Applicious Cream Cheese Pie

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 7 cups granny smith apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 5 tablespoons cold water
• 1 egg
• cinnamon sugar, to taste

Recipe

• 1 combine flour, sugar and salt in mixing bowl.
• 2 (to make it easier the crust can be made in the food processor).
• 3 **cut in the butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal;cut in the shortening until it is the size of small peas.
• 4 stir in the grated cheese.
• 5 add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with a fork.
• 6 use just enough water to make a dough which clings together. **can be made in processor to this point.**.
• 7 shape dough into two equal size firm balls with hands.
• 8 wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least one hour.
• 9 roll out half of dough on a lightly floured surface.
• 10 fit into 9-inch pie plate. trim pastry at edges of plate with a little overhang.
• 11 mix together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
• 12 spread in the bottom of pastry-lined pie plate.
• 13 in a large bowl combine remaining ingredients except apples; mix well.
• 14 add apples, tossing lightly to coat with sugar mixture.
• 15 fill pastry-lined pie plate with fruit mixture. dot with butter.
• 16 roll out remaining dough and place over top of filling.
• 17 seal and flute edges; cut vents.
• 18 decorate top with leftover pastry scraps, if desired.
• 19 brush top with egg .
• 20 sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• 21 bake on bottom oven rack at 450°f for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350°f and continue baking for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden and fruit is tender.