How to celebrate Apple Day with Children - simple Apple Pie recipe

The 21st October is Apple Day.

First initiated by Common Ground, a UK-based environmental organization, in 1990, they aimed to promote the value of traditional orchards and the wide variety of apple and pear varieties that are grown in the UK. It was an opportunity to raise awareness about the diversity of apple and pear types and the importance of preserving traditional orchards, which were under threat from urbanisation and neglect. You can find out more on their website here.

Lots of local gardens and community groups have events for Apple Day, including apple picking, tasting and baking apple products. Some places even let you plant the seeds of heritage apple varieties, or teach people how to prune and graft apples. I listened to a fascinating podcast about this here that you might also enjoy.

I have fond memories of picking apples from the tree in my Grannie's garden, when I was a child, then taking them inside and making apple sauce, crumble or pie. She was a great baker and helping her always felt like a special treat.

I especially enjoyed the pie, as I loved making leaves and flowers out of pastry to put on the top. Once it was cooked, she would always let me have one of the special pastry roses in my bowl, whether it really 'belonged on my slice or not!

Here's how to make it with your little one.*

Ingredients:

200g All Purpose Flour

75g Butter / Plant butter (the block kind works best)

50g Brown sugar (for the pastry)

50ml (approx) Cold Water

3 Bramley apples (or 5-6 if you have a smaller variety like Cox)

50g Brown Sugar (for the filling)

Method:

* Rub the butter and sugar together until you have crumbs.

* Stir in the sugar.

* Add the water, a little bit at a time (you may not need all of it) and stir until the mixture forms a dough.

* Put the dough in the pantry for 30 minutes. I don’t have a pantry but the fridge works fine!

* Preheat your oven to 180C

* Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 1cm cubes

* Arrange the apple pieces into the bottom of a pie dish and sprinkle over the sugar.

* Roll out your pastry on a floured surface and cover the top of the pie dish.

* Cut off the excess, using a table knife.

* Roll a strip of excess pastry into a twirl, then open out one end to make a rose shape, and cut out some leaves.

* Arrange the roses and leaves on top of the pie, and cut a small hole to let the steam out.

* Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.

Grannie used to serve it with Carnation Milk (what a blast from the past - does that even exist anymore?) but any kind of ice cream, cream, yoghurt or dairy free alternative works well. These days, I'm quite a fan of apple pie and coconut yog, although I suspect Grannie would roll her eyes, wave her arms and ask dramatically, ‘Oh whatever for?!’

There are definitely fancier apple pies out there and I probably wouldn't say no to any of them! However, I love this recipe because it’s simple, frugal (especially if you pick the apples from your garden) and to me, it tastes of love.

This article was written by one of our fantastic Franchisees, Katherine, who runs classes in North of Tyne. If you want to join one of Katherine's classes or just treat her to a slice of your apple pie then visit her page here.

* Please note adult supervision required at all times. Nature Makers accept no liability for loss, damage, death or injury as a result of following this recipe.