Apple Pandowdy was popular in Colonial America and was Abigail Adam’s favorite dessert. As the first resident of the White House (with her husband John) it was served there regularly.
The apples are baked in a rich, sticky syrup originally made with molasses. I use maple syrup in this recipe. After it’s baked, the crust is broken up and pushed into the syrup. I like to top it off with a little more maple syrup.
It’s pretty incredible.
Here’s the other thing. It’s so much easier than making a pie because you can go slap-dash with the crust. And it turns out looking SO PRETTY.
Start out by whisking together the syrup.
Maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice…
…cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
I use a peeler/corer to do the apples and then cut them into pieces.
Mix all the apples into the syrup making sure all the apples are well coated.
Roll out one pie crust and place into the baking dish.
Pour in the apples and top with cubes of butter. Roll out the second crust and place on top.
Tuck the crust down into the sides of the pan with the bottom crust. Baste with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar
Bake until golden and crispy and then break the top into pieces and push down into the syrup.
Top off with a little more maple syrup.
Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy every bite!
Apple Pandowdy
Equipment
- 2-2½ quart baking dish **my baking dish is 11.5×7.5 inches
Ingredients
- 8 medium baking apples **I use Granny Smith
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter **1 cube
- 2 pie crusts
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Topping
- ½ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°.
- Peel, slice and cut up apples. I cut the slices into 1-1½ inch pieces. Sprinkle with 2 tsp lemon juice and mix to cover the apples.
- In large bowl mix together ½ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
- Add in apples and mix well until all the apples are coated.
- Roll a pie crust into the shape of the baking dish you are using.Place crust into the baking dish and use hands to press it up the sides and a little over the edges.
- Pour in apples and use a spatula to scrap in all the syrup.
- Cut the butter into small cubes and place evenly over the apples.
- Roll out the top crust and place over the top. Tuck the edges into the sides of the pan. Use a knife to slice 3 vents on top.
- Brush the milk onto the top. Sprinkle with sugar and then cinnamon.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until crust is golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven. Use a spatula to break up the crust into about 2 inch pieces. Then use the spatula to gently push the pieces down into the apples allowing the syrup to cover the crust pieces.
- Pour ½ cup maple syrup over the top. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Can maple syrup be used instead of the brown sugar?
We haven’t tested that. Try it and let us know how it goes.