Easter Pie Dough Recipes

EASTER PIE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder; cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles small crumbs. Add eggs; stir until moistened and mixture forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 10-in. circle. Place in a 9-in. pie plate; flute crust. Refrigerate. , For filling, beat the ricotta, sugar and flour in a bowl. Add zest and salt; beat until smooth. In another bowl, beat eggs until thick and lemon-colored, about 5 minutes; slowly fold into ricotta mixture. Gently mix in remaining ingredients. Pour into the crust. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Store in the refrigerator.

EASTER PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Put flour, cheese, salt, and pepper, in the bowl of a food processor; pulse several times to combine. Add butter and shortening; process until the mixture has the consistency of coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, pour ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream until the dough just holds together.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough in half, and form each piece into a flattened square. Wrap each piece of dough in plastic, and chill at least 1 hour or overnight before using.

EASTER BASKET PIE

Steps:

• Combine the apples, strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch in a large bowl and gently toss together until combined. Set aside.
• Line a large work surface with parchment paper and lightly flour the paper. Roll out one ball of Pie Dough into a 12-inch circle. Gently roll the dough up around your rolling pin and transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Unroll the pastry over the plate. (Alternatively, fold the pastry in half and then again in quarters, transfer to the pie plate and unfold.) Gently fit the pastry into the plate and up the sides. Tuck the edges under the side of the pie plate and trim.
• Transfer the apple/strawberry mixture to the lined pie plate and evenly distribute. Place the filled pie plate in the fridge while you complete the next step.
• For the woven basket: Roll out a ball of dough to a 14-by-10-inch rectangle. Use a ruler and a sharp knife to cut fifteen 14-by-1/2-inch-long strips of dough. Braid three of the pastry strips together. Your finished braid will be approximately 10 inches long. Repeat this process with the other strips until you have five braids.
• Remove the pie from the fridge. Use your ruler to measure 3 1/2 inches up from the bottom of the pie plate and mark the edge of the pie. Dampen around the edges of the bottom half of the pie with water to ensure that the pastry will adhere. Gently transfer one braid to the pie to cover your mark. Add the other four braids one at a time, moving down the pie and slightly overlapping the rows, until all five braids are in place. Use your knife to trim any excess braid to 1 inch beyond the edge of the pie. Tuck the excess pastry under the rim of the pie plate.
• For the basket handle: Using leftover dough from your braid rollout, roll out four pieces of dough to approximately 12 inches in length and 1/2 inch in diameter. Twist two pieces of the dough together to make a rope. Repeat this process for the other two pieces of dough. Dampen the edge of the top half of the pie with water and attach one rope to each side of the pie. The ropes should meet at the top center of the pie. Curl the bottom of each rope decoratively around the basket edge.
• To create the Easter eggs: Roll out another ball of dough to a 14-by-10-inch rectangle. Cut five egg shapes with a 3-inch egg cutter. To color the dough, use either gel or liquid food coloring mixed with a small amount of water. Apply with a small paint brush (available in craft stores). Paint each egg a different color (pastel or jewel tones work best). To add sparkle to your eggs, after painting and while the dough is still slightly damp, sprinkle each egg with a coordinating colored sanding sugar. Set aside to dry.
• To create the Easter bunnies and bow: Cut three bunny heads with a 3-inch bunny head cutter from the same batch of dough. Use a 3/4-inch round cutter to cut six circles. Use a 1-inch diamond cutter to cut six diamonds. Use a ruler and sharp knife to cut one strip of pastry, 16 inches by 1/2 inch. Cut an inverted v-shape into both ends of the strip. Cut another strip of pastry, 1 inch by 1/2 inch.
• Using small pieces of dough, roll nine balls of dough for the eyes and noses. Use pink food coloring to paint the six diamonds, three of the small round balls and the two strips of pastry. Use black food coloring to paint the remaining six small round balls.
• To assemble the bunny: Dampen the back of the diamond shapes with water and place them in the center of the bunny ears. Dampen the circles and place two circles along the cheek line of each bunny's face. Dampen the space above the cheeks of each bunny and place the eyes and nose. Use your knife to score three lines on each cheek to create the whiskers.
• To assemble the bow: Lay the longer strip of pastry in front of you horizontally. Mark the center of the pastry with a knife. Fold the left side of the strip in and down over the center. Fold in the right side so it criss-crosses over the left side. Pinch the pastry at the spot where the two pieces overlap in the center. Dampen the small strip of pastry and lay it over the area that you have pinched. Press gently to adhere.
• To create the flowers: Use 1/2-inch and 1-inch flower cookie cutters to cut flower shapes for the front and handle of the basket. Paint the flowers in colors of your choice.
• To assemble: Dampen the backs of the flowers and gently adhere them to the basket handle and front. Dampen the back of the bow and gentle adhere it to the front of the basket.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the Easter eggs and bunnies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the faces of the bunnies are slightly browned. Allow them to cool. Raise the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Bake the pie for 12 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the pie is golden and the filling bubbles thickly, another 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool for at least 2 hours.
• Use a spoon to gently depress the filling under the top edge of the basket. Slide the eggs partially under the top edge of the basket and arrange. Place the bunnies decoratively above the eggs.
• For the pie dough: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until combined, 2 to 3 times. Scatter the butter and shortening over the flour mixture. Pulse 4 to 5 times until the mixtures resembles small pebbles with a few larger pieces.
• Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of the ice water over top. Pulse until the mixture starts to clump and comes together, 6 to 8 times. If the mixture does not clump, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing 1 to 2 times between additions.
• Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured work surface. Cup your hands around the dough to bring together in a ball. Divide the dough into two balls, wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

