Spiced Upside-Down Apple Pie

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 50 min. + cooling

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Nov. 09, 2022
My grandma taught me to make this pie when I was 4. Over the years, I've kept it about the same with just a few changes. Flip it out the second it stops bubbling. The glaze makes it look especially delicious. —Francine Bryson, Pickens, South Carolina

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 Dough for double-crust pie
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon apple pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°. Arrange pecans, with rounded sides facing down, on the bottom of a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate; drizzle with butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar; press lightly.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in.-thick circle. Transfer to pie plate; place over brown sugar. Press the crust firmly against brown sugar and side of pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2-inch beyond rim of plate.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, pie spice and nutmeg. Add the apples, lemon juice and vanilla; toss to coat. Fill crust. Roll out remaining dough to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in crust.
  4. Place a foil-lined baking sheet on a rack below the pie to catch any spills. Bake pie 10 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°. Bake until top is golden brown and apples are tender, 40-45 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

Test Kitchen tips
  • Don't wait too long before inverting the pie onto a serving plate. If it cools off too much, it might be difficult to remove from the pan.
  • Dough for double-crust pie
    Combine 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/2 tsp. salt; cut in 1 cup cold butter until crumbly. Gradually add 1/3 to 2/3 cup ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.

    Nutrition Facts

    1 piece: 825 calories, 53g fat (23g saturated fat), 91mg cholesterol, 409mg sodium, 87g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 5g fiber), 7g protein.