Apple and Sultana Pie

I was feeling like making something sweet and fruity and the only fruit I had were apples and oranges and so I decided to make apple pie. The pastry recipe is from Donny Hay's cooking book 'Seasons' however I have halved the amount. This is such a simple pie to make and has only a few ingredients.

Apple and Sultana Pie
Serves 4

Ingredients

Pastry
- 85g plain flour
- 1/2 tablespoon caster sugar
- a pinch of bicarb powder
- 60g butter
- 25g cold water
Filling
- 4 apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes (I used red delicious however it will taste better with tart green apples)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 35g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- handfull of sultanas (less or more is ok)
- a few drops of vanilla essence

- 1 tablespoon milk for brushing
- extra caster sugar for sprinkling

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC

2. For the pastry, combine flour, bicarb and sugar in a bowl. Add cubed butter and use hand mixer to combine until it resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Gradually add the water whilst beating the mixture with the hand mixer until a smooth dough is formed.

4. Place the dough in cling wrap and into the fridge for 30 minutes.

5. For the filling, place the apple and lemon juice into a fry pan on medium heat and close for 10 minutes.

6. Take it off the heat and mix in gently the sultanas, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla essence.

7. Roll out the dough with extra flour. Place over the apple mixture in the fry pan. Ensure the dough covers all of the filling. Brush the dough with milk and sprinkle with caster sugar.

8. Place in oven for 35-45 minutes, until the pastry is cooked. Serve with fresh cream.