- 10–12 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (helps thicken the juices)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional but delicious)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Add the cold butter cubes and cut them into the flour using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter.
- Add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough just comes together.
- Divide the dough into two portions (one slightly larger for the bottom crust, one smaller for the top).
- Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Step 2 – Prepare the Apple Filling
- In a very large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
- Stir gently until the apples are well coated. Set aside.
