What are your plans for the upcoming 4th of July weekend?
It’s a good bet they will involve some good old-fashioned American foods like hot dogs, burgers and corn on the cob cooked straight from the barbecue grill. So why not throw an apple pie on the grill too. That’s right, you can make this all-American dessert right along side all your other 4th of July favorites.
The Ingredients:
- Wooden BBQ skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
- 8 cups sliced apples
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tsp. each ground cinnamon and ginger
- 1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Cast iron skillet, about 12″ in diameter
- Non-stick cooking spray, butter or shortening for skillet
- 1 homemade or ready-to-bake pie crust, uncooked
Step One: Grilled Apples
Spend the time to grill your apples and you will not be sorry. Grilling intensifies the flavors by reducing the water content of the apples while caramelizing the natural sugars. Cut the apples into slices and soak the slices in water with 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice 30 minutes before you grill them. Soaking the apples helps prevent them from drying out when you grill them. To step up the flavor, added spices to the water while the apple slices soak. Our favorite is 1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon and ginger, but you can also use nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Place the slices onto the soaked wooden skewers, sending the skewer through the skin. Place the skewers on a very clean cooking grate over a medium heat flame and grill on each side for 5 to 7 minutes. To keep the fruit from sticking to the grill, lightly brush the skewers with melted butter or vegetable cooking oil.
Step Two: The Assembly
In a medium bowl whisk together the apply cider, maple syrup, lemon juice and cornstarch until smooth. Grease the skillet with the non-stick cooking spray, butter or shortening. Place the grilled apples into the skillet and pour the apple cider mixture over the apples. Gently stir the apples until thoroughly coated.
Cut the uncooked pie crust into 3/4″ strips and arrange the strips on top of the apple filling in a lattice design.
Step Three: Baked to Perfection
On a gas grill, place the skillet onto the grill directly over a medium flame. If you are using a charcoal grill, place the skillet towards the edge of the grill, away from the coals. Cover the barbecue and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. The pie is done when the crust is nicely browned and the apples are bubbling beneath the crust.
Variations:
You can substitute canned apple filling for the grilled apples. Omit the apple cider, maple syrup, lemon juice and cornstarch and place the apple filling directly into a greased skillet. Top with the pie crust strips and grill as instructed.
Not in the mood for pie? Use your grilled apple slices over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with a drizzle of maple syrup or caramel sauce and some chopped pecans.
So how did it taste?
Please leave a comment if you have tried this recipe and tell us what you think. We want to know if your family loved it or hated it.
Read also
