PERFECT PIE CRUST
This classic dough contains no special ingredients, just flour, salt, butter and water, but it works like a dream. The recipe makes a single crust for a 9-inch pie; simply double it to make a double-crust pie. (If you make it by hand, you can even triple or quadruple the recipe.) If you'd prefer to use a food processor, you can, and it's a good idea if you have warm hands. To do so, pulse the butter into the flour mixture a few times, until the butter is the size of walnut halves or peas, then transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and proceed with adding the water. (Adding the water in the food processor often leads to hydration problems and overmixing, which is why you should do that part by hand no matter what.) The dough keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months (thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before rolling it out).
Provided by Erin Jeanne McDowell
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 30m
Yield 1 single crust for a 9-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt to combine. Add the butter, tossing the cubes through the flour until the pieces are separated from one another and each piece is coated.
- Cut the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your palms or fingertips, flattening the cubes into big shards and continuing to toss them in the flour to recoat the shards. The size of the butter will vary depending on the kind of pie you're making: For fruit pies, stop when the butter pieces are about the size of walnut halves. For custard pies, stop when the butter pieces are smaller, about the size of peas.
- Make a well in the center of the mixture. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and mix it in by tossing the flour in the bowl. (This tossing movement lets the moisture incorporate without allowing too much gluten formation.)
- Continue to add ice water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until the dough begins to come together. As it comes together, fold it over itself a few times to make sure it's homogenous. The dough should hold together without noticeable cracks (a sign of underhydration), but it should not be wet or tacky to the touch (a sign of overhydration).
- Form the dough into a disk about 1-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using, and up to 2 days. (It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, then thawed overnight before using.)
HAZELNUT, PEAR AND CARDAMOM TART
This is an elegant alternative to the holiday parade of sugary pies. Cardamom adds a grown-up twist to the classic combination of hazelnut and pear. (Don't overdo the spice, however, or your dessert will taste more like a cold remedy than a treat.) Cut corners by pressing out the crust, but don't skip making your own roasted hazelnut meal: The deep, caramel flavor of toasted nuts is worth the labor. Use ripe pears, or poach harder fruit until tender before adding to the tart.
Provided by Clare de Boer
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 4h
Yield One 11-inch tart (about 10 servings)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 3.
- When ready to make the pie, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Roast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet until evenly browned and skins are loosened, 25 to 30 minutes. While they are still warm, rub them together in a dish towel to remove the skins. Cool the skinned hazelnuts, and then blitz them to a fine meal with the flour in the food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
- Crush the cardamom pods and retrieve the seeds, discarding the pods, then crush the seeds to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle.
- In a food processor, cream the butter, granulated sugar and crushed cardamom until pale and fluffy. With the machine running, add eggs one at a time, emulsifying each one fully before adding the next, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Transfer to the bowl with the hazelnut meal and stir to combine. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
- While the frangipane chills, shape and bake the crust: Working over an 11-inch fluted tart pan, prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 4, then chill, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. (This can be done ahead.)
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the chilled crust until just-cooked but not browned, about 15 minutes. (The crust will continue to cook while the tart bakes, so expect it to darken in color when it bakes the second time.) Cool completely.
- Scoop the hazelnut frangipane into the crust. (Don't try to spread it; it will distribute itself evenly as it cooks.) Nestle the pears into the frangipane, tucking some underneath the frangipane and leaving others on top.
- Bake on a baking sheet until the frangipane is fully set in the center and the crust is golden brown, 75 to 90 minutes. Cool on a wire rack completely, then remove from the pan and serve with crème fraîche.
BAKEWELL TART WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE
A layer of cranberry sauce below orange-scented almond frangipane is the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It's a holiday play on Britain's beloved Cherry Bakewell tart that gives you a reason to make extra sauce - or a good excuse to use up leftovers. Temperatures are key to the result: The cranberry sauce needs to be slightly warm to spread over the prebaked pie crust, and the frangipane must be fridge-cold to prevent it from splitting in the oven.
Provided by Clare de Boer
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 2h30m
Yield One 11-inch tart (about 10 servings)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 3.
- Prepare the almond frangipane: In a food processor, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and orange zest until pale and fluffy, about 30 seconds. With the machine running, add eggs one at a time, emulsifying each one fully before adding the next, and scraping down the sides of the work bowl as needed. Fold in the almond meal and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
- Working over an 11-inch fluted tart shell, prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 4, then chill, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. (This can be done ahead.)
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the chilled crust until just cooked but not browned, about 15 minutes. (The crust will continue to cook while the tart bakes, so expect it to darken in color when it bakes the second time.) Set aside to cool completely, about 1 hour, while you make the filling.
- If you are making your own cranberry sauce, combine cranberries, granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries fully break down, 20 to 25 minutes. Add orange juice near the end of cooking. Set aside. (You should have about 3/4 cup sauce.)
- Spread the cranberry sauce in an even layer over the base of the cooled crust. It is easiest to do this when the cranberry sauce is slightly warm. (If you are using chilled sauce from the refrigerator, warm it slightly first before spreading.) Scoop the almond frangipane on top of the cranberry sauce. (Don't try to spread it; it will distribute itself evenly as it cooks.)
