Sweet pastry: Shift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Using your thumb and fingertips, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles sand. Stir in sugar.
2
Gently beat the egg with the water and using a cutlery knife, stir enough of the liquid into the dough as much as is necessary to form a dough.
3
Gather into a ball, wrap with plastic and chill for at least 30min. (A night before is the best.)
4
Roll chilled paste thinly and cut into 6-10 cm rounds.
5
Line the tray with pastry and chill for a further 30 minutes at least.
6
Place foil parcels of rice or baking beans into the pastry cups and bake blind at 170C for 10-15 min., until edges are beginning to brown.
7
Carefully remove parcels and bake another 2-5 mins to dry centers.
8
Apple filling: Add all ingredients to the pan and heat on medium (start on low) until the apples lose their shape - use a little water if the juice from the apples isn't enough. Add cinnamon if using, and taste to see if you want to add more sugar.
9
Assembling the pies: Rub crumble ingredients together with fingertips to combine.
10
Fill each case generously with apple mixture and heap on at least 2 teaspoons of crumble.
11
Bake at 170C for about 20 min., or until the filling has started to bubble.