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Get Your Pie On

partysugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:28:33 -0800

Instead of making traditional pumpkin pie, this year I surprised my family on Thanksgiving with a pumpkin meringue pie! There are three elements to this pie, so I made each one on a different day. The cream cheese pastry crust is simply flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. The exquisite filling - I could not stop licking the bowl! - is made with an infused cream and pumpkin puree. The topping - that's made minutes before serving - is a classic meringue. The hardest part was rolling out the dough, but after a few emergency calls to YumSugar, it was ready to bake. For the to-die-for recipe, read more

Pumpkin Meringue Pie
From Food & Wine magazine

Cream Cheese Pastry:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup cream cheese (2 ounces), softened
1 stick (4 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
3 tablespoons ice water
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Filling:
1 quart heavy cream
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg
1 cup light brown sugar
4 large eggs, separated
One 29-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree (3 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Meringue Topping:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
4 large egg whites

Make the crust: in a food processor, combine the flour, brown sugar and spices, if using, and pulse to mix.
Add the cream cheese and pulse until the mixture is sandy. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
In a small pitcher, combine the ice water with the egg, oil and vanilla and pour into the food processor; pulse until the dough just forms a ball.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat it into 1 large disk for a tart or 2 small disks for pies.
Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350°.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out each disk of Cream Cheese Pastry to about 1/8 inch thick. Fit the rounds into two 10-inch glass pie plates and trim the overhang to 1-inch. Fold the overhang under the rim and crimp decoratively. Line the pie shells with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Bake the pie shells for 30 minutes, or until lightly colored around the edges. Remove the foil and weights and bake the shells for about 5 minutes longer, or until lightly browned and dry. Let the pie shells cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, simmer the cream with the cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg over moderately low heat until reduced to 21/2 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool, then strain; discard the spices.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar with the egg yolks until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. At low speed, beat in the pumpkin puree. Gradually add the cream and beat until blended.
In a stainless-steel bowl, using clean beaters, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly beat in the granulated sugar and continue beating until the whites are stiff and glossy. Stir one-fourth of the beaten egg whites into the pumpkin filling to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whites. Pour the filling into the pie shells and smooth the surfaces. Bake the pies for about 1 hour, or until the custard is lightly golden and just beginning to crack all over. Let the pies cool completely on racks.
Make the Meringue Topping: in a small, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil; stir just until the sugar dissolves. Boil, without stirring, until the temperature registers 220° on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes.
In a large stainless-steel bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until firm. Beating constantly, carefully add the hot sugar syrup to the whites in a thin steady stream; be careful not to splatter against the beaters or the side of the bowl. Increase the speed to high and beat the meringue until stiff, glossy and slightly cool.
Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat. Starting from the edge of the crust, Spoon the meringue all over the pies and spread with a spatula, making decorative dips and swirls.
Broil the meringue for about 30 seconds, shifting the pies as necessary for even browning, serve.

Makes 2 pies.

Make ahead: the pies can be prepared through Step 5 and refrigerated overnight.

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On Thanksgiving, Nothing Beats Classic Pumpkin Pie

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:43 -0800

As much as I love experimenting with alternative pumpkin desserts like pumpkin layer cake and mini baklava pumpkin tarts, sometimes nothing is better than the beloved standby, classic pumpkin pie. This year I tried out an old-fashioned style recipe.

The delicious crust is flaked with pecans, and the filling is a mixture of pumpkin puree, molasses, and sour cream. The resulting pie is silky with a rich pumpkin flavor that's not too sweet. Rum-spiked whipped cream is an ideal and necessary topping that takes this pie over the edge. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie With Pecan Pastry Crust
From The New Thanksgiving Table

Ingredients

For the crust:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely ground
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) ice-cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup ice-cold solid vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons ice water
For filling:
3 1/2 cups or 2 cans (15 ounces each) unsweetened pumpkin puree
7 large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup unsulfured molasses
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 cups sour cream
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons milk
sugar for sprinkling
For topping:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons dark rum or one tablespoon pure maple syrup

