March 14th is National Pie Day! Those that love math know that pi=3.14, which is where the origin for Pie Day comes from, but any excuse to have pie is great excuse. We love apple pie because it’s so delicious, but there’s no fun in getting store-bought apple pies because they pack on the sugar and well let’s face it, making homemade apple pie for your family is not only a great way to tell them you love them, but it’s also a great way of taking control of the ingredients.
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We found this great recipe for an apple tart at Inspired Home, which is more beautiful and healthier that pie and with no sugar or butter, which is a great healthier option. When it comes to picking the type of apples for baking, not all apples are created equal. There are some apples that are better to eat fresh, others that are good to make cider, but there are only a few that will really make your pie naturally sweet. You don’t want your apple tart to be bitter and flavorless, so choose wisely.
Top 7 Apples for Baking
- Cortland
- Pink Lady
- Granny Smith
- Braeburn
- Golden Delicious
- Jonagold
- Honey Crisp
Depending on the season, you might not be able to find certain apples. Our top two are Granny Smith and Honey Crisp because they are just naturally sweet and they hold their texture when baking. Check out the recipe!
Naturally Sweet Apple Tart
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
8 Tbsp. ice water
5 honey crisp apples
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a small bowl with plastic wrap leaving at least an inch of wrap hanging over the sides, pour half a cup of liquid coconut oil into a bowl and refrigerate until solid.
Place flour and salt in a bowl and mix briefly to combine. Add coconut oil into flour mixture and mix until mixture resembles coarse meal, making sure there are no large pieces of coconut oil remaining. Add ice water a couple of tablespoons at a time, and continue to mix slowly.
Remove dough ball from mixing bowl, place on a smooth surface and form into a flattened disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight.
Thoroughly wash apples and cut into quarters, then cut into thin even 1/8-inch slices. Mix apples together with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and the juice from half of a lemon.
Remove dough from refrigerator at least 20 mines before use and roll out on a lightly floured surface until 1/8 inch thick. Lay dough gently over pie dish, and gently shape your piecrust, trimming off excess. Arrange apple slices into piecrust, keeping the skins facing up. Bake pie at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes, crust should be toasted but not burnt
Let pie cool for 30 minutes, then enjoy!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 264
Protein: 3 grams
Carbs: 34 grams
Fat: 14 grams