What is the Rule for a Spooky, Quick Holiday Dessert?

Get ready to impress your family and friends with this spooky yet delicious Skellington Halloween Pie! Perfect for a festive Halloween dinner or a fun weekend baking activity, this pie combines buttery, flaky dough with sweet, caramelized apples for a treat that’s as tasty as it is eye-catching. Using T-fal cookware, like our oven-safe Ingenio Pots and Pans, this pie is not only easy to make but also ensures even heat for golden, perfectly baked results.

Whether you’re preparing a centerpiece dessert for a Halloween party or a cozy treat for the family, this pie delivers rich flavor, tender texture, and a touch of holiday fun. 

TYPE:
Main Course
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SERVES:
4 Servings
PREP TIME:
40 Minutes
COOK TIME:
40 Minutes
Halloween-themed pie with a skellington face, showcasing a fun and spooky decoration for the festive season. Halloween-themed pie with a skellington face, showcasing a fun and spooky decoration for the festive season.

Easy Scary Pie Recipe Ingredients:

For the Dough:

  • 7 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 pinch fine salt
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

For the Caramelized Apples:

  • 2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 medium Royal Gala apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch cubes

For Finishing and Decorations:

  • 1 tablespoon liquid crème fraîche (or heavy cream)

Cooking & Putting Together Your Halloween Pie: Step-by-Step Directions

Phase 1: Prepare the Dough

  1. Step 1: Mix the Dough Base:

    In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the softened butter with the fine salt and powdered sugar. Add the egg and mix vigorously until fully incorporated. Gradually add the flour and mix until the dough just comes together into a cohesive ball.

  2. Step 2: Smooth and Chill:

    On a clean work surface, use the heel of your hand to quickly "smash" the dough several times. This French technique, called fraisage, helps ensure there are no lumps of butter remaining. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least of 30 minutes.
    Pro Tip: If the dough is too hard when you’re ready to roll, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to prevent cracking.

Phase 2: Caramelize the Apples

  1. Step 3: Prep the Fruit:

    Peel and core the apples. Using a utility knife from one of our T-fal knife sets, cut the apples into quarters, then into small cubes.

  2. Step 4: Create the Caramel Filling

    Grab your T-fal frypan (we recommend a piece from the versatile Ingenio Pots and Pans set that is oven-safe). Place the pan over medium heat and wait for the Thermo-Spot heat indicator to turn completely red, signaling it’s perfectly preheated. Add the butter and granulated sugar to create the amber caramel. Once the caramel forms, immediately add the apple cubes.

  3. Step 5: Cook the Apples:

    Cook the apples over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the moisture from the apples and caramel has completely evaporated. The apples should be tender but still hold their shape. Mix in the cinnamon and remove the pan from the heat.

Phase 3: Assemble and Decorate

  1. Step 6: Preheat Your Appliance

    Preheat your appliance while you assemble the pie. Use the Air Fry setting for the quickest results:

  2. Step 7: Line the Pan

    Lightly grease the inside of your chosen cooking vessel.
    • Traditional Oven Method: Use your oven-safe Ingenio frypan (or a standard 8-9 inch pie dish).
    • Air Fryer Methods: Use a small, air-fryer-safe cake pan or pie dish that fits comfortably inside your unit (check your model’s dimensions).
    Roll out approximately two-thirds of the chilled dough to about 1/8 inch thick (3 mm) and line your pan. Spread the caramelized apple filling evenly across the dough, smoothing the surface. Set aside.

  3. Step 8: Create the Skellington Design

    Form the remaining dough into a ball and roll it out again on a sheet of parchment paper, keeping it about 1/8 inch thick. Use a sharp paring knife to carefully cut out your spooky Skellington (or other Halloween) design. Place the design (still on the parchment paper) in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up.

  4. Step 9: Final Assembly

    Retrieve the hardened design and quickly flip it onto the pie, centering it over the apples. Gently peel off the parchment paper. If needed, gently adjust the size and shape of the design with your fingers to fit the frypan.

  5. Step 10: Brush and Bake

    Using a pastry brush, gently remove any excess flour from the dough’s surface. Finally, coat the entire top crust with the heavy whipping cream.

Phase 4: Cook

  1. Step 11: Cook the Pie

    Bake the pie for approximately 40 minutes.
    • Traditional Oven: Check at 40 minutes. The crust should be golden brown.
    • T-fal Easy Fry Oven Air Fryer (21 Quarts): Check at 30-35 minutes. The powerful air circulation may shorten the cooking time.
    • T-fal Infrared Air Fryer: Check at 35 minutes.

  2. Step 12: Serve

    Let the pie cool slightly before serving. Slice carefully and enjoy the spooky treat!

Pro Tip for the Best Halloween Ideas:

For a stunning presentation, dust your cooled Skellington Halloween Pie generously with extra powdered sugar right before serving-it’ll make the details of the skull and crossbones really pop against the golden crust! You can also serve it with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream to balance the warm spices.