Fried Apple Pies

Ingredients

• •2½ cups all-purpose flour
• •3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• •3 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
• •1 teaspoon baking powder
• •¾ teaspoon salt
• •1 large egg
• •4½ tablespoons ice water
• •4½ ounces unsulfured dried apples
• •2 cups unfiltered apple cider
• •1½ cups water
• •2½ tablespoons light brown sugar
• •1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• •¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• •2 quarts vegetable oil
• •¼ cup confectioners sugar
• •1 piece deep-fat thermometer

Cooking Instructions

1. 1.

   Blend together flour, butter, shortening, baking powder, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture just resembles coarse meal. Whisk egg with 1/4 cup ice water, then drizzle evenly over flour mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated.

   10 min

2. 2.

   Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated.

   5 min

3. 3.

   Gather dough and knead just until smooth, 3 or 4 times, on a lightly floured surface (do not overwork, or pastry will be tough). Form dough into 2 (5-inch) disks and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

   60 min

4. 4.

   Briskly simmer all filling ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally and mashing apples with a potato masher as they soften, until a thick purée forms, about 20 minutes. Cool completely.

   20 min

5. 5.

   Divide 1 disk of dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 6-inch round, then put 2 heaping tablespoons of filling in center. Lightly moisten edge with water and fold dough over to form a half-circle, pressing out air around filling, then pressing edge to seal. Transfer to a large sheet of parchment paper and press floured tines of a fork around edge. Make more pies with remaining dough and filling (you may have some filling left over).

   30 min

6. 6.

   Set a cooling rack on a large baking sheet or tray. Heat 2 inches of oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat until it registers 360 to 370°F on thermometer. Fry pies, 3 or 4 at a time, turning occasionally, until deep golden-brown, 7 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to rack to drain. Return oil to 360 to 370°F between batches.

   40 min

7. 7.

   Dust warm pies with confectioners sugar before serving.

   5 min