Pie Fries with Apple Caramel Dip

Difficulty:

1/5

Ease of preparation: Easy

Yield: 16 pie fries

Pie Fries with Apple Caramel Dip

Ingredients:

Pie crust

1 ¼ cups (300 ml) flour
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
½ tablespoon (7.5 ml) sugar
¼ cup (60 ml) cold unsalted butter, cubed
¼ cup (60 ml) cold vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons (30 ml) cold vodka
3-4 tablespoons (45-60 ml) cold water
1 egg + 1 tablespoon (15 ml) water, beaten, for egg wash
3 tablespoons (45 ml) demerara sugar, for topping

Apple caramel dip

3 apples
2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
1 cup (240 ml) water
½ cup (120 ml) sugar
½ cup (120 ml) brown sugar
2 tablespoons (30 ml) cornstarch
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (10 ml) cinnamon
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) nutmeg
½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
6 tablespoons (90 ml) double cream
1 tablespoon (15 ml) butter

Method:

Sift together flour, salt, and sugar. Using a pastry blender – not your fingers – cut butter and shortening into flour mixture. Gradually add vodka, stirring to incorporate. Gradually add water, stirring to incorporate. Flatten and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for 2 hours to overnight.

Remove from the fridge, divide into two, and roll out into equal rectangles of 12 x 18 inches (30 cm x 45 cm), and about the thickness of a pie crust. Brush egg wash on top of one rectangle.

Place the other rectangle on top. Brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle with demerara sugar. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Slice into 1-inch (2.5 cm) widths, and cut lengthwise to look like fries. Bake at 350 F (175 C) for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let cool.

Peel and core apples and cut into small 1/3-inch (1 cm) chunks. Add apple chunks to a bowl. Add lemon juice and toss to coat apples.

To a saucepan, add water, sugar, and brown sugar and whisk together. Whisk, cooking, until mixture thickens and turns golden. Add apple chunks and stir in.

In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in ¼ cup (60 ml) water and whisk together. Pour cornstarch mixture into apple mixture and stir in. Add vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and stir in. Let cook and bubble until apples have softened and mixture has thickened.

Remove from heat. Carefully pour in cream and stir to incorporate. Add butter and stir in. Let cool until just warm to the touch.

Serve pie fries on a plate beside a bowl of warm apple caramel dip.