I also live in the US and really want to make this pie using regular apples, however I normally make my own pastry and can't buy an all butter short crust pastry, but I would like a suggestion on a good short crust pastry recipe for this pie. Thanks

Can't wait to make this. I don't own a microwave these days, so I'll just be soaking my raisins in the brandy beforehand, the old fashioned way!

I cannot get Bramley apples where I live in America, so used regular eating apples. The pie still turned out wonderfully! I made one for my husband's workplace.. A collegue, an ex-restrauteur, said it was the best apple pie he had ever tasted. He tells everyone about it and keeps begging my husband to have me make another one (2 years after making it). He covets the recipe, but I won't tell him where to find it!!

The flavour of the apples was lovely but I made this and froze it uncooked as it said, then defrosted it and cooked it, pastry was soggy! should i have cooked it from frozen? any tips on how else i can make this ahead would be appreciated?

I made this in a rectangular baking tin. The pastry sheets fitted it perfectly and there was no waste. I mixed a heaped teaspoon of cornflour in with the sugar, and it stopped the tart from leaking out juice when it was baking. I wouldn't bother adding the brandy again. It couldn't be tasted. Good recipe though.

If in doubt which recepie to follow CHOOSE THIS ONE! It is sooo good! Ive made it 4 times in 2 weeks for parties and just at home! Its so so quick and easy to make and the compliments ive had from the pie are just amazing (i am no chef to say the least!!) I think from taste of it it seems like youve done a much trickier recepie than this one. the father in law even said its the best apple pie hes ever tasted!!!I dint have brandy for the sultanas but used whiskey instead and havnt used granny smiths, used what ive been given and these have been cox's and braeburns i think though with the spices involved most apples would work....oh and in error i used mixed spice instead of the allspice (in error but it stil works great!!)

This is a fab recipe, so delicious! Somehow I ended up with way too much mixture of apples to add, so I have frozen the leftover. I will certainly make this again and maybe add some other fruit in such as blackberries. We had it warm with icecream, and the leftover brandy with coke!

I followed the recipe as it is but the pie was so watery. I tried making apple pie once before and it was the same problem. I'm confused.

Yum. made this twice in one week. Very simple and a good use of cooking apples if you have an excess from the garden.

My family loved it!

bramley apples are just cooking apples :) you could use any large, sour apple

a delicious apple pie.
i didn`t have any brandy so missed it out.
the spices gave the apples a lovely taste.
the sultanas made a lovely change from the blackberries that i usually add.
i will definitely make this again.

im sure you can use any good apple, im going to use cooking apples..

I would really love to make this, but living in Italy I have not seen these apples.
With what kind of other appels could I make them?
Suggestions are very welcome!

I made this pie minus the brandy I did'nt have any so I used sherry and the flavours was very good will make this apple pie again eveyone said it was yummy top make you must make this pie it was a real treat

Very good flavour, but the apples took a lot longer to cook than I had hoped. If I do it again, I may stew them for 5 minutes before using them as the filling.

fantastic. recipe worked at treat.

I heated the raisins with a type of German muelled wine called Gluehwein; a typical winter drink made of red wine heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. Very easy to bake and I usually make my own short-crust pastry with extra butter.
Baked two 28cm pies last weekend for my in-laws visit. My mum-in-law owns a apple orchard and she has always been the apple-pie champion.
Dad-in-law took a few bites and said to my husband "lucky you son; your wife bakes the best pie I've tasted in 30 years; she is even better than your mom at it"
Mum-in-law was very sulky and even commented the pie had too much sugar for her tastes (although she managed to eat up half the pie up). Was not until we were alone together when she "accidentally" asked me for the spices I used.

I made this, minus the brandy ( didnt have any ) and it was a great success. Looked really impressive as well. Going to make another one, this time with the brandy

I made this for mother's day and was such a big hit!! This pie is guaranteed to give you several compliments...and with such little effort!! Everything about it was perfect - another great recipe from goodfood!!
I omitted the sultanas and brandy and the allspice as i didn't have this in my cupboard. But the pie was still very yummy. There didn't seem to be measurements for how much spice to put in on the recipe list so i just shook in what i thought, i think it might have been equivalent to nearly a teaspoon for each.
Just planning when i have a good excuse to make it again.