Classic American Apple Pie

Dough

• 12 ounces all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces cold butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 5–7 tbsp applejack (apple brandy) or hard cider
• 1 tsp table salt
• 1 tbsp sugar

Filling

• 6 Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 12ths
• ½ cup granulated sugar, divided
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp freshly-ground grains of paradise
• ¾ tsp freshly-ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup apple jelly
• 1 tbsp apple cider
• ¼ cup tapioca starch
• 2 tsp freshly-squeezed lemon juice

1. Combine dough ingredients to get a mealy dough. Split in half by weight, shape into 2 disks, and chill for 1 hour.
2. Toss apples with ¼ cup sugar and place in a colander set over a large bowl. Let drain for 1 ½ hours.
3. Transfer liquid from bowl into a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook until reduced to 2 tbsp. Set aside.
4. Toss apples with remaining filling ingredients. Set aside.
5. Roll out both disks of crust into rough circles. Place one inside a 9 ½–10-inch tart pan and attach.
6. Add apples to the crust in a concentric circle, starting from the outside and working to the inside, making the center slightly taller than the outside. Pour any liquid in the bottom of the bowl over the apples.
7. Top with the second sheet of dough, and seal the edges. Crimp the edges if desired, then snip 3 incisions in the center. Brush top with reduced apple liquid.
8. Bake at 425°F on the floor of the oven in a half sheet pan lined with parchment for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack, and bake for another 20 minutes.
9. Remove and cool for 4 hours. Serve.