Plăcintă cu Mere și Nuci
Apple and Walnut Pie
A traditional Moldovan sweet pie featuring a flaky dough filled with a generous mixture of tart apples, crunchy walnuts, and warm spices. It's a comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g All-purpose flour
- 250 g Butter(cold, cubed)
- 2 large Egg yolks
- 100 g Sour cream
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 kg Apples(tart varieties like Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced)
- 150 g Walnuts(chopped)
- 150 g Sugar(divided)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 for egg wash Egg
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
For the dough: Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
💡 Tip: Keep ingredients cold for a flaky crust. - 2
In a separate small bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sour cream. Add this to the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Do not overmix. Form the dough into a ball, flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- 3
For the filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with 100g of sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- 4
Add the chopped walnuts and the remaining 50g of sugar to the apple mixture and combine well.
- 5
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly grease a 24-26 cm (9-10 inch) pie dish.
- 6
Divide the chilled dough into two portions, one slightly larger than the other. Roll out the larger portion on a lightly floured surface to fit the bottom and sides of the pie dish. Trim any excess dough.
- 7
Pour the apple and walnut filling into the prepared pie crust. Spread evenly.
- 8
Roll out the second portion of dough. You can either place it as a solid top crust (cutting vents) or cut it into strips to create a lattice top.
- 9
Crimp the edges to seal. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg wash.
- 10
Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
- 11
Let the pie cool for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. It can be served warm or at room temperature.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using a mix of apple varieties can add complexity to the flavor.
- ✓Ensure the butter and sour cream are cold for the flakiest dough.
- ✓Don't overwork the dough, as this can make it tough.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a tablespoon of rum or brandy to the apple filling for an extra flavor dimension.
- Incorporate raisins or dried cranberries into the filling.
- Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.