Apple pie is the all-American Fourth of July dessert. The problem is a round apple pie was never really good at traveling.
Here's a way to have your apple pie that survives the trip to the picnic: the apple slab pie.
A slab pie is exactly what it sounds like, apple pie baked in a sheet pan (also called a jelly roll pan) instead of a round pan. The dimensions are usually 10 by 15 inches with a one-inch lip. The result is a flatter, sturdier pie that feeds 15 to 20 people, gets cut into squares like brownies, and can be eaten with a fork or with your hands. The crust-to-filling ratio is higher, which crust lovers will appreciate. And because it sits low in the pan, it travels far better than its round cousin.
Martha Stewart helped popularize the slab pie a few decades ago, but the form is older than that, it traces back to old-fashioned bake-sale and church-potluck cooking, where one pan had to feed a crowd. For the Fourth, it is hard to beat. You can even cut star shapes from leftover crust scraps and arrange them on top before baking, then brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar for sparkle.
A few tips for getting it right:
Use the right pan. A 10 by 15 jelly roll pan is the standard. A standard half sheet pan (13 by 18) also works for a larger recipe.
Mix your apples. Use both a tart apple (Granny Smith) and a sweet one (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Golden Delicious). The combination gives you better flavor than either alone, and the firmer apples hold their shape instead of turning to mush.
Drain the apples first. Toss sliced apples with the sugar and a pinch of salt, set them in a colander over a bowl, and let them sit for 30 to 45 minutes. They will release a lot of juice. This step alone is the difference between a pie that holds up and one that turns soupy in the pan.
Don't skip the slits. Cut several vents in the top crust so steam can escape. Otherwise the top puffs up and pulls away from the filling.
Cool completely before cutting. At least an hour, preferably two. Warm pie cuts messy. Cool pie cuts clean. If you are taking it to a picnic, this is exactly what you want.
Cover with foil and travel.
Serve it plain at the picnic, or with a drizzle of caramel sauce or maple glaze if you want to dress it up. Either way, you brought apple pie to the Fourth of July, just in a smarter shape.