Directions

Make the crust: Combine the 2 1/4 cups flour, the pecans, salt, and granulated sugar in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Scatter the butter and shortening pieces over the flour mixture and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the sour cream and water and process for a few seconds, just until the dough begins to form. Do not over process. (To make the dough by hand, place the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and use a pastry blender or 2 knives to cut the butter and shortening into the flour mixture. Add the sour cream and ice water, and mix just until the dough comes together and forms a mass.)
Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, gathering all the loose bits, and form into a disk about 1-inch thick. Cut the dough into 2 pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
Have 2 9-inch pie pans ready. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out 1 piece of dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Dust the work surface and dough with a little more flour, as necessary, to keep the dough from sticking. Roll the dough around the rolling pin, lift it over the pie pan, and unroll the dough over the pan. Adjust to center the dough, then press it into place, Trim the excess dough by running a knife around the edge of the pan. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Refrigerate the pie crusts while you make the filling.
To make the filling: in a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, egss, molasses, granulated sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth. Blend in the sour cream and heavy cream. Whisk until smooth and no white streaks are visible. Set aside.
To assemble the pies, divide the pumpkin filling between the chilled pie shells. Use a pastry brush to brush milk on the edges of the pastry. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake the pies for about 40 minutes until the filling just begins to puff at the edges and the center no longer jiggles when gently shaken. Turn off the oven and leave the pies, undisturbed, in the oven with the door ajar for 20 minutes. Transfer the pies to wire racks and let cool completely.
Meanwhile make the topping: In a medium bowl, combine the cream, confectioners' sugar, and rum. Using a whisk or electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Slice the pies into wedges, top with whipped cream and serve.

Makes two 9-inch pies.

Make ahead: The pie dough can be made, wrapped tightly, and frozen up to 3 weeks in advance. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling it out. The filling can be made up to 1 day in advance. Place in a covered container and refrigerate. The whipped cream can be prepared up to 4 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. The pie is best when baked the day you are planning to serve it.

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Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice

partysugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:50:09 -0800

For years I thought pumpkin pie spice was a special spice - only recently did I realize it's actually a spice blend. And, like any spice blend, be it herbs de Provence or a rub for barbecue, pumpkin pie spice is easy to make. Why waste a couple of bucks buying it when you already have the ingredients in your pantry?! All you have to do is stir together ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg and voila! You can use it throughout the holiday season. To get the simple recipe, keep reading.

This Thanksgiving, Make Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie!

partysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:33 -0800

Although I can't deny the deliciousness of a slice of classic, cinnamon-laced pumpkin pie, in recent years, I've expanded my horizons to somewhat non-traditional Thanksgiving desserts. Pecan pie? Surprisingly easy, yet wildly delicious. Pumpkin meringue pie? An unexpected crowd-pleaser. Pumpkin cake with pecan brittle and whipped cream cheese frosting? Devoured in seconds. Triple chocolate pumpkin pie? Sign me up! When I came across this recipe, while browsing Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving central, I knew I had to try it. If you've made pumpkin pie in the past, you can master this. It's actually easier because the crust is made from graham crackers instead of a standard pastry dough. The resulting pie is dense and rich. Each bite is an experience of flavors: first you taste chocolate, then pumpkin, and finally the sweet crust. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

For the graham cracker crust
2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs (about 16 crackers)
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 61 percent cacao), finely chopped
For the filling:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate (preferably 55 percent cacao), chopped
2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Ground cloves
1 ounce milk chocolate, melted

Directions

Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugars, salt, and cinnamon in bowl. Firmly press mixture into bottom and up sides of a deep, 9 1/2-inch pie dish. Bake until firm, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from oven, and sprinkle bittersweet chocolate over bottom of crust. Return to oven to melt chocolate, about 1 minute. Spread chocolate in a thin layer on bottom and up sides.
Let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
Make the filling: In a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt semisweet chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
Mix pumpkin, milk, brown sugar, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves in a medium bowl. Whisk 1/3 pumpkin mixture into chocolate mixture. Whisk in remaining pumpkin mixture until completely incorporated.
Transfer pie dish to a rimmed baking sheet, and pour pumpkin mixture into crust. Bake until center is set but still a bit wobbly, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool in pie dish on a wire rack.
Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours (preferably overnight). Before serving, drizzle melted milk chocolate on top. Serve immediately.

Serves 12.

