Caramel Apple Pie

Ingredients for pie crust:
1 recipe of your favorite double crust butter pie crust

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Ingredients for salted caramel:
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water
1 stick (1/2 cup) fresh unsalted butter
1/2 cup fresh heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (Maldon sea salt flakes preferred)

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Ingredients for apple filling:
4 to 6 lemons
5 to 6 medium to large apples (a mixture of Crispin, Granny Smith, and Cortland, or others)

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Ingredients for apple filling seasoning:
1/3 cup raw sugar (castor, unrefined, large granule sugar)
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters

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1 egg beaten
raw sugar, for sprinkling on top
1 teaspoon sea salt (flake)

Preparing the pie crust:
Prepare one 2-crust batch of your favorite all butter pie crust. Roll the bottom crust to fit a 9-inch pan, and cut the top crust as a lattice, approximately 1-inch in width or as desired. Chill the rolled crust while you prepare the salted caramel and apple filling.

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Preparing the salted caramel:
Cook the sugar and water together over low heat until just dissolved. Add the butter and bring to a slow boil. Continue cooking at a low boil until the mixture turns a deep, golden brown color, almost copper.

[Note: This process can take awhile depending on the heat source. Keep an eye on it; if the caramel begins to smoke, you've burned it and you'll have to start over.]

Once the mixture has turned a copper color, remove it from the heat and immediately add the heavy cream (the mixture will bubble rapidly and steam; be cautious as the sugar will be very hot).

Whisk the final mixture together well over low heat and sprinkle in the sea salt. Set the caramel aside while you prepare the apple filling.

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Preparing the apple filling:
Juice the lemons into a large mixing bowl. Peel and core the apples. With a mandolin, thinly slice the apples. Dredge all the apple slices in the freshly squeezed lemon juice to prevent browning and to add flavor. Set the prepared apples aside.
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Preparing the apple filling seasoning:
In a large measuring cup or small mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and Angostura bitters. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples in the mixing bowl. Use your hands to gently mix and coat the apple slices.

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Assembling the pie:
Preheat the oven to 375 to 400 degrees F.

Layer 1/3 of the apples in the bottom of the crust so that there are minimal gaps. Pour 1/3 of the caramel over the apples. Add 1/3 of the apples and caramel for a second layer, and then add a third layer of apples, and then the caramel again. [Note: Save a small portion of the caramel to pour on top once the lattice is assembled.]

Assemble the lattice crust and flute the edges of the crust. Pour the last bit of caramel on top. Brush the crust with the beaten egg and lightly sprinkle with raw sugar and sea salt.

Bake the pie on a baking sheet larger than the pie pan for 20 minutes to catch any caramel that bubbles up and over. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 to 350 degrees F and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Test the apples for doneness with a long toothpick or small knife; the apples should be just soft. Let the pie cool to room temperature before serving.