That right there – that’s going to be my contribution to Thanksgiving this year.

If you follow any of the other Project Pastry Queen members’ blogs (and you totally should), you’ve probably read high praise about this week’s recipe: Southern Comfort Apple Pie, chosen by Sarah. I will echo the praise:

This is the best apple pie I’ve everever EVER eaten.

Ever.

In short, it’s an apple pie with a streusel topping. But calling it just an apple pie doesn’t do it any justice. The filling consists of apples and a dreamy cinnamon-caramel sauce made with cinnamon, sugar, butter, cream, and Southern Comfort. Yeah, that Southern Comfort. It’s sandwiched between my favorite pie crust recipe and a pecan streusel that’s so good you could eat it cold. But you won’t… because that would be weird.

I made the recipe as written, except I didn’t toast the pecans in the streusel (the pie bakes for an hour, I figured the pecans would burn) and I added a generous pinch of sea salt to the filling while it cooked. I used 6 apples that weighed 9-10 oz each before peeling and coring (3 honey crisp, 3 granny smith).

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Southern Comfort Apple Pie

An apple pie with a whiskey-caramel-cinnamon filling. Hands-down, the very best apple pie I've ever eaten.

Ingredients

• 1 pie crust, or make your own (this is my favorite recipe)
• For the crust:
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2/3 cup (11 Tbsp) chilled butter
• 4-6 Tbsp ice cold water, possibly more
• For the topping:
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 Tbsp packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup (5 1/3 Tbsp) chilled butter
• For the filling:
• 6 medium apples (I used 3 honeycrisp and 3 granny smith, weighing 9-10 oz each before peeling and coring)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 3 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup Southern Comfort (or Bourbon or Jack - I've used it all)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt,
2. Add the cubed butter (I cut into quarters lengthwise and then make small cubes) to the bowl, toss to coat, and then cut the butter into the flour until the butter cubes are about the size of small peas. You can use a pastry cutter or two knives. I use my fingers - it's a workout!
3. Add 4 Tbsp of the cold water and stir with a spoon at first, and then use your hands to fold the dough a few times to create one large ball - add the additional water 1 Tbsp at a time until it holds together (your liquid usage will vary).
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
5. Preheat oven to 375.
6. In a bowl (or food processor), combine the topping ingredients: both sugars, cinnamon, salt, and flour and mix. Cut in the butter (by hand or machine) until crumbly and stir in the pecans. Refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/4-inch thick slices.
8. Melt the butter for the filling in a large skillet over medium-high heat and saute the apples for 5-8 minutes.
9. Transfer the apples to a plate leaving as much of the liquid behind as possible.
10. Add the sugar, cinnamon (and a pinch of salt, if using), and whiskey to the skillet, simmering for at least 5 minutes until much of the alcohol burns off.
11. Add the cream and cook another 5-10 minutes more, until it is thick as pourable caramel.
12. Return the apples to the skillet and stir to coat.
13. Roll out the pie dough onto a lightly floured surface and then transfer it to a deep dish pie plate, crimping the edges.
14. Pour the filling into the pie plate, sprinkle the streusel topping over, and put in the oven on a baking sheet for 50-60 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the topping has browned.
15. Serve warm or room temperature.

Notes

Yields: 8 servings

Source: The Pastry Queen

Estimated time: 1 hour 45 minutes