Ultimate Apple Cranberry Pie: A Guide to Flaky Crust and Vibrant Filling
There’s nothing quite like a homemade pie, especially when it features the perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors. This exquisite homemade Apple Cranberry Pie, bursting with juicy apples and vibrant fresh cranberries, offers a delightful tart zip thanks to fresh orange zest. It’s all encased in my signature go-to flaky, all-butter pie crust, ensuring every bite is a testament to perfect pastry.
This post was created in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill.
If you’re still contemplating your Thanksgiving Day dessert menu, consider your search over. This holiday simply wouldn’t be complete without a spectacular pie, and this Apple Cranberry Pie is poised to become your new annual tradition. While some form of apple pie graces my table every year, this particular rendition, with its perfect balance of flavors and textures, has undoubtedly become my favorite.
The secret to its irresistible appeal lies in the thoughtfully crafted filling. A medley of baking apples is infused with the warming spice of cinnamon, sweetened with both regular and light brown sugar, and brightened with the zest and juice of fresh oranges. Fresh cranberries are then folded in, adding a crucial tartness that cuts through the sweetness and provides a beautiful “zip.” As the cranberries soften during baking, they release their vibrant color, transforming the pie filling into a stunning pink hue that’s as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate. This thoughtful combination creates a depth of flavor that is truly remarkable, making this a standout dessert for any special occasion.
While the vibrant apple cranberry pie filling is undeniably fantastic, let’s turn our attention to the real unsung hero of this dessert: the homemade all-butter double pie dough. I completely understand the allure of store-bought pie doughs – especially during the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving preparations – but the truth is, the unparalleled flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture of a homemade crust simply cannot be replicated. Trust me on this; once you taste the difference, there’s no going back.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with countless pie dough recipes, some far more intricate and demanding than others. This particular all-butter pie dough recipe has emerged as my new gold standard. It’s wonderfully straightforward, requiring minimal steps, yet it consistently produces an incredibly flaky, tender, and robust pie crust. This crust is not only delicious on its own but also provides the perfect foundation for various fillings, holding up beautifully without becoming soggy.
