Traditional Hungarian Apple Pie (Almás Pite)
Servings:
8–10
Hungarian almás pite is one of those desserts that instantly feels like home. 🇭🇺🍎 Unlike the deep-dish apple pies popular in North America, the Hungarian version is traditionally baked in a large rectangular pan, with a generous layer of cinnamon-spiced grated apples tucked between two layers of tender, buttery pastry.
It’s simple, comforting and exactly the kind of cake you’ll find on a Hungarian family table with a cup of coffee. Every family seems to have its own version, but one thing is certain: there should always be plenty of apple filling! ❤️
This recipe adds ground walnuts beneath the apples for extra flavor and a beautifully tender base. Finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar and cut into generous squares, it’s classic Hungarian home baking at its best.
Servings:
8–10
Ingredients:
500 g all-purpose flour
250 g butter
150 g granulated sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
1 packet baking powder
2 eggs
For the filling:
1 kg apples
100 g ground walnuts
150 g powdered sugar
1 lemon
1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the top:
1 egg
Powdered sugar for dusting
Steps
1. Make the dough
Mix the flour with the baking powder. Rub in the butter, then add the sugar, vanilla sugar and eggs. Knead until a smooth dough forms. Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Prepare the apples
Peel and grate the apples. Add the lemon juice, grated lemon zest, powdered sugar and cinnamon. Mix and let sit for about 10 minutes, then gently squeeze out the excess liquid.
3. Roll the dough
Divide the dough into two portions, approximately ⅔ and ⅓. Roll the larger piece on a floured surface to about 3–4 mm thick.
4. Assemble the pie
Place the larger sheet of dough into a parchment-lined baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with the ground walnuts, then spread the apple filling over the top.
5. Add the top layer
Roll out the remaining dough and place it over the apple filling. Brush with beaten egg and prick the top gently with a fork. Decorate with any leftover dough if desired.
6. Bake
Bake at 375°F / 190°C for 30–35 minutes, or until beautifully golden brown.
7. Cool and serve
Allow the almás pite to cool before cutting into squares. Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving. 🍎🇭🇺❤️