Alton Browns Pie Crust Recipe 455 Food

PREMADE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Chill the butter in the freezer for 15 minutes along with two identical 9-inch metal pie pans.
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour and salt to combine (about 4 pulses). Scatter the butter over the top of the flour and pulse until the texture looks mealy and no large lumps remain, 8 to 10 pulses. Add the ice water and pulse 5 times. At this point the mixture should just hold together when squeezed.
• Turn the dough out on a sheet of plastic wrap and draw the plastic up around it, squeezing and pressing the dough into a ball. Flatten into a disk approximately 1 inch thick and 5 inches in diameter. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator, unwrap, and place on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper. Lightly flour the disk then top with another sheet of parchment. Roll with a rolling pin, with the dough between the two pieces of paper, turning the dough a quarter turn after every few rolls until the disk is 12 inches in diameter. (If the dough seems too firm to roll at first, let it sit for 5 minutes at room temperature to soften.)
• Retrieve the pie pans from the freezer and place one upside down on the counter. Remove the top layer of parchment from the dough disk and lift the bottom layer of parchment with the dough and set on top of the inverted pie pan. Invert the second pan, place over the dough, and press down gently to shape the dough. Trim away any excess dough with a paring knife.
• Flip both pans right-side up, lift off the top pan, peel away the last piece of parchment, and place the pan back on top, thus sandwiching the bare dough between the two cold pans. Return to the freezer for a minimum of 30 minutes. (See Cook's Note.)
• When ready to bake, heat the oven to 300 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven and a second one just beneath it.
• Place the dough-pan sandwich upside-down directly on the center oven rack. Place an empty sheet pan on the lower rack to catch any butter that might render out. Bake for 1 hour, then increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake 15 minutes more.
• Carefully remove the crust from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes with both pie pans in place. Invert so the pie pans are right-side up, remove the top pan, and continue to cool to room temperature. At this point, fill the pie or place back between the pans and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. (Do not wrap in plastic if storing at room temperature.)

SUPER APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the crust:
• Place the butter, shortening and applejack into the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add the butter and pulse 5 to 6 times until the texture looks mealy. Add the shortening and pulse another 3 to 4 times until incorporated.
• Remove the lid of the food processor and sprinkle in 5 tablespoons of the applejack. Replace the lid and pulse 5 times. Add more applejack as needed, and pulse again until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Weigh the dough and divide in half. Shape each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• For the filling:
• Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4 cup of the sugar, place in a colander set over a large bowl and allow to drain for 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan, place over medium heat and reduce to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool. Toss the apples with the remaining sugar, tapioca flour, jelly, cider, lime juice, salt and grains of paradise.
• For assembling and baking the pie:
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator. Place the dough onto a lightly floured piece of waxed paper. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour and roll out into a 12-inch circle. Place into a 9 1/2 to 10-inch tart pan that is 2-inches deep. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan, crimping and trimming the edges as necessary. Set a pie bird in the center of the bottom of the pan.
• Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl. Roll out the second pie dough as the first. Place this dough over the apples, pressing the pie bird through the top crust. Press together the edges of the dough around the rim of the pie. Brush the top crust with the reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie. Trim any excess dough. Place the pie on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake on the floor** of the oven for 30 minutes. Transfer to the lower rack of the oven and continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the apples are cooked through but not mushy. Remove to a rack and cool a minimum of 4 hours or until almost room temperature.

SHOO-FLY PIE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add butter and pulse 5 to 6 times until texture looks mealy. Add lard and pulse another 3 to 4 times. Remove lid of food processor and spritz surface of mixture thoroughly with water. Replace lid and pulse 5 times. Add more water and pulse again until mixture holds together when squeezed. Place mixture in large resealable bag, squeeze together until it forms a ball, and then press into a rounded disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place 2 (9-inch) metal pie pans in the refrigerator to chill.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out in the bag until it reaches the edges of the bag and is 10 to 11-inches round. Cut along 2 sides of the plastic bag, open bag to expose dough on 1 side and turn a 9-inch pie pan upside down on the exposed side. Invert the entire thing and gently pull the remaining side of the plastic bag off the dough. Press the dough into the edges around the pan and trim any excess dough. Press the edges of the dough over the lip of the pan. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Poke holes around sides and into the bottom of the dough. Place a large piece of parchment paper on top of dough and fill with dry beans. Press beans into edges of dough, set on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans and continue baking until light golden in color, approximately 7 minutes longer. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Allow to cool completely while preparing the filling.
• Decrease heat of oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crumbs: Place the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt into the bowl of a food processor and process until it forms crumbs. Reserve 1/4 cup and set both aside.
• For the filling: Place the baking soda in a medium mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla; whisk to combine. Add the larger amount of crumbs to the molasses mixture and whisk just to combine. Pour this mixture into the prepared crust. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of crumb mixture evenly over the top of the filling. Place pie on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the filling puffs, begins to look dry and starts to crack slightly. Remove from the oven, transfer to a rack, and cool completely before cutting.

ALTON BROWN'S PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place butter and lard in freezer for 15 minutes. When ready to use, remove and cut both into small pieces.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add butter and pulse 5 to 6 times until texture looks mealy. Add lard and pulse another 3 to 4 times. Remove lid of food processor and spritz surface of mixture thoroughly with water. Replace lid and pulse 5 times. Add more water and pulse again until mixture holds together when squeezed. Place mixture in large zip-top bag, squeeze together until it forms a ball, and then press into a rounded disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place 2 metal pie pans in the refrigerator to chill.
• Remove dough from refrigerator. Cut along 2 sides of the plastic bag, open bag to expose dough, and sprinkle both sides with flour. Cover again with plastic and roll out with a rolling pin to a 10 to 11-inch circle. Open plastic again and sprinkle top of dough with flour. Remove pie pans from refrigerator and set first pan on top of dough. Turn everything upside down and peel plastic from bottom of dough. Place second pan upside down on top of dough and flip again. Remove first pan from atop dough. Trim edges if necessary, leaving an edge for meringue to adhere to. Poke holes in dough and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Place a large piece of parchment paper on top of dough and fill with dry beans. Press beans into edges of dough and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans and continue baking until golden in color, approximately 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Let cool completely before filling.