- Bake the tart on a baking sheet at 350 degrees until it's golden brown and fully set in the center, 60 to 75 minutes. Cool completely, then remove from the pan and serve with crème fraîche.
PIE CRUST
Some people shy away from making pie crusts. Here is a recipe to banish all fear, a simple dough of butter and all-purpose flour, easy to make and dependable as can be. If you plan to make a pie with a top crust, double the recipe; when it's time to chill the dough, divide it in half and shape into two disks to put in the fridge. The dough will also keep for 3 months in the freezer, if you want to stash a few disks there. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield One 9-inch single pie crust
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms lima bean-size pieces. Slowly add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just comes together. It should be moist, but not wet.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather into a ball. Flatten into a disk with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
HOW TO MAKE A PIE CRUST
Pie is an iconic American dessert, and a satisfying kitchen project. Melissa Clark helps you master the crust.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- You'll need a 9-inch pie pan, a rolling pin and pie weights (or use dried beans).Your butter must be cold; even frozen butter works as long as you cut it into cubes before freezing.Be sure to factor in at least one hour to let your dough chill before rolling it out.
- Some bakers use lard in their pie crust, while others turn to shortening. But in general, butter is your best bet: it's easy to find, it has fantastic flavor, and it yields a tender, flaky crust. This is an all-butter crust recipe that will empower even the most nervous pie makers, a simple dough of butter and all-purpose flour that is easy to make and dependable as can be. If you plan to make a pie with a top crust, double the recipe; when it's time to chill the dough, divide it in half and shape into two disks to put in the fridge. The dough will also keep for 3 months in the freezer, if you want to stash a few disks there. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
- Lightly dust flour onto a clean counter and onto a rolling pin. (Alternatively, you can roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap; no flour required.) Put the dough on the floured surface and, using the pin, roll away from you, applying pressure evenly. Rotate the dough clockwise as you work so it's uniformly thin and isn't rolled irretrievably into the counter. Lightly dust the counter with flour as you work. But don't overdo it with the flour. Too much flour all at once makes a tough crust. Continue to roll the dough in all directions until you have a 12-inch circle. (If your rolled dough doesn't end up in a neat circle, you can trim it, and use the trimmings to patch up any rips, holes or bald spots.) Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie pan by gently rolling it up onto the pin, then carefully unfurling it into the pan. Fold over any excess dough. If you're not making a top crust, then the crimp edges now. Prick crust all over with a fork, then chill crust for 30 minutes. Your crust is now ready to fill or blind bake.
- Blind baking is partially baking a pie crust before you add the filling, which helps keep the crust crunchy. After filling it, you return the pie to the oven to finish baking. It's a particularly good method for custard pies, like pumpkin and pecan, that are prone to sogginess. Blind baking can be done up to 24 hours before filling; cover the crust loosely with a dish towel and store it at room temperature.Begin with the chilled, rolled-out dough in the pan. Line the dough with parchment paper or foil. Fill the parchment or foil with pie weights, uncooked rice or dried beans. Transfer to a 425-degree oven. Bake the crust until it firms up, about 15 minutes. It will still be very pale at this point. Remove the parchment or foil and weights, then return crust to the oven to brown slightly. Bake the crust 5 to 7 minutes more, until pale golden brown. Let it cool on a rack before filling.
- Custard pies don't usually have tops, but fruit pies just about always do, and it's something you can play around with. Start with any fruit filling you like, pile it into your pan, and then choose one of the top crusts, or the crumble, below.To make a lattice top, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough and cut it into 1-inch thick strips. Place half the dough strips parallel to each other across the top of the filled pie. (Reserve some of the longer strips for when you weave the lattice.) The longest strip should be in the center of the pie. Flip up every other strip on the pie. Place another long strip perpendicular to the others across the center of the pie. Flip those strips back down, then flip up the other strips. Weave in a second strip of dough. Repeat process on one side, and then the other, until you have fully covered the pie with woven strips.Gently press lattice strip edges into the bottom crust, then crimp the edges to seal the top and bottom crusts together. Or, if you've blind baked the bottom crust, simply tuck in the edges of the lattice so the strips don't hang over the side of the pan. Brush lattice all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle the top with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like. To cover the top of the whole pie, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough, then lay it out over the top of the filled pie.Crimp the edges to seal the top and bottom crusts together. Or, if you've blind baked the bottom crust, simply tuck in the edges of the top crust so it doesn't hang over the side of the pan.Slash the top of the pie with a knife to allow steam to escape. Brush top crust all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle it with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like.To make a top using dough cutouts, you'll need to double your pie dough if it's not already a recipe for a double crust. Roll out the chilled dough and use decorative cookie cutters (circles, leaves, etc.) to cut out shapes from the dough.If you haven't blind baked the crust, use a paring knife or scissors to trim any dough that is hanging over the edge of the pan. The dough should be flush with the edge of the pan.Arrange a ring of cutouts around the outer edge of the filled pie (the cutouts should be touching the crust, coming flush to the edge).Continue adding cutouts to fully cover the top of the pie. You can overlap the cutouts (or not) as you see fit.Brush cutouts all over with milk, cream or an egg wash (a mix of egg and water or milk) to encourage browning. You can sprinkle the cutouts with sugar or cinnamon sugar if you like.To make a simple crumble for a standard 9-inch pie, combine 3/4 cup (90 grams) all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (100 grams) dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) cinnamon, a large pinch of salt and 5 tablespoons (71 grams) softened butter in a large bowl.Use your hands to mix the ingredients together, pinching the mixture until large crumbs form. The crumbs should be on the larger side, a bit bigger than a lima bean. Do not make small crumbs.Scatter crumbs over the top of the pie. It is nice, but not necessary, to mound more of the crumbs in the center of the pie and fade them out toward the edges so that some of the filling can show.
