Name: Modern Apple Pie with Maple-Thyme Mirror Glaze
Prep time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 large crisp apples (e.g. Granny Smith or Ambrosia); 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for garnish; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/8 tsp ground allspice; 1 pinch salt; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 1 tbsp cold water; 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry, thawed; 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash); 1/2 cup apple juice; 1 tbsp powdered gelatin; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional, for extra gloss)

Modern Apple Pie with Maple-Thyme Mirror Glaze

CrushedLemon1034

This is not your grandmother’s apple pie! Inspired by modern pastry techniques, this apple pie layers British Columbia’s crisp apples, aromatic thyme, and real maple syrup in a rustic galette form. The crowning touch? A shimmering apple-maple mirror glaze for a stunning, glossy finish and a burst of flavor. Puff pastry ensures maximum crunch, while the subtle herbal note from thyme and the tang of lemon lift the filling. Serve for a show-stopping dessert that is both familiar and extraordinary—perfect for a summer evening in British Columbia.

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Toss with maple syrup, lemon juice, thyme, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a bowl.
In a small cup, mix cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry. Toss with the apples. Set aside.
Roll out puff pastry to a 10-inch (25cm) square. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Arrange apple mixture in a circular mound in center, leaving a 1-inch border.
Fold pastry edges up and over apples, pleating as you go. Brush pastry with beaten egg.
Bake 25-30 minutes until pastry is golden and apples are tender. Cool at least 20 minutes on rack.
To make the mirror glaze: In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 2 tbsp of the apple juice. Let bloom 5 minutes. In a saucepan, combine remaining apple juice and sugar; bring to a simmer. Add bloomed gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. If desired, whisk in butter for extra gloss. Cool to room temperature.
When pie is cool but not cold, pour the apple mirror glaze carefully over the center. Let set 10 minutes.
Garnish with extra thyme leaves. Slice and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.