Apple Slab Pie

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
• 6-8 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

• 6-8 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and sliced
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (to dot the filling)

For the topping:

• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional)

Instructions:

For the crust:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Add the cold butter and cut it into the flour using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter.
3. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough begins to come together. You may need 6-8 tablespoons, depending on humidity.
4. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill.

For the filling:

1. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples with both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Toss until evenly coated.
2. Let the filling sit while you roll out the dough.

Assembling the pie:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Roll out one disk of dough on a floured surface to fit a 13×9-inch baking sheet. Gently transfer the dough to the sheet, pressing it into the corners.
3. Pour the apple filling into the crust and spread it evenly. Dot with small pieces of butter.
4. Roll out the second disk of dough and place it over the apples. Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges to seal the pie.
5. Cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
6. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg, then sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
8. Allow the pie to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to let the filling set.

Serve:

Enjoy warm or at room temperature, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

This apple slab pie is perfect for a crowd and offers the warm, comforting flavors of traditional apple pie in a convenient, shareable form.