SHOW STOPPER. That is the only way I can think to describe this epic, humongous, star spangled pie. You see, down here in Australia, when you say pie, people think you mean a meat pie. Beef of indiscriminate origin swimming in gravy and wrapped in gluey pastry; the domain of service stations and tradie’s lunches. But as a child who was raised watching almost exclusively American films and TV shows, when someone says pie, I think APPLE! And I like it. 
One of those films from the good old US of A was that classic, starring John Travolta: ‘Michael’. Do you know it? Two reporters and the supermodel Andie Macdowell go to investigate a report that the Archangel is living with a woman in Iowa. They go to investigate and discover that the story appears to be true, but that Michael is a smoking, drinking, foul mouthed sex addict. Mayhem ensues! Anyway, I was 6 when that came out, and I’m sure that most of it went right over my head, but there was always one scene that stuck with me. 
There’s a scene where they’re on the way back to Chicago with Michael and they stop to eat pie. Andie Macdowell’s character, at Michael’s behest, goes on to sing a song about pie. And it goes a little something like this:
Pie
Pie
Me oh my
Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry
all at once so well as pie
Apple!
Pumpkin!
Minced
an’ wet bottom.
I’ll come to your place everyday if you’ve got em’
Pie
Me oh my
I love pie 
And nothing before or since has ever summed up how much I love American-style sweet pies. I like em all, cream pies, fruit pies, tarts, tortes. But there’s nothing like classic apple pie. It’s a superstar as far as desserts are concerned, and since I saw that movie when I was probably about 8 or 9, I have always been hooked. So this is my ode to the pie. I like to make a show of it when I bake apple pie, really go all out, and make a behemoth and cut out stars and scatter them across the top. Get the sugar and spices just right, glaze it and bake it with love, and breathe very deeply of the air in the house for the hour or so that it takes to bake. 
And then I like to greedily slice into the pie before it’s cooled properly, because the lure of a pie cooling on a window sill is FAR TOO MUCH for me to ever resist. I know, slap my hand, I’m a bad food blogger/photographer/stylist. But heck, before anything else, I’m an eater folks. And that’s never gonna change. And I’m totally cool with it – sorry/not sorry. A scoop of pure vanilla ice cream, should be served melting milkily over the top of your pie, and then by golly, you dig in. It’s pie a la mode. And if you’re anything like me, there is nothing that will steal your attention so singularly as a slice of pie with a healthy scoop of ice cream on it. Nothing at all. 
Star-topped Apple Pie
INGREDIENTS
For the Crust:
450g plain flour
2 tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
225g butter
175ml cold water To make the crust, combine the flour, sugar, salt and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor and mix on low speed or pulse a few times, until the butter is partly combined into the flour, with some large pieces still pebbled throughout. With the mixer on low, or while pulsing the processor, drizzle in the ice water, until the mixture looks like it is about to come together. You may need slightly more or less water. Pat the dough together, divide into two disks, and wrap them in plastic to chill in the fridge. For the apple filling:
7 Granny Smith apples
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla paste
zest 1/2 a lemon
1 tbsp rum
1/4 cup cornflour Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2 cm pieces. In a large bowl, add the remaining ingredients and toss together thoroughly. To assemble and bake the pie: Preheat the oven to 180C. Remove the pastry from the freezer, and roll out one of the disks, using it to line a 9 or 10 inch (20-23cm) pie dish. Pile the apples in, trying to ensure that the apples are well compacted, and mounded evenly in the middle. Trim away the excess pastry, leaving one 1cm of overhang. Set the excess pastry aside. Roll the second pastry disk out, and drape it over the top of the apples. Trim the top layer as well, trying to make the overhang even with the bottom layer. Again, set aside the excess. Press the top and bottom pastry together, curling it under, and using the edge of the dish too press and seal it. If necessary, re-roll the pastry scraps, and cut out as many stars as you feel your pie needs. Glaze the pie with your glaze of choice (water, milk, cream, buttermilk, or egg) and stick on your stars. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, checking at 1 hour. If the pastry is browning too much, you can cover the pie with foil. Cool for at least an hour (if you can), and serve with ice cream, of course.
really adoring how you left the apples chunky within the pie. love chunksss!
Hahhaha, I love that you love chunkssss!
You know, I’m pretty sure I saw that movie when I was super young also and now i’m wondering what my mom was thinking letting me watch it. Hmm.
This pie. Glorious.
I know! I guess it goes to show how much just flies right over kids heads.
This pie is GORGEOUS!!!
Thanks Kayle!
Your apple pie filling looks devine! Crust totally delectable!
Thank you Shashi!
Thanks for the comment :) This pie looks like a showstopper – I can’t believe I’ve never seen a pie with stars on it . It just seems like they all should now. also, I like your writing!
Thanks Candice! And thank YOU for the comment. :)
Ah this looks great! Tasty and pretty. Thanks for posting. I just may have to try this!
