An Easy Apple Pie Recipe: Simple Apple Galette (52 New Foods, Around the World Week 7) February 17 2013, 4 Comments

This easy apple pie recipe is a simple French twist on a favorite sweet treat: apple galette.

“Get the galette!” shouted my 6-year-old son with the tenor of a football captain cheering on his teammates toward the game-winning touchdown. Called into the kitchen by the sweet smell of warm apples and cinnamon, my kids raced to the table and huddled around our delicious French creation, hoping to be the first to snatch a bite of this sweet treat.

It was no surprise to me that they were excited about trying apple galette. A perfect combination of their favorite flavors and textures – crisp apples, gooey cinnamon, and flakey, buttery pastry – it was a new food I knew everyone would enjoy. After my failed leek soup attempt last week, I needed an easy win. So much for no emotional eating!

Inspired by Martha Rose Shulman, we decided to add this French-style, easy apple pie recipe to our list of 52 New Foods. Without a doubt, this will become a regular part of the lineup at our family table!

What we Liked: Although this is a sweet treat, this easy apple pie recipe has a minimum of sugar. Like Martha says, “It’s all about the apples!” That’s what we loved.

An Easy Apple Pie Recipe: Apple Galette

Prep time: 15 minutes (plus 45 minutes in the freezer)
Cook time: 60 minutes
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Crunch a Color points: 5 red

Recipe inspired by Martha Rose Shulman’s Apple Walnut Galette

Ingredients:

2 lbs Braeburn apples
¼ cup brown sugar plus 1 Tbsp
1 small lemon
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 egg
1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 premade dessert pastry pie crust (12” diameter)

Note: When I have the time, I love to make my own apple pie crust. But with busy weekdays in full swing I wanted to find an easier solution so I made our apple galette with an organic, pre-made pastry crust. If you go this route, be sure to pick a crust that has five ingredients or less. The ingredient list on ours was: unbleached organic flour, butter, water and salt.

Directions:

1. Peel and slice the apples. Wedges should be between ¼” and ½” at the widest part.

2. Toss the apples with the juice from one small lemon.

3. Heat the pan over medium, then add the butter. When the butter is bubbling (but before it turns brown) add the apples and ¼ cup of the sugar. Toss gently in the pan. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes, or until the apples are brown on one side. Then add the vanilla and half of the cinnamon / nutmeg mixture and turn the apples gently. Simmer another 5 minutes until the apples are golden brown and fragrant.

4. Place the cooked apples on a parchment lined bake sheet and let cool. While the apples are cooling, remove the pie crust from the freezer and allow it to thaw slightly (about 10 minutes).

5. Place the pie crust on a lined bake sheet. I like to use a Silpat liner for easy cleanup. Add the apples and then fold the pastry around the edges of your pie, pleating as you go. Place the galette back in the freezer for 45 minutes. This will help to keep its shape when baked.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the galette from the freezer. Beat the egg together with the milk to create an egg wash and brush over the edges of your galette. Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon / nutmeg mixture and 1 Tbsp brown sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

7. Serve warm or cool, whichever you prefer. Either way, enjoy with friends and family!

* Do you have a favorite easy apple pie recipe? Have you tried apple galette? What other ingredients have you tried with this rustic French pie?

Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s new food: A healthy leek soup recipe

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Rachael Ray's Yum-O!, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.