Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pandowdy Gluten Free Pie Dough

Unless, you’re familiar with Pennsylvania Dutch cooking you’ve probably not heard of Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pandowdy?

It’s actually a dish that dates back to at least 1805, where it first appeared in a cookbook, and was a favorite of Abigale Adams. Some recipes use a biscuit dough, but that first recipe used pie dough and that’s how I know apple pandowdy best.

You may be asking yourself what is apple pandowdy?

It’s a sort of top-crust apple pie, as there is no bottom crust.  The pie is cut into squares, placed atop the apples and as it starts to bake into a pie crust, about halfway through baking, you press it into the juice.  It’s sort of genius, because the crust gets all that cinnamon, maple syrup flavor from the apple juices.

This is almost like an apple cobbler, southern style, where cobbler can mean baked fruit topped with pie crust. You don’t cut this into pie shapes (usually). You just scoop it out and in my world top it with ice cream.

Normally, I use gala apples for my baking because they’re sweet, but feel free to throw in some granny smith apples into the mix. Instead of sugar, I use real maple syrup, in addition to lemon juice and lots of cinnamon.

I cut the dough into squares, and that’s good news for some of you attempting your first gluten free pie crust. My recommendation is to roll it out on parchment paper, refrigerate for 20-30 minutes and then cut your squares.

It’s best to use a shallow pan, so the crust is nearest to the juices. If the apples are piled to high, pressing the crust won’t have the same effect.

You can watch the video to see how I make Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pandowdy

You can make this into any shape. You can use a pie pan. You can use a cast iron pan. You can use a baking dish. Just adjust the amount of apples for your appropriate pan. The pie crust recipe will be enough for two pies or for one big slab pie, which is perfect for a party or your Thanksgiving table.

The Pandowdy Recipe below is made with all-purpose flour. See second recipe for gluten free pie crust.

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More Pennsylvania Dutch Recipes

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5 from 1 vote

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pandowdy

Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pan Dowdy is a very old recipe dating back to colonial times. Mid-way through baking, the crust is pressed down into the pie, making it wet with juices.

Prep Time45 minutes mins

Cook Time50 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8

Author: Angela Roberts

Ingredients

Apple Pandowdy Ingredients

• 6 apples peeled, cored (Use Gala or a mix with some granny smith)
• 1 tablespoon high quality cinnamon use less if you like (order here)
• dash freshly ground nutmeg order here
• 1/4 cup maple syrup order here
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter order here

Pie Dough

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour order here
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 to 6 tablespoons iced cold water
• !Kitchen Tools
• Adjustable Pastry Cutter order here
• Cast Iron Pan order here
• Parchment Paper order here
• Nutmeg Grinder order here
• Food Processor order here
• Chef's Knife order here

Instructions

Apple Pandowdy

• Slice apple thins. Mix with cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice.Allow to sit at least 30 minutes. Do not drain off juices.
• Roll out pie dough onto floured parchment paper. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Put in baking pan in a shallow layer, about two inches.
• Top with two tablespoons of butter, in small pieces.
• Take out pie dough.Cut pie dough into squares. Place on top of apples.
• Brush with milk. Sprinkle raw sugar or cinnamon sugar.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Take out of oven, press pie dough into the juices of the apples.
• Put back into oven for 15-20 more minutes.

Pie Dough Recipe Instructions

• Cut butter into cubes. Freeze for 15 minutes.
• Mix flour, sugar, salt together in food processor.
• Add butter, Pulse for 10 seconds.
• Add water, using just enough until a dough is formed.
• Put into plastic bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Please follow me on instagram. If you make this recipe,  please tag me #spinachtiger.

If you love this recipe, please give it five stars. It means a lot. xoxo

Gluten Free Pie Dough

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Gluten Free Pie Dough

This is my recipe for gluten free pie dough, more than enough for pan dowdy or double crusted pie dough.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8

Author: Angela Roberts

Ingredients

Gluten Free Pie Dough Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten free flour order here.
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter order here
• 1 tablespoon organic pure cane sugar order here
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 to 6 tablespoons ice cold water

Instructions

Gluten Free Pie Crust Instructions

• Cut butter into small pieces, freeze for 15 minutes.
• Place flour, salt, sugar in food processor.
• Mix well.
• Add in butter. Mix just until the butter is in pea sized pieces.
• Add eggs. Mix for about 5 seconds until eggs are incorporated.
• Add just enough water to bring together.
• Dough will be like a short bread dough, because there is no elastic.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes before using.

Please follow me on instagram. If you make this recipe,  please tag me #spinachtiger.

If you love this recipe, please give it five stars. It means a lot. xoxo