Apple Pie is all American but it can get an Italian makeover with this simple and easy recipe. The
raisins benefit from a brief maceration in Italian Marsala, which gives the dessert a warm delicious aroma. The topping is a struesel style topping but with nutty flavors of crumbled biscotti.
You will not miss the aroma of cinnamon at all with the straight forward flavors of the apples and raisins coming straight through in this homestyle treat. You could even substitute or add a combination of pears to the tart. The recipe calls for a pre-made pie crust to expedite prep time, but any traditional flaky pie crust recipe or short dough will work. Par bake the crust golden to ensure it is crispy and not soggy after the time in the oven with the raw apples. The cornstarch is just enough to hold all the juices together any marry the flavor of the Marsala and raisins.
This is great right out of the oven or re-heated in the microwave and topped with vanilla ice cream or gelato.
Apple Torta
(Equally delicious with pears or a combination of apples and pears)
Ingredients:
- 9 inch pie crust
- 8 medium apples
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 ounce Marsala wine (or Port)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Streusel Topping:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. flour
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- zest and juice 1 orange or lemon
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F, soak raisin in wine 15 minutes or longer.
- blind bake crust 8-10 minutes
- Core, peel and slice apples. Place apples in a bowl with nutmeg, sugar, cornstarch and any remaining Marsala wine and then mix well.
- Mix brown sugar, white sugar, flour, nutmeg, fruit zest and salt.
- Cut in butter with pastry blender, then add the pine nuts and just enough juice to pull the mixture together.
- Place apple mixture into crust, then evenly pile the streusel crumbs on top.
- Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until nicely browned.
Serve warm with Vanilla Ice Cream or Gelato
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