Apple Pandowdy
A rustic American dessert featuring tender apples spiced with cinnamon and ginger, topped with irregular pieces of golden puff pastry that get pressed into the bubbling filling. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, this homestyle dish perfectly balances sweet and buttery flavors.
Ingredients
- •6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- •4 pounds Pink Lady and/or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1-inch pieces
- •⅔ cup dark brown sugar
- •3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- •1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- •2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- •1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- •2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- •1 piece ginger
- •½ teaspoon kosher salt
- •1 package frozen puff pastry
- •2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- •2 pints vanilla ice cream
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Cook butter in a small saucepan over medium, swirling often, until bubbling and golden, about 5 minutes; set aside.
5 min
- 2.
Toss apples, brown sugar, flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a large bowl. Transfer to a shallow 3-quart baking dish. Drizzle all but 2 Tbsp. brown butter over apples. Top with pieces of puff pastry, then brush pastry with remaining brown butter. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
10 min
- 3.
Bake until pastry is puffed and golden around edges, 25-30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F and bake until juices are thick and bubbling and pastry is brown all over, 30-35 minutes longer.
60 min
- 4.
Using a spoon, press pastry down into warm juices (but don't submerge); let cool slightly. Serve warm with ice cream.
10 min
- 5.
Pandowdy can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool. Cover loosely with foil and store at room temperature. Reheat uncovered in a 200°F oven 20 minutes before serving.
20 min