Light Crunchy Crust Pumpkin Pie Food

PECAN PRALINE PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• For best success, read the recipe in full before beginning.
• I like to make sure my pie dough is prepared before I begin making pecan praline pumpkin pie. Make pie dough the night before because it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before rolling out and blind baking (next step).
• On a floured work surface, roll out one of the disks of chilled dough (use the 2nd pie crust for another recipe!). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9×2 inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is completely smooth. To make a lovely thick edge, I do not trim excess dough around the edges. Instead, fold the excess dough back over the edge and use your hands to mold the edge into a nice thick rim around the pie. Crimp the edges with a fork or use your fingers to flute the edges. You can see me do this in the video tutorial above. Carefully line the inside of the pie with two pieces of parchment paper, as shown in the photos and video above, then pour in the pie weights. Make sure the weights are evenly distributed around the pie dish. Chill the dough in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes- this helps prevent the crust from shrinking. (You can actually fill with pie weights before or after chilling, it doesn't make a difference.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Bake the cold pie crust (with weights!) for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes as you prepare the filling. You can pre-bake the crust up to 3 days ahead of time. Cover cooled crust tightly and refrigerate until ready to fill.
• Whisk the pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, cream, and milk together in a large bowl until completely combined and smooth. If desired, you can use an electric mixer for this step.
• Remove pie weights (and parchment) from crust. Pour filling into warm crust. Brush edges with egg wash. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the center is no longer jiggly. It can still be a little sticky in the very center on top, just as long as it no longer jiggles when you lightly tap the pan. During bake time, if you find the edges of the pie crust are browning too quickly, apply a pie crust shield or a ring of aluminum foil to protect it.
• Remove pie from the oven and add the topping. I like to make the topping as the pie bakes so I have it ready. Using a fork, mix the pecans and brown sugar together. Drizzle in the honey and mix until combined. Spoon on top of the pie, then *very* gently press it down with a spoon or fork so it sticks on the filling.
• Return pie to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Use a pie crust shield to protect the crust from over-browning, if needed.
• Remove the pie from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely, at least 3-4 hours. If not serving right away, cover cooled pie and store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Serve room temperature or cold with a sprinkle of sea salt and whipped cream. I used Ateco 849 piping tip for the whipped cream, but you can just use a spoon to top each slice with a dollop.
• Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

THE ULTIMATE PUMPKIN PIE WITH CRUNCHY CRANBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Make the pastry: combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the ice water and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a 10-inch circle. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin and lay it inside a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the bottom and sides so it fits tightly. Trim the excess dough around the rim and pinch the edges to form a border. Place the crust on a sheet pan to catch any spills. Refrigerate until ready to fill.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Filling: Puree the pumpkin in a food processor with the butter and a pinch of salt. Measure 1 1/2 cups puree into a bowl. In another bowl beat the eggs and sugar until the sugar has melted. Add the eggs to the pumpkin puree and whisk well. Add the cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into the pie shell, and place on the bottom rack of the oven. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg white. Bake until the pie is set but still jiggles slightly, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the pecans on a baking sheet and bake them with the pie for about 10 minutes to toast them. Remove them from the oven and let them cool. Thaw the cranberries in a strainer set over a bowl to catch the liquid. Put the cookies, pecans, and cranberries into a food processor and pulse them a few times until they are coarsely chopped. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cooled pie and serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

PUMPKIN CRUNCH PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Roll out dough to just under 1/4 inch thick (11-inch diameter) on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch glass pie plate. Trim excess, leaving a 1-inch overhang; fold edges under, pressing gently to seal. Freeze for at least 1 hour or up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line crust with parchment and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges are lightly browned and bottom crust is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove parchment and weights; continue baking until entire crust is golden, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
• While crust cools, make the topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, and pecans in a bowl. Rub in butter with your fingers until mixture is well combined and crumbly. Crumble evenly onto a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, about 12 minutes. Let cool.
• Make the filling: Pulse cream cheese in a food processor until smooth. Add sugar and pumpkin and process until smooth, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Add egg and yolk, flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; process until incorporated.
• Pour filling into cooled pie shell. Bake until custard is puffed and just set, tenting with foil if crust is browning too quickly, about 33 minutes. Evenly distribute crumble topping over hot pie, crumbling any large clumps with fingers. Let pie cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