EASTER PIE

Steps:

• Blend 3/4 cup of powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange zest and ricotta in a food processor until smooth. Stir in the rice and pine nuts. Set the ricotta mixture aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly butter a 9-inch glass pie dish. Lay 1 phyllo sheet over the bottom and up the sides of the dish, allowing the phyllo to hang over the sides. Brush the phyllo with the melted butter. Top with a second sheet of phyllo dough, laying it in the opposite direction as the first phyllo sheet. Continue layering the remaining sheets of phyllo sheets, alternating after each layer and buttering each sheet. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the dish. Fold the overhanging phyllo dough over the top of the filling to enclose it completely. Brush completely with melted butter.
• Bake the pie until the phyllo is golden brown and the filling is set, about 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely. Sift powdered sugar over the pie and serve.

GERALDINE FERRARO'S EASTER PIE

Steps:

• Combine all the filling ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and pepper on a wooden or marble surface.
• Make a well in center of the flour mixture and break three eggs into it. Incorporate the eggs into the flour, then add the remaining eggs. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Cover loosely with a damp towel and set aside to rest for 15 minutes.
• To make pies: Cut dough in half and set one portion aside. Cut remaining half so that one part is slightly larger than the other. Roll out the larger portion into a circle that is less than 1/8-inch thick and large enough to fill and overlap the edges of a 9-inch pie plate. Avoid getting thin spots that may allow the filling to break through.
• Place the dough in the pie plate. Smooth half of the filling on top of it. Roll out the smaller dough portion and place it on top. Trim the excess dough, leaving enough to seal and crimp the edges.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling to make the second pie. Brush the tops of the pies with a little water. Cut slits in the tops.
• Bake pies for about 50 minutes in the center of the oven, until the tops are brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Pies may be served at room temperature or refrigerated and served the next day.

EASTER MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place ricotta in a large mixing bowl and add eggs one at a time while mixing on low speed. Stir in mozzarella, ham, salami, and prosciutto until all ingredients are well combined. Line two 9 inch pans with pastry. Spoon half of mixture into each pan. Sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese over each pie, then cover with top pastry. Crimp edges and cut steam vents in tops.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until crust is golden brown. Cool on racks.

BARRA'S TRADITIONAL ITALIAN EASTER PIE

Steps:

• CRUST PREPARATION: Mix flour and salt together, cut in shortening with 2 knives or pastry cutter.
• Add beaten eggs to flour mixture slowly, incorporating very well.
• Add milk (additional liquid if necessary) to hold mixture together as it is kneaded.
• Shape pastry into two balls.
• Chill for 30 minutes or until ready to begin making the pie.
• PREPARATION FOR FILLING: Remove the sausage meat from the casings; set aside in small bowl.
• In another small bowl, place all the mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch cubes; set aside.
• In another small bowl, place all the provolone, cut into 1/4-inch cubes; set aside.
• Do the same for the ham and salami and proscuitta; set aside keeping all the ingredients separate.
• Boil dozen eggs; cool, peel, cut into quarters and set aside.
• Make EGG WASH:In a blender, add 10 eggs, parsley, 1/2 cup grating cheese.
• Blend; set aside.
• This will be used between layers of ingredients as the"holding agent" to keep all the ingredients together.
• TO ASSEMBLE PIE: Roll chilled pastry on floured board to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Make into 2 large circles to fit into a 9-inch deep-dish glass pie plate and to cover.
• Better to do this in glass; it cooks more evenly and you can see if your bottom has fully cooked.
• Fit the pastry into the pan and up the sides.
• Begin by layering the quartered hard boiled eggs as the first layer on bottom, about 1-inch apart from eachother.
• In between each quartered slice of egg, with your fingers, place a small piece of sausage meat; going around the whole first layer of the pie.
• Sprinkle a layer of grated cheese all around.
• Next, a thin layer of mozzarella; (one piece high), Next a thin layer of proscuitta; Next a thin layer of provolone cheese; Next a thin layer of salami; Next a thin layer of boiled ham.
• Pour 1/2 cup of your egg wash over the first layer.
• Begin again with your quartered eggs; alternating the quarters"in between" the quarters of the first layer.
• Layer each ingredient as you did on the first layer and so on.
• Proceed with your second layer; again egg wash poured over the layer, etc.
• Depending on the depth of the pie pan, the size of your cut ingredients, you may have two or three layers, but don't fill it beyond the rim of the dish.
• Cover the last layer with another piece of pastry dough and crimp together firmly"gluing" if necessary to keep things together as the pie expands.
• Cut a steam hole on top and brush pastry with a tablespoon of milk (just to enhance the beauty of this meal for presentation) to form a glaze.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake for one hour or until the pie crust is golden on the top and ingredients are bubbly.
• The aroma will tell you the pie is done!
• If you filled the pie too much with egg wash or ingredients, it may boil over.
• It is a good idea to place a sheet of aluminum foil beneath the pie in the oven to catch any drips.
• Serve the pie warm.
• Keep Refrigerated; leftovers can be reheated nicely in a toaster oven or a microwave for 1 minute.

EASTER PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Put flour, cheese, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor; pulse several times to combine. Add butter and shortening; process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, pour the ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream until the dough just holds together.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough in half, and form each piece into a flattened square. Wrap each piece of dough in plastic, and chill at least 1 hour or overnight before using.