Pie in an Apple

I saw this on facebook and thought it would be a fantastic treat for Easter. I didn't catch an actual recipe and I couldn't find the picture again, but it seemed simple enough to strike out on my own.





6 Extra Large apple(you can do smaller ones, we ended up splitting these in 1/2 for serving, they were HUGE)
Crust:

1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cider vinegar
ice water
Caramel:
1/2 cup sugar
3 TB butter
1/4 cup heavy cream

Apple Filling:
usable flesh from hollowed out apples.
2 extra (smaller)apples, peeled and diced
2 TB cornstarch
1-2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 tsp lemon juice



(camera was charging while I was making the crust and caramel sauce, but the process is pretty simple)
Crust:
In a food processor place butter, shortening and flour. Process until it resembles small peas. Add in salt and cider vinegar, then drip in TINY amounts of water until it just holds together...Remove from processor , cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

For the Caramel Sauce:
Get all the ingredients out , it is a quick process and can burn easily so make sure everything is close by.
Heat sugar in a medium saucepan over medium high heat, stirring often until it melts, when it starts to boil stop stirring it and just swirl it around the pan a few times until all the crystals have melted and it is a dark amber color. Add butter and stir until melted and blended in well. Remove from heat and let it sit several seconds until the bubbling stops....then SLOWLY and stirring constantly add the heavy cream. Stir until fully combined and set aside.

Wash the extra large apples and slice off the tops. With a small sharp knife carve out the core and discard.
With a spoon scoop out the remaining flesh, leaving about a 1/4 inch wall. Be very careful not to pierce the wall.

After each apple is hollowed out dunk it in a mixture of 3 cups water and 2 TB lemon juice, this will prevent browning. Then place the apples in a baking dish.

Take the usable flesh from the hollowed out apples and the extra peeled and diced apples and place them in a bowl. Toss with cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and lemon juice.








Fill each hollowed out apple 1/2 way with the apple mixture, then add a scoop of caramel, maybe 1-2 TB give or take, fill to the top with apple mix and gently press in, then top with a little more caramel sauce if there is some left.

Take refrigerated dough and roll thin(1/4 inch or so) cut into strips and place 2-3 strips each way over the apples...I also did one strip around the edge over the rims.









Brush gently with a bit of melted butter and sprinkle with white sugar.










Add about 1/3-1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan( just enough to cover the bottom, dont over do it)

Cover the entire thing with foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 minutes more until the crust is golden brown. Allow to stand 15 minute to set.








We sliced each apple in half and topped a scoop of  Open Nature Cherry Vanilla  ice cream...