When you’re longing for the flavor of maple apple crumb pie, but are just too “stuffed” for a whole piece, consider this alternative – all the taste, but not so filling – light enough to top it with ice cream!!

What You Need:
For the crust
1 12” pizza pan
1 pie crust – your favorite recipe, or purchased
3 large or 4 medium apples – I used Macintosh – any “pie” apple will do
For the topping
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of granulated maple sugar (don’t consider brown sugar,!
½ cup salted butter, (1 stick) not unsalted

For the garnish
½ cup of pure maple syrup, Amber or darker

How to Do It:
Reduce the maple syrup to thicken the liquid by gently cooking to about 234⁰. Set aside to cool.
Preheat the oven to 350⁰.
Wash, peel and slice the apples into about ½” pieces.
Combine the flour and maple sugar. Slice the butter into chunks, then cut the butter into the flour and sugar using a pastry blender, two knives, or a food processor – just until the mixture is “crumbly”.
Lightly oil the pizza pan. Stretch the pie crust over the pizza pan, working from the center to the edges, then crimp the edges.
Layer the apple slices in a circular pattern, covering the pie crust. Sprinkle the topping over the apples, covering the apples completely.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top is light brown.
While the apple crumbly “pizza” is still warm, drizzle the thickened and cooled syrup over the top. Cut into 6 or 8 slices.
Consider topping with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! We are planning for this to be our Thanksgiving pie offerings!

November 2015