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Old-fashioned Apple Pandowdy is super easy to make and tastes absolutely amazing. The trick is to have the right amount of liquid so the crust can be pressed into the bubbling juices (dowdying) part-way through baking to form a glaze.
Apple Pandowdy (or Apple Pan Dowdy) is an old-fashioned skillet apple pie dating back to the early 1800’s.
There’s an old song titled ‘Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy‘ that was popular in the mid-1940’s. The song refers to a pie that is lightly sweetened with either molasses or maple syrup and is typically prepared with a top pastry only. The unique feature of the pie comes from the ‘dowdy’ part of the name.
Some old recipes call for the crust to be prepared all in one piece and placed over the apples. The crust is then broken up with a knife part-way through baking and partially submerged in the juices using a spatula (dowdying the crust).
Pastry squares
More recent recipes suggest cutting the crust into small squares and arrange in a patchwork pattern over the apples. For this recipe I’ve cut the crust into squares but in the past have made our Pandowdy a little more festive by cutting out leaves and acorns from the pastry using cookie cutters.
Ingredients Overview
For the all-butter crust:
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- granulated sugar
- unsalted butter
- ice cold water
Apple mixture:
- Apples peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch wedges (we like Granny Smith apples as they hold their shape when baked)
- juice of a lemon to prevent the apples from turning brown
- granulated sugar
- light brown sugar
- unsweetened apple cider (not vinegar) pasteurized or unpasteurized both work well
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
- fresh grated nutmeg
- cornstarch for thickening
- salt
- butter
Topping:
- an egg wash for brushing on the dough squares
- coarse sugar
- cinnamon
How to make Apple Pandowdy
1. Start by making the all-butter pie pastry
Combine the flour, salt, sugar and butter in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for 2 to 3 seconds or until the butter is the size of large peas. Add the ice water and pulse just until the dough starts to hold together but is still crumbly.
Turn the mixture out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Form the dough into a disk and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Pastry dough can be frozen well sealed for up to a month.
You can also use a store-bought pie crust in place of homemade if desired.
2. Prepare the apple mixture
Peel, core and slice the apples and place in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice and toss to coat. Add the granulated and brown sugars and stir to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature.
3. Roll out the dough
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper into a rectangle or circle one-inch larger than your pan. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough into squares about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
Transfer the dough (on the parchment) onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
4. Assemble the pandowdy
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 or 10-inch cast-iron skillet, oven-proof skillet or 13×9-inch casserole with butter.
Pour the sugared apple slices and any accumulated juice into the prepared baking dish. Spread the apples into an even layer.
Combine the apple cider, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch and salt. Pour over the apples then dot with 2 tablespoons butter cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Remove the dough squares from the refrigerator and place the pieces over the filling until mostly covered, overlapping as needed. Any squares with rough edges can be covered with other dough pieces.
Brush the dough squares with a beaten egg then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
5. Bake
Bake the pandowdy for 30 to 35 minutes or until the juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and gently press down on the dough using the back of a spoon or spatula until the juices come over the top of the crust. (You can also tilt the pan and spoon the juices over the crust.) Repeat until most of the crust has been submerged or covered. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and glazed, about 15 minutes more.
6. Cool and serve 🍨
Cool slightly and serve warm with ice cream if desired. The juices will thicken as the pandowdy cools.
The Apple Pandowdy should be juicier than a regular apple pie
We tested this recipe many times but found that a juicy pandowdy is the best pandowdy. You need enough liquid to dowdy the crust or it’s just a single crust pie apple pie. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just not the same.
Served warm straight from the oven topped with vanilla ice cream is my preferred way to enjoy apple pandowdy. The juices are a bit runny when it’s warm but thicken after it has a chance to cool.
How to store and serve Apple Pandowdy
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on 50% power in the microwave if desired.
Apple Pandowdy is great served with a scoop of ice cream, lightly whipped cream or a splash of heavy cream.
What kind of apples are best to use in an Apple Pandowdy?
Any good baking apple works well in this recipe. A combination of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious is my favorite. When I can’t find Golden Delicious apples I use all Granny Smith. They hold their shape well and don’t turn into apple sauce in the pan.
Sweet Apples for baking:
- Golden Delicious
- Braeburn
- Jonagold
Tart Apples for baking:
- Granny Smith
- Empire
- Cortland
Thanks for PINNING!