GREAT PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Make the dough:
• Using a floured pastry cloth and rolling pin sleeve, or two sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap, roll the pastry 1/8 inch thick or less and large enough to cut a 13-inch circle. Use an expandable flan ring or a cardboard template and a sharp knife as a guide to cut out the circle. Transfer it to the pie pan and tuck the overhanging pastry under itself. If desired, reroll the scraps, chill, and cut out decorative designs such as leaves. (Bake them separately on a small baking sheet at 400°F for 6 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a rack to cool.)
• Cut the border into a checkerboard design or use a fork or spoon to make a flat but decorative border. Do not make a high raised border or extend it over the sides of the pan, as it will not hold up baked so close to the heat source. Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for at least 1 and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F at least 20 minutes before baking. Plan to bake directly on the floor of the oven, or set an oven shelf at the lowest level and place a baking stone or cookie sheet on it before preheating.
• Process the gingersnaps and pecans until finely ground. Sprinkle them over the bottom of the pie crust and, using your fingers and the back of a spoon, press them into the dough to coat the entire bottom, going about 1/2 inch up the sides.
• Make the pumpkin filling:
• In a small heavy saucepan, stir together the pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, and salt. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a sputtering simmer, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick and shiny.
• Scrape the mixture into a food processor and process for 1 minute. With the motor on, add the milk and cream, processing until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the work bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, processing just to incorporate, about 5 seconds after each addition; add the vanilla along with the last egg.
• Pour the mixture into the pie shell and set it directly on the floor of the oven (or on the baking stone). Bake the pie for 50 to 60 minutes or just until a knife inserted between the sides and center comes out almost clean. The filling will have puffed and the surface dulled, except for the center. (The filling will shake like jelly when moved. This will happen before it has finished baking, so it cannot be used as a firm indication of doneness; conversely, if it does not have this jelly-like consistency, you can be sure that it is not baked adequately). If the crust appears to be darkening too much on the bottom, raise the pie to the next rack. After 30 minutes, protect the edges with a foil ring.
• Place the baked pie on a rack to cool. When cool, the surface will be flat. If you have made decorative designs, place them on it now.
• Variation:
• Mini pumpkin pielets- This filling is enough to make four 4 1/4 inch pielets. There will be about 6 tablespoons left over, which can be baked in a small custard cup in a water bath for the same time as the pielets. You will need 8 1/2 ounces of dough. Divide the dough into quarters, roll each piece of dough 1/16 inch thick and large enough to cut a 7 1/2 inch circle, and proceed as above.
• Bake the pielets, preferably directly on the bottom of the oven, or on a baking stone set on the lowest shelf, in a preheated 375°F oven for 35 minutes or until they test done as above.
• Store:
• Room temperature, up to 3 days.
• Understanding:
• Canned pumpkin purée is more consistent in flavor and texture than homemade.
• The crust border should not be too raised or extend past the pie plate because when baked so close to the heat source, and at the lower temperature required for the custard filling, a raised border would not set quickly enough and would droop over the edge and break off. Since the border does not extend past the edge, it is not necessary to shield the edges until after 30 minutes, instead of the usual 15 minutes for a one-crust pie.
• Characteristic star-burst cracking is the result of overbaking. If desired, cover any crack(s), should they develop, with baked pastry cutouts.

PUMPKIN PIE CRUNCH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease bottom of 13x9x2-inch pan.
• Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in large bowl.
• Pour into pan.
• Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture. Top with pecans.
• Drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake at 350°F for 50 to 55 minutes or until golden. (Check it early).
• Cool completely. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.