Chocolate Cherry Lattice Slab Pie Food

LATTICE-TOP CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor. Add 1 stick cut-up butter and the shortening; pulse until it looks like coarse meal. Add the remaining 1 stick butter; pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the egg yolk and 6 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to clump together, adding up to 2 more tablespoons ice water if necessary. Turn out the dough onto a clean surface, divide in half and press into 2 disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and juice and almond extract in a large bowl. Toss until the sugar is dissolved and the cherries are well coated; set aside.
• Roll out one disk of dough into a 12-inch round on a floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate and trim, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Pour in the filling.
• Roll out the other disk of dough into a 12-inch round. Trim the edges, then cut the dough into 3/4-inch-wide strips using a fluted cutter or a knife. (You should have about 12 strips.) Lay half of the strips over the pie, about 3/4 inch apart. Fold back every other strip. Lay another strip of dough perpendicular to the existing strips, then fold the dough back over the new strip. Repeat, folding back every other strip and weaving in new ones, to form a lattice. Trim the strips, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhanging dough (strips and bottom crust) under itself, pressing to seal. Crimp the edges with your fingers or a fork, if desired.
• Brush the lattice and crust edges with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Refrigerate the pie until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, put a baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 400˚ F.
• Put the pie on the hot baking sheet and reduce the oven temperature to 375˚ F. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling, 55 to 65 minutes. (Tent with foil if the crust is browning too quickly.) Transfer to a rack and let cool completely before slicing.

CHOCOLATE-NUT SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add the butter and pulse a few times until it is in pea-size pieces. Add the egg yolk and ½ cup ice water and pulse a few times until the dough just begins to clump together; add up to ¼ cup more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Lay out 2 sheets of plastic wrap; put about three-quarters of the dough on one sheet and the remaining dough on the other. Gently pat each into a rectangle, using the plastic wrap to help you. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Roll out the larger piece of dough into a 13-by-19-inch rectangle (about ¿ inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Ease into an 11-by-17-inch jelly roll pan, leaving a 1-inch overhang.
• Make the filling: Pulse the nuts in a food processor until roughly chopped. Combine with the chocolate chunks in a bowl, then evenly sprinkle the mixture over the crust. Whisk the melted butter, eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice and vanilla in a bowl; pour over the nut mixture.
• Roll out the smaller piece of dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface; cut out ten 1-inch-wide strips of dough. Lay 5 strips diagonally over the filling, about 2 inches apart, then lay the remaining strips perpendicular to them. Trim the strips at the edge of the baking sheet (use the trimmings to extend any strips that are too short). Fold in the overhang and crimp the edges with your fingers. Brush the edges and the strips of dough with heavy cream. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until the crust is golden and the filling is set, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely, at least 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY LATTICE SLAB PIE

Steps:

• For the filling: Put the cherries, granulated sugar, chocolate, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extracts and salt in a large bowl. Toss until the cornstarch dissolves. Let stand at room temperature until juicy, about 30 minutes. (If using frozen cherries, leave them frozen and toss them with the above ingredients).
• Adjust an oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 10-by-15-inch baking sheet with butter.
• For the crust: To form the bottom crust, place 1 pie crust between two large pieces of floured parchment paper and roll into a 14-inch round. Lay the round over half of the prepared baking sheet; there will be overhang on the edges. Repeat the rolling process with a second pie crust. Lay it over the remaining exposed side of the baking sheet so that the two crusts overlap in the center of the pan; there will be overhang on the edges. Press together the overlapping crusts to make a tight seal. Transfer the filling to the crust and spread in an even layer. Dot the top with the butter.
• For the lattice crust: Repeat rolling the remaining 2 pie crusts into two 14-inch rounds. With a chef's knife or a pizza cutter, cut each crust into 1-inch-wide strips. Lay half the strips diagonally across the entire pie, about 1-inch apart. Weave the remaining strips diagonally across the first strips to make a lattice pattern. Trim the the lattice ends leaving an overhang, Press together the ends and the bottom edge of the crust to seal, then fold and crimp the edge as desired.
• Brush the lattice and edge of the crust with the cream and sprinkle generously with some granulated sugar. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 45 to 55 minutes. (If the crust browns too quickly during baking, cover the pie loosely with foil.) Let cool.
• For the topping: Meanwhile, whip the cream, sour cream and brown sugar in a large bowl to medium peaks. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Serve the pie warm or at room temperature with dollops of the whipped topping.