CLASSIC PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Place butter and lard in freezer for 15 minutes. When ready to use, remove and cut both into small pieces.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt by pulsing 3 to 4 times. Add butter and pulse 5 to 6 times until texture looks mealy. Add lard and pulse another 3 to 4 times. Remove lid of food processor and spritz surface of mixture thoroughly with water. Replace lid and pulse 5 times. Add more water and pulse again until mixture holds together when squeezed. Place mixture in large zip-top bag, squeeze together until it forms a ball, and then press into a rounded disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 425°F. Place 2 (9-inch) metal pie pans in the refrigerator to chill.
• Remove dough from refrigerator. Cut along 2 sides of the plastic bag, open bag to expose dough, and sprinkle both sides with flour. Cover again with plastic and roll out with a rolling pin to a 10 to 11-inch circle. Open plastic again and sprinkle top of dough with flour. Remove pie pans from refrigerator and set first pan on top of dough. Turn everything upside down and peel plastic from bottom of dough. Place second pan upside down on top of dough and flip again. Remove first pan from atop dough. Trim edges if necessary. Crump as desired. Poke holes in dough and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Place a large piece of parchment paper on top of dough and fill with dry beans. Press beans into edges of dough and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans and continue baking until golden in color, approximately 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Let cool completely before filling.

MOO-LESS CHOCOLATE PIE BY ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Place a small metal bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. Melt the chocolate and coffee liqueur in the bowl. Stir in vanilla.
• Combine the tofu, chocolate mixture, and honey in the blender jar. Liquefy until smooth.
• Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the filling is set. Don't pause in this step or it might set up before you finish getting it into the pan! If it does it's okay but it makes it difficult to spread into the pan.
• Note: I have bad luck finding a good prepared chocolate wafer crust so I use a prepared graham cracker crust.
• Optional: Add a dollop of cool whip or dump the whole tub on the cake like a meringue. I think it's too rich this way, my husband loves it.

ALTON BROWN'S PIE CRUST RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Flour parchment paper. Add butter and cover completely with flour. Chop butter and coat thoroughly. Chill everything in a metal bowl. Take 4 tablespoons butter out of fridge and warm to room temperature. Process dry ingredients till butter completely disappears; pulse. Add rest of the butter half at a time. Pulse 10 times; til pea sized. Process rest of butter, leaving chunks of butter. Put mix in a bowl; spray top of dough till glistens and work in with a spatula. Spray again and fold. Grab a handful of dough and squeeze-if shows crease of hand and breaks apart cleanly, not crumbly, about right. Spray again, stir if dry; pack into a mound; push down with waxed paper and turn out of bowl. Wrap tightly and chill 20 minutes. On a floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, press straight down, turn crust 10 degrees per roll, till size desired. Brush top of crust with 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.

CHICKEN POT PIE WITH HOMEMADE PUFF PASTRY - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• In a zip-top bag, combine bread flour, whole wheat flour, salt and butter. Place in freezer for 1 hour.
• Place a 10-12" cast iron skillet over high heat. Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil. When it shimmers, cook chicken pieces (in batches, if necessary to avoid crowding) along with 1 tsp kosher salt. When cooked through but not browned, transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
• Return pan to heat, but reduce to medium. Add another 1 tbsp oil, then add onions, mushrooms, carrots, celery and garlic, as well as 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, black pepper, dried thyme and dried tarragon. Cook, stirring often, until onions are wilted, about 4 minutes. Add butter. When melted, sprinkle over flour and stir well for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw-flour taste. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Bring to a simmer and cook 3 minutes until thickened.
• Off heat, return chicken to sauce, along with peas, fresh thyme and fresh tarragon. Place a large flat lid on top of the skillet and set aside.
• Dump the flour-butter mixture onto a clean counter. Using a bench scraper, chop into the mixture until the butter is reduced to the size of peas. Sprinkle ice water over the mixture 1-2 tbsp at a time, then fold in with bench scraper. Once 8-10 tbsp of water is incorporated, and the flour is starting to form clumps, scrape the mixture together into a 4" square pile, and start whacking it with a rolling pin, until it forms a 12x4" rectangle. Fold in thirds and repeat. If the butter starts to feel soft, place a baking sheet (which you previously stored in the freezer) on top, then place ice packs or zip-top bags of ice on the sheet pan, for 5-6 minutes, until it firms up again.
• After 4 repeats of the letter fold above, the last will be a book fold - fold both ends into the center, then fold in half at the resultant seam. Wrap tightly in parchment paper and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Set 4 16-ounce souffle dishes or onion soup crocks on a baking sheet. Beat together egg wash and have standing by. Cut dough in half; roll one piece out to about 1/4" thick, using bench flour as necessary to avoid sticking. Find a pot lid a little wider than your dishes and use it to trace out two circles from the dough; repeat with the other piece. Brush each disk with egg wash.
• Fill dishes almost to the top with chicken mixture. Top each with a disk of dough, egg wash side down. Brush the exposed tops with more egg wash. Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes, then rotate pan 180°, lower heat to 400F and cook another 15-20 minutes until tops are deep brown and crispy. Cool on a rack 10-15 minutes before serving.