Two Crust Pumpkin Pie Recipes

PUMPKIN PIE FOR TWO

Steps:

• For the crust: Put a small baking sheet on a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 375 degrees F. Process the flour, butter, granulated and confectioners' sugars and salt in a food processor until the mixture resembles wet crumbs and holds together when squeezed in your palm, about 2 minutes (this takes longer than seems necessary, but be patient). Divide the mixture evenly between two 5-inch aluminum pie pans or pie tins. Press the dough very firmly into the bottoms and up the sides, making sure to press it into the corners very well. Smooth and flatten the tops with your fingers or the back of a small spoon.
• Bake the crusts on the hot baking sheet until the bottom and sides are golden brown (probably more in some spots than in others), about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a cooling rack.
• For the filling: Whisk together the eggs, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and allspice in a medium bowl. Whisk in the pumpkin puree and then the melted butter.
• Put the filling in the pie shells. Bake until puffed and the centers still look slightly wet but not loose, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
• For the lightly sweetened whipped cream: Put the cream, sugar and vanilla in a well-chilled bowl or in a bowl over ice. Beat with a whisk by hand or an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute.
• Dollop each pie with some whipped cream and serve.

PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
• If using a homemade crust: Cover the chilled crust with a piece of parchment paper. Fill the crust about three-quarters full with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes. Take the crust out of the oven; remove the parchment paper and beans/pie weights and tent the edges with a few strips of foil folded in half lengthwise (this will protect the edges from getting too dark). Bake for another 20 minutes, until the dough is dry and golden. Don't worry if the bottom puffs up; just press it down gently with a flat spatula, such as a pancake turner, taking care not to puncture it. Remove the foil but don't throw it away; you may need it again.
• If using a frozen crust: Follow the instructions for blind-baking on the package.
• After blind-baking the crust, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• Make the Pumpkin Pie Filling: In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, egg, egg yolks, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, and evaporated milk. Whisk until smooth, then pour the filling into the pre-baked crust.
• Bake the pie for 50 to 60 minutes, until the filling is just set. It should look dry around the edges, but the center should jiggle just slightly if you nudge the pan. Keep a close eye on the pie as it bakes; if ever the crust looks like it's browning too quickly, tent the edges again with the foil strips. Let the pie cool on a rack (leave it on the baking sheet) to room temperature, a few hours. Slice or refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Make Ahead: Pumpkin pie can be made one day ahead of time and refrigerated.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The dough can be made ahead, wrapped in plastic, and refrigerated for up to 2 days, or frozen for up to 1 month. If you freeze it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. The pie can be frozen after baking for up to 1 month. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

DOUBLE LAYER PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of milk, and sugar until smooth. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread into bottom of crust.
• Pour 1 cup of milk into large bowl, and thoroughly mix in pudding mix, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. When thickened, spread over cream cheese layer.
• Refrigerate 4 hours, or until set.

TWO-CRUST PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Combine the pumpkin, raisins, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in a large bowl.
• Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry for the bottom crust, fill with pie weights or dried beans and blind bake for 15 minutes. When crust is done blind-baking, spoon in the pumpkin mixture. Dot with the butter. Cover with the top crust, and seal and crimp the edges. Cut a few decorative slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes longer. Serve warm or cooled to room temperature.

TWO-CRUST PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine pumpkin, raisins, brown sugar, flour, orange juice concentrate and the spices in a bowl.
• Divide pastry in slightly unequal halves, roll out larger portion on lightly floured board, and line pie pan. Spoon in pumpkin mixture. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust. Seal and crimp edges, brush with cream, and cut a few decorative slits in top for steam to escape.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees, and continue baking until the crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream or sorbet.

CLASSIC TWO CRUST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Peel, core and thinly and thickly slice the apples; toss with lemon juice if using.
• Combine and mix apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg; pour into crust-lined pie plate; dot with butter.
• Place top crust, seal and vent; cover edges of crust with narrow band of aluminum foil, shiny side out.
• Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes; reduce temperature to 375°F and bake another 30-40 minutes until filling is bubbling and crust is nicely browned.
• If necessary remove foil last 10 minutes to brown edges.

IMPOSSIBLE PUMPKIN PIE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.
• In a large bowl, combine sugar and baking mix. Stir in butter, milk and eggs. Then beat in pumpkin, spice and vanilla to mixture until smooth. Pour into pie pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Refrigerate any remaining pie. High altitude directions: Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes.

NO-CRUST PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the sugar and flour. Add eggs; mix well. Stir in the pumpkin, milk, vanilla and, if desired, cinnamon; mix until well blended. Pour into a greased 9-in. pie plate. Place pie plate in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; add 1/2 in. of hot water to pan. Bake at 350° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.