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Bite-Size Pumpkin Pies With a Baklava Twist

YumSugar — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:46 -0800

After drooling over Party's pumpkin cake and these pumpkin pies, I wanted to experiment with my own unique concoction: a traditional pumpkin pie filling with baklava-inspired crust and streusel topping. With a belly full of Thanksgiving fixings, eating a whole piece of pie can be a rather daunting task, so I made bite-size pies to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. The pumpkin pie filling and walnut-oatmeal streusel are simple to make, but the cinnamon-sugar phyllo cups are more time consuming due to the very delicate nature of phyllo. All three of the components can be made in advance and quickly assembled and baked the day of, prior to serving. These mini pies are light, crunchy, and nutty with a scrumptious creamy pumpkin pie filling! To make your own tiny pumpkin pies with a baklava twist, read more.

Bite-Size Pumpkin Pies With Baklava Crust
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living magazine

Ingredients

Walnut-Oatmeal Streusel
6 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
3 1/2 tablespoons flour
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon honey
Phyllo Crust
5 sheets of phyllo, thawed and room temperature
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Pumpkin Pie Filling
7.5 ounces solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/8 cup honey
1 egg
1/8 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

Make the walnut-oatmeal streusel: Preheat oven to 350. Combine oats, walnuts, flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in honey. Stir into oat mixture.
Spread streusel on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally until light gold and crunchy, 12 to 15 minutes.
Let cool on baking sheet on a wire rack. Streusel will keep, covered for up to 3 days.
Make the phyllo crust: Preheat oven to 350. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Gently place one layer of phyllo dough on a large cutting board. Brush with a thin layer of butter and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat this step five times until all 5 sheets have been used.
Cut phyllo into 2 by 2 inch squares. Remove each square and gently press and fold the edges into the mini muffin tin. Bake for 5-8 minutes until phyllo cups are golden.
Make the pumpkin pie filling: combine pumpkin, brown sugar, honey, egg, cream, cornstarch, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger in a large bowl.
Sprinkle a bit of streusel in the bottom of each phyllo cup. Spoon in a small amount of pumpkin pie filling in each phyllo cup. Bake at 350°F 15-20 minutes until the pumpkin filling is firm.
Sprinkle a little strusel on each and serve warm.

Makes 30 bite-size pies.

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7 Pumpkin Pies Worth Polishing Off

YumSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:30:13 -0800

If there's one quintessential Thanksgiving dessert, it's pumpkin pie. But there are so many selections to choose from, how does one pick? Well, fear not, because we've narrowed down the selections for you. Here are seven pies that are so decadent we could them polish off in one sitting.

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Would You Rather Eat Pumpkin or Pecan Pie?

partysugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:30:50 -0800

Source: Flickr Users delgaudm and museinthecity

What is Pumpkin Pie Spice?

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:56:52 -0800

Many holiday inspired baked goods, including this Pumpkin Pie Cake call for pumpkin-pie spice, but what does that mean?

Pumpkin-pie spice is a spice that is sold in many grocery stores. You'll find it in the spice aisle between Paprika and Rosemary. However, instead of rushing out and buying a specialized spice blend, why not make your own? It's a simple spice blend that is generally made from cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice - and the best part is that you can customize it to suit your tastes!

Here's my favorite blend, although sometimes I add a pinch of clove.

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice

Say Farewell to Pumpkin Pie

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 11:13:12 -0800

A few years ago I was looking for an alternative to my family's standard pumpkin pie with Thanksgiving. After searching through piles of recipes I came across this beautiful looking cake in an issue of Cooking Light. It ended up being a perfect blend of delicious pumpkin pie spices and moist cake texture. Although I orginally made it for Thanksgiving, it has since become my favorite cake to bring to parties all holiday season long. Besides, I found it in Cooking Light, so that means I can eat more, right?! For the recipe, read more

Pumpkin Pie Cake
from Cooking Light

Cake:
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup egg substitute
2 large eggs
1 (15-ounce) can unsweetened pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin-pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons fresh orange juice
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Orange slices (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cake, coat 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Dust pans evenly with 2 tablespoons flour.

Combine 1 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and oil in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until well blended. Add egg substitute and eggs; beat until well blended. Add pumpkin, beating until blended.

Lightly spoon 2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, beating just until blended. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove cake from pans; cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until blended (do not overbeat). Add juice, stirring until blended.

Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Spread 1 cup frosting over layer, and top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans, and garnish with orange slices, if desired.

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Triple-Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

partysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:46:43 -0800

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