apple pie in an apple

today, it felt like a fall day instead of spring time, so i decided to try a recipe i found online for apple pie baked in the apple.  this is a wonderful recipe.  by using granny smith apples, the structure of the apple stays intact and does not soften and cause the pie to deflate.  that was my major concern when i thought about trying this recipe.

to make the apples:
pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
slice off just the very top of three to four granny smith green apples. these are a firm apple and will allow the pie to bake within the apple and keep the shape.

discard the top and remove the inside of the apples with a knife and melon ball cutter very carefully.  i saved these apple pieces and chopped them finely to use for the filling.

next, mix these chopped apples with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.

i made three apples today and that was the amount of sugar i decided to use.  if you make more apples, adjust the amount to cover the apples.

next, fill the apples.

for the crust, i simply used a boxed refrigerated crust and sliced into thin strips.  i wove the strips on waxed paper and placed them on the apples.
the lattice pattern looks nice.

place the apples in a square ceramic baking dish and fill the bottom with water.  cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.  then, remove the foil, and bake again for 20 minutes.

serve the apple while warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.   this is a great recipe.