- Always bake a pie on a rimmed baking sheet to contain any overflow. A baking sheet also makes removing the pie from the oven easier.You can freeze a whole, unbaked fruit pie. Then bake it while still frozen, adding about 15 minutes onto the baking time. Do not thaw it first or you could lose flakiness in the crust.For the best-looking crimped crust, or to avoid having your crust shrink in the oven, freeze the unbaked pie dough before filling and baking (or blind baking). The colder your dough when you get it into the oven, the better it holds its shape.You can store your baked pie at room temperature, covered, for up to one day. After that, the crust will become irretrievably soggy.
SHORTCUT PIE CRUST ALA NEW YORK TIMES
Categories Nut Pie Freeze/Chill
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor.
- Add the cubed butter and blitz until the flour mixture has a sandy texture with some pea-size butter bits.
- Add the egg yolks and blitz then pulse just until the pastry begins to come together.
- Tip the pastry out onto a rectangle of plastic wrap. Using your hands, form it into a 6-inch log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill, at least 3 hours or up to 3 days, or wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. If using frozen dough, allow to soften slightly in the fridge for an hour before using.
- Using the large holes on a box grater, grate 3/4 of the chilled pastry directly into your pie dish or tart pan. Working quickly by hand, press the grated pastry into the dish, starting with the sides then covering the bottom, grating more of the chilled pastry into the dish as needed to cover evenly.
- Pay attention to the seam between the sides and the base, making sure it is the same thickness as the rest of the pastry: The crust should form an even layer that is about 1/4-inch thick. (Save any leftover pastry for another use.)
- Chill, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. (This can be done ahead.)
- The crust can take various routes from here; refer to whichever pie or tart recipe you're using for guidance. If blind-baking this crust, it cooks best at 350 degrees. Tip If you have extra dough, you can make thumbprint pies from them: Butter a muffin tin. Pull off ball-size pieces of chilled leftover pastry and press into buttered tin, making a well in the center. Fill with jam or jelly, leaving a little room to top with cream later. Bake at 350 degrees until dough is cooked, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Top with whipped or plain heavy cream and eat in one bite.
SHORTCUT PIE CRUST
I stumbled upon this recipe with my son while watching Activity TV. It's easy enough for a kid to make and preparation involves no electricity. I was so glad to find this recipe because I don't keep shortening on hand (yet - I'm sure I'll look back one day and wonder how I ever did it).
Provided by eightthirty
Categories Savory Pies
Time 30m
Yield 1 pie crust, 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- TOOLS: Measuring cups, Measuring spoons, Bowl, Pastry Blender and Plastic wrap.
- Combine 1 1/8 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar in our processor bowl. Mix.
- Add 8 tablespoons of ice cold butter to the flour mixture.
- Using the pastry blender blend the mixture until the flour and butter looks like cornmeal.
- Add 3 tablespoons of ice cold water to the mixture. Now mix the dough until it forms a ball. Add more water if the mixture is not forming a ball.
- Form into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap. Put the dough in the fridge and let it chill over night.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1423.9, Fat 93.5, SaturatedFat 58.6, Cholesterol 244.2, Sodium 1820.8, Carbohydrate 132.6, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 25.6, Protein 15.5
BASIC SHORT-CRUST PASTRY
Regarding this basic short-crust pastry: the dough takes just 10 minutes to make, so resist the temptation to buy that pre-made crust from the refrigerator case. Homemade pastry always tastes better. Make it the day before. You can even roll it out, line the tart pan and keep it frozen until you're ready to bake.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories side dish
Time 10m
Yield One 9 and 1/2-inch tart crust
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Put flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor. Add butter and quickly cut it into flour until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Add ice water and mix briefly, about 30 seconds, to form a soft dough. Remove dough, shape into a thick disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Bring to cool room temperature before rolling.
- To roll, lightly flour dough and counter. Roll out gradually, periodically letting dough rest for a moment before continuing. This makes rolling easier and will keep dough from shrinking back during baking.
- Roll dough to a thin round approximately 13 inches in diameter, then trim to make a 12-inch circle (refrigerate and save trimmings for patching). Lay dough loosely into a 9 1/2-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom, letting it relax a bit. Fold overlap back inside to make a double thickness, then press firmly against the pan so the finished edge is slightly higher than the pan. Refrigerate or freeze for an hour before pre-baking.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1268, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 95 grams, Fat 93 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 58 grams, Sodium 658 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 4 grams
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