Ali of
Dressing Ken
You can make a crust from scratch? You’re way ahead of me ;) It looks beautiful!
There is a stand at the farmers market that sells “Aussie” pies, but I love both sweet and savoury.
Hey Sarah! Thank you for leaving a comment on our site! And your pie is to DIE FOR! simply gorgeous! Please be sure to stop by today and enter for our GIVEAWAY !!
Hey Sarah! I left you a comment but it doesn’t seem to publish it- don’t know why- anyway thank you again for leaving us a comment. Your pie is Fabulous – thanks for the recipe! Also, please be sure to stop by and enter for our Giveaway today! :)
Oh I love that movie! This is the cutest pie, the stars on top are perfect!
What a beautiful and delicious looking pie!
When someone says pie this is exactly what I think of. It is gorgeous! I always try to wait for the pies to cool even though I don’t want to :)
Soooo I know I just made pie last weekend, but I think I’m going to have to make pie again tomorrow. I am realizing now that I haven’t had a good ol’ fashioned apple pie in ages. Your pie crust looks so beautiful, too. I love that the entire pie is sealed up tight, keeping the slices nice and moist. Just beautiful :)
What a gorgeous pie!!! I can’t say I’ve ever had a meat pie…well maybe like Chicken Pot Pie. Do they have that there? So funny to say that fruit pies are American- I never really thought about it :) Anyway, your apple pie looks better than any apple pie I ever made ;)
I love any kind of fruit pie, but apple pie is right up there. What a gorgeous pie you’ve baked! It’s hard for me to wait until it’s cool too.
Meat pies have nothing on this! What a delicious sounding filling and the stars are so gorgeous – great touch :)
Girl. GIRL! This is too much! I adore it. The stars make it absolutely perfect. So glad you left behind meat pies (which: gross. Sorry to your awesome country, but just no) and found your way to sweet fruit pies.
this is by far the prettiest pie i’ve ever seen! yum!
Wow! Your food is gorgeous, though, Kiran.
This is so cute! Such a fun twist on apple pie.
Yum, this pie looks beautiful! Love the stars on top too :)
Wow, what a pie! It’s gorgeous. There’s nothing like a big slice of apple pie, and I love the stars!
My, you’ve got a gorgeous blog here!
I for one adore Australian meat pies. They’re a novelty in America, which actually may be why I’m so fond of them.
Hahaha, if pressed, I could be coerced into admitting that I have a soft spot for them too.
The pie looks delicious. I love when they are so full as if ready to burst with fruit!
What a beautiful pie! I love Australian meat pies as well and wish that I could find a decent recipe to recreate them here in the U.S. There’s just something about that nice and flaky crust that I can’t replicate!
What a beautiful pie! I love the cut out stars on top. It’s so perfectly golden-brown. :)
That crust is perfect! Gorgeous!
That pie is gorgeous, I love the stars on top of the crust!
So funny how certain things stick with us from what we’ve watched on tv. I’m in love with this pie…you made this the most beautiful pie I’ve EVER seen! Pinning!
What a beauty! Pumpkin Pie’s going to have to be your next North American style sweet pie attempt… it’s SO good and I’ve never baked for an Aussie who wasn’t fascinated and didn’t LOVE the taste sensation!
I’ve only ever done the pasty star cut outs on mince tarts at Christmas time but these stars look so summery and fun… and it’s the perfect way to use up the pastry trimmings that I can never bear to throw away. Love your blog!
x Catherine @ The Spring Shop & Blog (in Brisbane too!)
Wow! That is a beautiful looking pie, and I totally remember that scene from the movie.
Here in Canada, when someone says pie we usually think fruit/sweet pie.. savory ones are not very common. Can’t wait to get a bunch of peach pies made and frozen so that I can bake them over the winter.
I love apple pie so your pie is making me drool! Love the star details. :)
Gorgeous pie! I think you’d definitely qualify as an honorary American with pie skills like that!
oh this pie is so adorable, spangly stars and a luscious interior. Oh my! I was brought up on pie, nearly all sweet. We had it most puddings, never as glamourous as this though!
Great blog, so glad I found it, thanks for finding me so I’ve now found you :)
Thanks Rae!
I LOVE your star topped crust! If I ever master pie crust, I hope to add some decorative touches. You’re an inspiration!
Your pie is beautiful! Love the stars too. I’m from the US and don’t even know the movie you’re talking about, but glad that introduced you to pie (the US version anyway).
Girl, that is one GORGEOUS pie!! It’s funny to think how in other countries, pie doesn’t always mean what you and I think of pie…always sweet! Also, funnily enough, I was never the hugest fan of pie until I started watching Pushing Daisies and then I went through a huge pie phase. This looks fabulous and I adore the stars on top–should have made this for the fourth!
Pie dough is perfect! Thanks for the recipe!