Apple Pandowdy
Ingredients
For the all-butter crust:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (156g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 ½ tablespoons ice cold water
For the apple mixture:
- 3 ½ pounds apples peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch wedges (about 8 large apples)
- juice of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (74g)
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed (72g)
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened apple cider (10oz)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For topping:
- 1 egg lightly beaten for brushing on the dough
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar or granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
To prepare the pie dough:
- Combine the flour, salt, sugar and butter in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for 2 to 3 seconds or until the butter is the size of large peas. Add the ice water and pulse just until the dough starts to hold together when pinched but is still crumbly.
- Turn the mixture out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Form the dough into a 5-inch disk and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Dough can also be frozen well sealed for up to a month.
To prepare the apple mixture:
- Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/4-inch thick wedges. Sprinkle lemon juice over the apples and toss to combine. Add the granulated and brown sugars to the apples and stir to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature while rolling out the dough.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to rest at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before rolling.
- Lightly flour a large piece of parchment paper. Roll the dough out on the parchment into a 10-inch circle for a 9-inch skillet (depending on the size of your skillet or casserole). If using a 13×9-inch pan roll the dough into a 14×10-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into 2 1/2-inch squares. Transfer the parchment (with crust squares) to a baking sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until the dough is firm.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9 or 10-inch skillet or 13×9-inch casserole with butter. Set aside.
- Pour the sugared apples and any accumulated juice into the prepared pan. Spread into an even layer.
- In a 2-cup measure whisk together the apple cider, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch and salt. Pour over the apples then dot with 2 tablespoons of butter cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Remove the dough squares from the refrigerator and place the pieces over the filling until mostly covered, overlapping as needed. Brush the beaten egg over the dough. Combine the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over the pieces of squares.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and gently press down on the dough using the back of a spoon or spatula until the juices come over the top of the crust. (You can also carefully tilt the pan and spoon the juices over the crust.) Repeat until most of the dough has been submerged or covered. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and glazed, about 15 minutes more.
- Cool slightly and serve warm with ice cream if desired. The juices will thicken as the pandowdy cools.
Recipe Notes
- Store leftovers well sealed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on 50% power in the microwave.
- We typically use Granny Smith Apples in this recipes as they apples hold together well and have a nice tart flavor.
- Add a handful of diced cranberries or raisins with the apples.
- For a decorative touch, cut the dough using cookie cutters like maple leaves, etc.
Nutrition
Old-fashioned desserts are some of the best
Enjoy this perfectly easy, and delicious fall dessert. It’s a great way to make your apple loving family very happy! ❤️🍏
Originally published November 2015, updated October 2022
Ann VanHaren
can you make the pan dowdy using pre-prepared apple pie filling?
Tricia Buice
Hi Ann – I think it will be fine just make sure the filling is juicy enough and not too thick. Really, how can you go wrong with apple pie filling and pastry? Bet it will be delicious, especially with a scoop of ice cream 🙂
Ollie Blair
Hi – love the recipe and will be anxious to try. I do have a question – I thought the recipe cooked the pandowdy on the stovetop and not baked in the oven. I’m a little confused about that point.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Ollie. Sorry, I’m not real sure what you are asking. This recipe is baked in the oven. Do you mean you thought all pandowdy recipes were baked on the stove top?
Sheena @Tea and Biscuits
Tricia, what a super looking pie, I bet is tastes just as good as it looks! I love that you cut out all leaves and acorn shapes for the top, it’s perfect!
John/Kitchen Riffs
I love the labels for all sorts of old-fashioned fruit desserts. Pandowdy. Grunt. Buckle. And more. 😉 Love what you’ve done with the crust of this — made a downhome dish totally upscale and fancy. But the flavor still looks to be downhome! Good stuff — thanks.
Tricia Buice
Thanks John. Not sure about the Grunt but I do know a Buckle 🙂 Have a very happy Thanksgiving!
Pam
You bake so good and I’ve never met a pandowdy I didn’t like, but with apples like this, it’s perfection! It’s good and easy as pie! Great recipe, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Pam – happy Thanksgiving!
Chris Scheuer
This is so beautiful Tricia. I would want to just stare at it for a while before I cut into it. Apple desserts are my favorite though so I probably wouldn’t be staring too long!
