Brandied Date And Walnut Pie Recipes

BRANDIED SWEET POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add half of the butter and pulse until combined. Add the remaining butter; pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Add 5 tablespoons ice water; pulse a few more times until the dough just holds together when pinched (add up to 1 more tablespoon ice water if needed). Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and gather together using the plastic wrap. Transfer about one-sixth of the dough to another piece of plastic wrap and pat into a disk. Pat the remaining dough into a larger disk; wrap both in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out the larger disk of dough into a 12-inch round (about ¿ inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Ease the dough into a 9-inch pie plate; fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers. Refrigerate until firm, 15 to 30 minutes. Roll out the smaller disk of dough until about 1/4 inch thick; cut out shapes using 2-inch cookie cutters. Place the cutouts on a small parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Line the crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until the edge is lightly golden, about 20 minutes; remove the foil and beans and continue baking until the crust is dry and golden on the bottom, about 15 more minutes. Meanwhile, brush the cutouts with water and sprinkle with sanding sugar; bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Let the crust and cutouts cool completely.
• While the crust cools, make the filling: Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Bake until very soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool slightly, then peel and puree the flesh in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl; add the half-and-half, granulated sugar, eggs, brandy, vanilla, cinnamon and salt and whisk until smooth. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bake until the filling just starts setting, 30 to 35 minutes. Arrange the cutouts on the pie and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set and puffed in the center, about 30 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely, about 4 hours.

BRANDIED DATE AND WALNUT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold edge under; crimp. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze 10 minutes. Line with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights.
• Bake crust until sides are set, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake until bottom begins to color, piercing with toothpick if crust bubbles, about 10 minutes longer. Cool on rack 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir dates and brandy in small bowl to blend. Mix brown sugar, butter, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl until paste forms. Whisk in corn syrup, then 3 eggs. Add nuts and date mixture. Beat 1 egg to blend in small bowl for glaze.
• Brush inside of crust with some of glaze. Pour filling into crust. Bake 15 minutes. Cover edges of crust with foil. Continue to bake pie until filling is puffed and set in center, about 20 minutes. Transfer pie to rack; cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Serve pie with whipped cream.

BROWNIE-WALNUT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the butter and the chocolate over low heat in a heavy medium saucepan until the chocolate is almost melted. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the sugar, then the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the flour and salt with a flexible rubber spatula. Stir in the nut pieces. Scrape the batter into the prepared Biscotti Crumb Crust. Press a ring of walnut halves, if using, into the batter around the top edge.
• Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until the outer 2 to 3 inches are slightly puffed and dry looking and the center is set, 35 minutes. A wooden skewer inserted into the center should come out with some moist batter still attached. Cool the pie completely on a rack.
• Cut the pie into wedges and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if using.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Blend the biscotti, butter and sugar in a food processor until the crumbs are moist and stick together when pressed. Firmly press the crumb mixture over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch glass pie dish, building up a high rim. Bake the crust until golden and feels firm to the touch, 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely.

WALNUT PIE

Steps:

• Mix together eggs, sugar, flour, corn syrup, butter and vanilla, mixing well.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Sprinkle walnuts all over top, arranging them where needed.
• Bake in preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350°F and bake for 35 to 45 more minutes, or until center is set.
• Cool before serving.

BRANDIED CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl, toss 1 cup of sugar with remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Pour mixture on to a cookie sheet, spread evenly, and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of sugar over the top and mix. Allow walnuts to cool before serving.

WALNUT, DATE & HONEY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C. Line the base and long sides of a 900g/2lb loaf tin with greaseproof paper, buttering the tin and paper.
• Tip the flour, cinnamon, butter, sugar, 2 tablespoons of the honey and the eggs into a large mixing bowl. Mash the bananas and chop the dates (kitchen scissors are easiest for this) and add to the bowl. Beat the mixture for 2-3 minutes, using a wooden spoon or hand-held mixer, until well blended.
• Spoon into the prepared tin and level the top. Scatter the walnut pieces over. Bake for 1 hour, then lightly press the top - it will feel firm if cooked. If not, bake for a further 10 minutes.
• Cool for 15 minutes, then lift out of the tin using the paper. When cold, drizzle the remaining honey over. Cut into thick slices.

EASY PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Blend first 4 ingredients in processor 10 seconds. Add shortening; process just until very coarse meal forms. Beat egg with 2 tablespoons water; add to processor. Blend until large moist clumps form, adding more water if dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten each piece into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly before rolling out.)

MALTESE WALNUT AND DATES PIE

Steps:

• Chop the dates in small pieces and put in a saucepan.
• Add 3 tablespoons water and put on a moderate heat, till they start melting. You have to be very careful, because the dates should not melt completely.
• Lower heat. Add the walnuts, Anisette and finely chopped rind of 1 tangerine. Blend well.
• Remove from heat and put in a bowl and put aside to cool.
• When completely cold, fill the pastry case with this filling. Smooth the top.
• Decorate with the extra walnuts.

WALNUT-DATE PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Cover and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes; cool on a wire rack., In a bowl, beat the eggs, cinnamon, cloves and remaining brown sugar. Beat in the pumpkin and milk. Stir in the dates and walnuts. Pour into the crust. Cover edges loosely with foil., Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 2 hours on a wire rack. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with whipped cream. Refrigerate leftovers.

DATE-WALNUT PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix sugar and cinnamon. On a lightly floured surface, unroll crust; roll crust into a 12-in. square. Spread preserves over top; sprinkle with dates, walnuts and cinnamon-sugar., Roll up jelly-roll style; pinch seam to seal. Cut crosswise into 12 slices, about 1 in. thick. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.