2poundsof apples (6 medium - see headnote), peeled, cut off the core, and sliced 1/4" thick
zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon
3/4cupfresh (or frozen)cranberries, coarsely chopped into halves and quarters
1 1/2tablespoonspacked minced crystallized ginger
1/2cupsugar(3 1/2 ounces)
2tablespoonsflour
1/8teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg
pinchsalt
Crumble topping:
3/4cupall-purpose flour(3 3/4 ounces)
3/4cupold-fashioned or thick rolled oats(2 3/4 ounces)
1/2cupgranulated sugar(3 1/2 ounces)
1/4cuppacked brown sugar (light or dark)(1 3/4 ounces)
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1/4teaspoonallspice
1/4teaspoonground ginger
1stickbutter, diced, at cool room temperature(4 ounces)
coarse sugar and flaky salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
Prepare stuff:
Position a rack in the bottom of the oven and preheat to 350ºF.
Protect the edges of the par-baked pie crust with foil: cut two 15" long rectangles of foil and place them on the counter in a criss-cross. Place the pie pan in the center of the cross, and fold up the edges of foil, crimping and folding them so that they cover just the edges. Place the pie pan on a rimmed baking sheet and set aside.
Make the filling:
Toss the apples in a large bowl with the lemon zest and juice. Add the remaining filling ingredients and toss well to combine thoroughly. Set aside to macerate for 10 - 20 minutes while you make the crumble topping.
Make the topping:
Combine the flour, oats, sugars, salt, and spices in a large bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle). Work in the butter with your fingertips, a pastry cutter, or the paddle in the mixer until it begins to form hazelnut-sized clumps.
Assemble and bake the pie:
Scrape the apple mixture and any extra juices into the parbaked crust and pack them down a bit. Top with the crumble, forming some of it into hazelnut-sized balls. There will be a lot of crumble, but the pie will cook down to reasonable proportions. Don't pack the crumble down, leave it loose and streusely. Sprinkle the top with a teaspoon of coarse sugar and a few pinches of flaky salt.
Bake the pie until the streusel is deeply golden and looks cooked through, and juices bubble thickly around the sides, an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Let the pie cool completely at room temperature, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
Serve the pie at room temperature with barely-sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. The pie is best within a day of being baked, but extras will keep, refrigerated, for up to 5 days. Rewarm before serving for best results.
Notes
Filling is adapted from Baking Illustrated.Crumble topping is adapted from The Three Babes.If you can find them, heirloom apples such as Rome, Black Arkansas and Winesap make an amazing pie with complex flavors. Otherwise, use any combination of Fuji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith.Give yourself plenty of time to make this pie, as the crust requires some chilling time, the pie a long bake, and two hours of setting to be sliceable.Serve slices with Vanilla, Honey Yogurt or Fresh Ginger ice cream, or lightly sweetened whipped cream. Or nothing – this pie stands on its own.All ounce measurements are by weight.Nutritional values are based on one of ten servings.