Mastering the art of thickening your apple pie filling
You can prepare an apple pie with almost any variety of apples. Some people believe that the best pie includes sour apples that are not too juicy. However, it's often only after cooking that you can determine if the apples have the right texture. If the filling is too runny, there are a few simple methods you can use.
If you have plenty of time, you don't need to add anything to the apples. Similar to sauces and stews, you can reduce the filling for the apple pie by cooking the apples in an open pan for a long enough time. However, this process requires your attention. You need to watch and stir the apples to prevent them from sticking.
How to thicken apples with potato starch?
One of the simpler methods that quickly gives the desired effect is to add 1-2 tablespoons of potato starch to the apples. You need to dissolve the starch in a small amount of cold water and then mix it with the hot apples in the pan. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until it reaches a jelly-like consistency.
Method for apples using jelly or pudding powder
Instead of potato starch, you can use lemon jelly or a mild vanilla-flavoured pudding. Gradually add 2-3 tablespoons of the powder to the hot apples, stirring the filling vigorously each time to prevent lumps.
Lemon-flavoured jelly will enhance the acidity of the apples and give them more depth, while pudding will make the mixture creamier and smoother.
Grandma’s apple pie filling method
Another effective way to thicken the fruit filling for the pie is to add 2-3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs or semolina. Both ingredients easily absorb excess water, and in such small quantities, neither the semolina nor the breadcrumbs will be noticeable in terms of taste.
A good practice is pre-baking the crust. Simply line a tray with shortcrust pastry and place it in an oven preheated to 350°F (177°C) for 15 minutes. Once the crust is golden brown, place the apples on it and cover them with crumble—this is the simplest and best recipe for homemade apple pie.
