So I baked an apple pie the other day,

[Codeine]

and the glaze I put on the top crust (per Alton Brown's recipe on the Food Network website here) turned into a rock-hard layer of glass.

Is there a way to get that same effect without an egg wash (i don't eat eggs) and avoid making a bulletproof Lexan crust?

[Denninmi]

1. In reading the recipe -- hmmm?

I wonder if the reduction to make the glaze was too much. Maybe it was too thick or something?

Personally, I like to just take and rub a little water over the top crust (a TINY amount, like 1/2 teaspoon, and I just spread it with my finger), and then sprinkle it with about a teaspoon-teaspoon and a half of sugar (regular sugar or "sanding sugar" for cookie making). This makes a nice, sugared crust, and I've never had a problem with it burning OR becoming hard.

[Codeine]

2. Ohhhh, that was probably it then.

It was pretty thick -- I thought that was normal. It was syrupy, like pancake syrup. I guess that's too much, huh?

I think I'll do the sugar sprinkle next time. That sounds much safer.

Thank you! :hi:

[housewolf]

3. I usuallly brush the top crust with a little cream or half & half

and then sprinkle with decorating sugar - larger crystals of sugar so they don't melt right away. This also gives a nice sheen to the top crust of a pie, though not quite as nice as just egg yolk does.

You don't say whether you avoid dairy along with eggs, - and I don't know if it would work with any of the milk substitutes vegans use.

[Codeine]

4. I'll try it with soymilk and see what happens.

It honestly can't be any worse than my first effort. ;)

[madmax]

5. Sent this recipe to my DIL for Thanksgiving

She made it and it was delish!

The usual, pie crust on bottom of pan, fill with cut and peeled granny smith apples, add lattice crust on top and THEN pour the melted butter, brown sugar, etc. on the top of the crust and through the lattice holes. It was so easy and gone in flash. I'm making one this week.

Link: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandma-Oples-Apple-Pie/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=48627982&prop26=PieCountdown&prop27=2010-11-22&prop28=MainRecipe&prop29=RecipePhoto&me=1

[Warpy]

6. I do the egg wash even though I don't eat eggs

but apple pies are something I do in rustic style, with just a sprinkle of granulated sugar (usually turbinado with big granules) to decorate the top crust.