Cranberry Dark Chocolate Pie Food

CRANBERRY PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Add the flour, cranberries, sugar and salt to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter, pulsing until you have pea-sized pieces. Mix together the vodka and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of the vodka mixture to the flour mixture and pulse, adding more of the vodka mixture a tablespoon at a time as needed, until the dough comes together when gently pinched (you may not need to add all of it). Dump the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, flatten into a disc and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Put the dough on a lightly floured work surface and roll into a 1/4-inch-thick round. Use the rolling pin to help guide the dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Press gently into the corners of the pie plate and crimp the edges decoratively. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Arrange an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with the tines of a fork. Place a piece of parchment on top of the dough and fill with pie weights or baking beans. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the parchment and pie weights and bake until golden around the edges and light golden in the center, an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.
• For the filling: Add 2 tablespoons triple sec to a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over top; set aside.
• Add the cranberries, orange zest and juice, ginger, 1/2 cup sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons triple sec to a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and continue to cook until the cranberries begin to pop and break down, about 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the gelatin mixture until completely dissolved and combined. Transfer the mixture to a blender and let cool slightly, then puree until very smooth. Pour into a large bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• When the mixture has cooled, add the heavy cream to a stand mixture fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on high, streaming in the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar slowly, until the mixture reaches stiff peaks. Stir one-third of the whipped cream into the cranberry mixture to lighten it. Then fold the cranberry mixture into the remaining whipped cream until no streaks remain. Add the filling to the pie crust. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• For the decorations: Before serving, beat the egg white together with 1 tablespoon water. Toss the cranberries in the egg white mixture, then drain completely using a wide-mesh strainer. Put the sugar in a medium bowl, add the cranberries and toss to coat completely. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet to dry.
• Pile whipped cream in the center of the pie, top with the cranberries and sprinkle with the orange peel strips.

CRANBERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll pastry sheet into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing filling., Whisk together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, melted butter and spices. Sprinkle cranberries and chocolate chips onto bottom of crust; top with egg mixture. Arrange pecans over filling., Bake on a lower oven rack until crust is golden brown and filling is puffed, 40-50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

CRANBERRY CHOCOLATE WALNUT PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450°., Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack 15-20 minutes or until edge is light golden brown. Remove foil and weights; bake 3-6 minutes longer or until bottom is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 350°., In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar and melted butter until well blended. Gradually add flour until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients; pour into crust., Bake 30-35 minutes or until top is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE CHIP-CRANBERRY SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, whisk the first six ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, whisk yogurt and egg yolk; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. Stir in cranberries and chocolate chips., Turn onto a floured surface; knead gently 10 times. Pat dough into an 8-in. circle. Cut into 12 wedges. Place wedges on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Freeze option: Freeze cooled scones in resealable plastic freezer bags. To use, thaw at room temperature or, if desired, microwave each scone on high for 20-30 seconds or until heated through.

CRANBERRY DARK CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• For the Cranberry topping: Bring the sugar, salt, and cranberry juice to a boil. Stir in the dried cranberries, then the fresh or frozen berries. Simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, or until about half the berries have popped. Remove from the heat, and cool to room temperature. Yield: 4 cups.
• You'll need about 15 ounces (a scant 2 cups) sauce for the pie; enjoy the remainder on its own.
• For the crust: Process the crackers, sugar, and melted butter in a food processor till crumbly and well combined. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9" pie pan. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 7 to 8 minutes, until it's set, but not brown. Remove from the oven and cool.
• For the filling: Put the chips and cream in a microwave-safe container, and heat for about 90 seconds. Remove from the microwave, and stir till the mixture becomes smooth and dark brown. You're simply making a basic ganache.
• Assembly: Spoon the hot ganache into the cooled crust, and sprinkle the toasted nuts on top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, probably 2, till the ganache has firmed up. Once the ganache is set, top with the cranberry sauce.

DARK CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Stir together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan. Combine egg yolks with milk and gradually add to sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Add melted chocolate and pour into pie crust. Cool.