. The classic apple pie comes with white flour, raisins, sometimes walnuts and loads of sugar. This recipe is a slightly healthier version. We have given vegan options as well. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
For the dough:
300 gram flour - we made a mixture of whole wheat and buckwheat flour
200 gram butter on room temperature - Vegan option: plant based margarine
50 gram sugar - we used coconut blossom sugar which is slightly less sweet and processed than white sugar
1 egg - Vegan option: 3 more ts of baking powder
1 egg yolk for the glow on top of the pie - Vegan option: soy milk
5 drops of vanilla essence, or some vanilla powder
1 ts baking powder
A pinch of salt

For the apple filling:
6 big apples - we took the hard & sour ones. If it is a very juicy apple, sprinkle a layer for oats or maizena on the bottom of the pie before you add the apples, so the dough doesn't get soggy.
10 fat dates
A big handful of walnuts
A lot of cinnamon
1 organic lemon, use both the zest and the juice
(you can use raisins, dried figs, apples & pears mixed, almonds etc. for a different texture / taste, some bakers like to soak the raisins in rum...)

Possible sides/toppings:
Whipped cream - Vegan option: make a whipped cream from coconut milk! Here's a recipe.
Vanilla or cinnamon ice cream
Sweetened yoghurt - Vegan option: soy, oat or coconut yoghurt, as long as it's creamy and slightly sweetened

How to make the pie?
Preparation
Preheat oven at 180 degrees Celcius
Butter a pie pan, sprinkle some flour in and swish around so the cake won't stick to the pan

Dough
Mix flour baking powder, vanilla essence, sugar, salt. Then add the butter in small pieces, add the egg and knead into a solid dough that isn't sticky. Let it rest for 30 min.

Apple filling
Chop the apples in small pieces, you don't need to peel them unless the skin is a bit dry and old (or when it is a non-organic apple). Add dates also in small pieces, Grate the lemon, sprinkle the zest over the apples, then squeeze the juice over the mixture. Add walnuts stamped or broken into small pieces. Add a lot of cinnamon and mix it all.
Finally either roll 2/3rd of the dough to a thin layer, or just push it into the pie pan, add apple mixture, then roll and slice or just roll the left over of the dough in stripes that your cover the dough with. The classic version is with a checkered layer of stripes. The toddler version is with only one layer of stripes because there won't be enough dough left to do the crossing because they eat it! Paint the stripes with egg yolk for a shiny finish. Put it all in the oven for 60 min on 180 degrees. Then let it sit for 30 min or so to harden a bit before you eat it. Enjoy, eet smakelijk, bon appetit!