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1
Make the Pie crust using, and set it aside.
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2
Otherwise, use ready made frozen puff pastry sheets, or your favorite pie crust.
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3
Peel and core the apples.
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4
Place the apples in a heat proof container and sprinkle the sugar and lemon juice.
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5
Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap and heat in a 500w microwave for 3 minutes.
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6
The apples will release their juices.
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7
As this happens, it is important to roll the apples around in the sugared water in order to coat the apples evenly.
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8
Heat for an additional 5 minutes, turn the apples again, and heat a final 5 minutes.
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9
When the apples have become quite soft, they will release a lot of juice.
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10
At this point you can discard the liquid, and then add in the butter and brandy.
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11
Roll the apples around to thoroughly coat them.
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12
When the apples have thoroughly cooled, soak up any remaining liquid with a paper towel.
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13
Insert the sponge cake into the hole left by removing the core.
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14
Roll a piece of the pastry to 15cm squared and 3mm thick.
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15
Wrap the pastry around the apple, starting with the bottom side facing up as the wrapped apple will be turned over.
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16
Cut away excess pastry with a knife, and turn the apple upside down so the seam is on the bottom.
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17
Shape the wrapped apple into a round shape.
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18
Make 4 leaves and stem shapes.
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19
You can trace the veins of the leaves into the dough.
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20
Also cut rectangles to act as stems.
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21
Open a hole in the middle of the top of the apple using a bamboo skewer.
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22
Place the apples onto a baking tray, and paint them with an eggwash.
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23
Place on the leaves, and paint them with the wash as well.
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24
Cook in an oven preheated to 190C for 15 minutes.
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25
After the apples have baked for 15 minutes, paint the stems with the eggwash, and lay these out on the cooking sheet to bake with the apples.
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26
Bake for an additional 10 minutes
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27
After 10 minutes, remove the baking tray from the oven, and push the puffed stems into the top of the apples.
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28
Now the pies are almost done.
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29
Just bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the pies have reached your desired shade of golden brown.
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30
When they have baked, brush the pies with apricot jam.
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31
Your pies are complete.
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32
The apples are shockingly soft, rich, and piping hot!
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33
Here is a picture of the cross section.