Tricia Buice
It is best eaten warm – so don’t wait too long! Thanks Chris
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
You warm my heart with old-fashioned recipes like this. My grandmothers would have made this but neither would have cut fancy shapes. They’d have slapped pieces of dough on top of the apples and made several to feed 12 children each. 🙂
Tricia Buice
I’m all about slapping dough on top of apples Maureen. I do love the way our grandmothers could make anything last. Bake in the day when they fixed things instead of buying new and feeding big families every single day!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
I’ve never heard of this dish before but it looks delicious! I like how you made it look festive. I can definitely imagine digging into this, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Tricia Buice
Yes on the ice cream Bianca – so good warm! Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef
I have never heard of pandowdy and will pin this for later baking . It looks darling with all those little cutouts . Happy Thanksgiving Tricia.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Gerlinde – hope you have a happy Thanksgiving too!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
Only problem is, you can’t really call this ‘dowdy’ any more, it’s waaaay too glam! I love your crust effect, I’d like to try that on all kinds of pies!
Tricia Buice
Haha Sue! You are so kind. This was so easy to make – hope you will give it a try.
Su Lentz
Yes…way too glam….lovely!!
Susan
It’s a beautiful presentation, Tricia! I love your fall pastry cutouts. The nice thing about using a skillet is you could make this in any size you’d like. I even have a little 6″ cast iron skillet that would be perfect for just my husband and myself. I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year but there will only be four of us since it’s the in-laws’ year with the daughter, SIL and grandsons. I bought a small, whole turkey and we’ll still have all the traditional sides.
Tricia Buice
I love the small skillets too Susan. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving. We are a small group too this year – no extras!
Mandy
This has to be the prettiest apple pie I have ever seen.
Lovely!
Have a super day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Tricia Buice
Thank you Mandy 🙂 Hope you have a super day too!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
This is a stunner, Tricia. You are so good working with pastry.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Angie – I really love making pastry.
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
The crust is my favorite part so I know this would be right up my alley. So pretty and festive. You always out do yourself, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Abbe – we are a crusty family!
Becky Green
This is SO PRETTY & FESTIVE !!!! It looks SO YUMMY TOO!!! 😉 Tricia, we do a whole turkey so we can have LOTS of left overs! 😉 Then, I don’t have to cook for days! LOL
Tricia Buice
Thanks Becky – it’s an easy one and so good. Not overly sweet – just right 🙂 Of course the ice cream added a little more sugar – haha
Monique
You made it so pretty!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Monique. It was fun and easy to make!
Dom
such a beautiful pan of autumn loveliness… it’s such a great idea. I’ve never heard of it before but I’m going to make it now! So pretty. I bet a savoury one would be nice too!
Tricia Buice
Thank so much Dom!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Beautiful, Tricia!! I have heard of a pandowdy before, but never really understood what it was exactly. How fascinating and delicious! I love the idea of soaking crisp crust in sweet, apple juices (although agree that it’s a shame to mess up that pretty crust 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thank you Jennifer! The crust is pretty great with all that juiciness – just delicious!
Monica
Lovely learning about a pandowdy! I really like your presentation in the skillet and the cut-out crust top is so very pretty. This has home and family written all over it.
Tricia Buice
My mom’s blackberry cobbler is more of a pandowdy but not many people use this method. We loved it – my husband wanted to eat the whole thing!
Rakhee@boxofspice
I’d never heard of dowdying but it sounds so interesting! And your pie looks fantastic! Don’t you just love this time of the year?! 🙂
Tricia Buice
It is an old method but a good one! Thanks so much for stopping by Rakhee
Betty
Makes your eyes light up and your tummy say howdy! My mom still sings that song in the kitchen, even though she’s usually making a pie instead of a pan dowdy. 🙂 This looks great- It would be a shame to “dowdy” such a pretty crust! Adding this to my long list of things I want to make. My house will be full this Thanksgiving, and apple desserts of any kind I’m sure will disappear quickly.
Tricia Buice
That is so cool Betty – It was a popular song back in the day so there aren’t many that still sing it in the kitchen! Sounds like you are going to have a fun Thanksgiving – hope you enjoy your break and all the family!
cheri
Hi Tricia, never heard of a pandowdy before, but I have to tell you this is one crazy gorgeous looking apple dessert. We always bake a whole turkey with all the fixings and give everyone containers of extra food to take home. Love this time of year.
Tricia Buice
I think the roots of this dessert come from Pennsylvania. I bet you will love having everyone together for Thanksgiving – thanks for stopping by Cheri!
Beth
I’m seriously smitten by this dessert! Can’t wait to try it. I’ve always heard of pandowdies but haven’t made one. Your cutouts on top are adorable!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Beth! You are going to LOVE it! So good and not too sweet, fun and easy to make too 🙂 Have a lovely week.