Pink Lady Apple Elderflower and Almond Pie
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Serves 2
20 mins prep time
30 mins cooking time
recipe courtesy of our friends at pinkladyapples.co.uk
Pink Lady Apple Elderflower and Almond Pie is a beautifully fragrant and elegant dessert that combines the crisp sweetness of apples with delicate floral notes and a rich almond warmth. This pie offers a modern twist on a traditional fruit bake, making it perfect for both casual gatherings and special occasions where you want something a little different yet deeply comforting.
At the heart of the filling are Pink Lady apples, known for their naturally sweet yet slightly tangy flavour and firm texture. When gently cooked, they soften just enough to release their juices while still maintaining a pleasant bite. This creates a perfect base that feels fresh, fruity, and vibrant in every mouthful.
Elderflower is the ingredient that elevates this pie into something truly special. Whether used as a cordial, syrup, or infused into the cooking liquid, it adds a light, floral aroma that pairs beautifully with the apples. The subtle sweetness of elderflower enhances the fruit without overpowering it, giving the pie a delicate, perfumed character.
Ground almonds are incorporated into the filling or pastry, adding a nutty depth and soft, moist texture. Their gentle richness balances the brightness of the apples and elderflower, creating a well-rounded flavour profile that feels both indulgent and refined.
The filling is encased in buttery shortcrust or flaky pastry, baked until golden and crisp. As it cooks, the apples become tender and juicy, while the almond and elderflower notes meld together into a fragrant, comforting filling. A light sprinkle of sugar on top adds a subtle crunch and extra sweetness.
Best served warm or at room temperature, this Pink Lady Apple Elderflower and Almond Pie pairs wonderfully with custard, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream. Pink Lady Apple, Elderflower and Almond Pie is a delightful celebration of seasonal flavours, offering a perfect balance of fruitiness, florals, and nutty richness in every slice.
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Ingredients
You'll Need
- 7 Pink Lady® apples
- 340g plain flour
- 225g butter
- 4 tbs caster sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 250ml elderflower cordial
- 100ml water
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 25g ground almonds
- 115g white marzipan
- Flaked almonds Icing sugar for dusting
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Method
- Put the flour and butter into a food processor fitted with a plastic blade and whiz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the caster sugar and whiz again. Now add the yolk and whiz again until your pastry comes together into a ball. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 45 minutes or so.
- Quarter the apples and remove the core from each piece (but don’t peel the apples as the pink colour of the skin adds a nice touch). Cut each quarter into slices, about 3 mm thick at the thickest part. Put them into a saucepan with the cordial and water, cover and simmer the apples very gently until they are just beginning to get tender on the outside. Strain off the liquid and measure how much you have. If it is more than about 75ml then put it into a small saucepan and boil to reduce it to 75 ml. Stir in the zest, pour the liquid over the apples and leave to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 190 C and put a metal baking sheet into it. Roll out 2/3 of the pastry and line a pie dish (measuring 25cm in diameter, 5-6 cm deep) with it. Sprinkle the ground almonds on the bottom of the pie. Break the marzipan up into little chunks. Spoon the apples (with the elderflower syrup) into the case, scattering the chunks of marzipan as you go.
- Roll out the rest of the pastry and make 6 strips with which to form a lattice on the top. Moisten each end of the pastry strips and lay them across the top of the pie. Press down to seal. Put this into the oven on top of the baking sheet and cook until golden. It will take about 30 minutes. About 8 minutes before the end of cooking time, scatter a handful of flaked almonds on top and return to the oven – the almonds will toast in the final stage of baking. Dust the pie lightly with icing sugar before serving.