Apple Rose Pie

I am back again!  So happy to upload a new post after such a busy season since my last one :)

A few weeks ago, I found this recipe on "Pinterest" and went all the way to the original post from a Rumanian baker.  It was a nice challenge, but I have to warn you.  It is NOT the typical American apple pie.  It has a consistency more of a tart (the shell is just delightful) and the filling is kind of "custardy", not overly sweet.  But, it is for sure a show stopper.  It looks like you could have spend hours preparing it, but you'll be surprised how easily it comes together :)


Ingredients:

- For the dough:
9 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/2 cup Powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
100 grams of finely ground almonds  (about a cup)
150 g of flour (about a 1 1/4 cup)

- For the Filling
1 1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup white wine
3 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
6 Tbsp. sugar
4 Tbsp.  flour
 
- For the Roses:
5-6  red apples (I used Gala)
A couple tablespoons of apricot jam 


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.  Grease and flour a pie pan.   Set aside.

For the dough: In the bowl of a mixer, cream butter and sugar.  Add vanilla extract and orange zest.  Then, add the egg and almond meal.  Finally add the flour and mix until it comes together.  It will be quite a soft dough, but remember, the less you handle it, more flaky and delicious will be :)

Transfer the dough to the pie pan and spread it around covering the base and sides of it.  Chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

For the filling:  Combine the flour, sugar, vanilla and orange zest.  Mix and add the eggs and a splash of the milk.  Once it has the consistency of a paste, add the remaining milk and wine.  Transfer to a sauce pan, bring it to a boil.  Transfer to a bowl and cover the surface of the cream with clear plastic wrap and let it cool.

Once the filling is cooling, wash and dry the apples.  With the help of a vegetable peeler (I recommend the type that looks more like a pencil than the type like a "Y"), start peeling the apples until you get to the core.  Don't worry if some of the strips cut off.  You'll be able to use them anyway.  Start wrapping the apple strips simulating a rose bud. 

Assemble:  Get the pie crust from the fridge and pour the filling over it.  Place apple roses on top of the custard and continue arranging them until the whole surface of the pie is full.

Finally, heat in the microwave a couple of apricot jam until melted.  Brush the jam on top of the roses and bake the pie until the dough is baked and the apples are a little bit golden.  This may vary from oven to oven but start checking your pie after 1 hour.  (1 hour to 1 1/4 hour)

Cook completely and serve at room temperature.
 

Source:  Recipe Courtesy of "yoli-www.blogspot.com" - Slightly adapted.