For the past few years, I’ve baked an apple pie for my father-in-law’s birthday based on his mother’s recipe—with a few of my own tweaks. Nothing beats the smell and taste of warm apple pie fresh from the oven, I mean… come on! Think buttery pastry, sweet apples, cinnamon, rum-soaked raisins, creamy almond paste, a scattering of almond flakes, and a big dollop of freshly whipped cream. It’s comfort baking at its absolute best. I’ll be honest—the pastry gave me a bit of trouble this year thanks to the heatwave in Amsterdam, so she’s not the prettiest pie I’ve ever…
