French Apple Pastry

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
• 1 cup toasted walnuts, finely grated
• 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 medium red baking apples (about 1 1/4 pounds)
• 1 teaspoon Pantry Cinnamon + Spice Blend
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Let pie crusts stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
2. Grate walnuts into small batter bowl using deluxe cheese grater. Add 3 tablespoons sugar and flour; mix thoroughly and set aside.
3. Lightly dust large round stone with small amount of additional flour. Unfold one pie crust and place in center of baking stone. Using kitchen spritzer, spray lightly with water. Unfold second pie crust and place over crust on baking stone, matching edges and pressing down to seal. Using bakers roller, roll both crusts out together to edge of baking stone. Fold 1/2 inch of edge of crust under forming an even border. Using smooth end of pastry tool, form a decorative edge. Spray lightly with water.
4. Spread walnut mixture evenly over prepared crust. Using apple peeler corer slicer, core and slice apples leaving the peels on. Cut slices in half. Starting at outside edge of crust arrange apple slices, slightly overlapping, over nut mixture in a circular pattern. Fill center with slices to form a blossom shape.
5. Combine spice blend and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in flour sugar shaker; sprinkle over apples.
6. Bakes 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Remove to cooling rack.
7. Microwave preserves in small micro-cooker on high 30 seconds or until melted. Brush over apples and crust edge with pastry brush. Cool at least 10 minutes.
8. Cut into wedges using Chef's Knife. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream, if desired.

Attribution

Recipe credit: Pampered Chef