Streusel Topped Pear Ginger Pie Food

PEAR PIE WITH STREUSEL TOPPING

Steps:

• Equipment Set aside a rolling pin, 9-inch (23-cm) pie plate (I highly recommend ceramic), pastry brush, bench scraper, kitchen scissors, and plastic wrap. You will need these items as you prepare and assemble the pie dough.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the cubed cold butter pieces and toss gently, so that each piece of butter is lightly coated in the flour mixture. Using your thumb and forefinger on both hands, press the butter cubes using your thumb and forefinger of both hands into shingles or thick discs. Break up any large pieces of butter with your fingers so they're no bigger than the size of a half walnut. If the butter pieces are too large, it can result in butter leaking during baking. If the dough becomes at all greasy, allow the mixture to chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before continuing.
• Add 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of the cold ice water, then toss and mix the ingredients together with your hands until the water has been evenly incorporated. If any bits are particularly dry, add a touch of water to those bits as needed. *Note: You will most likely need to use the full 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup; 60 mL) of water, but this can vary depending on your flour and the humidity of your kitchen. The dough will be slightly shaggy, but should be able to be pressed together with your hands. Transfer to your kitchen countertop, press the dough together, folding it over itself once or twice to laminate the dough and help bring it together.
• Gently shape the dough into a round disc, roughly 1-inch thick, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours (minimum) or 1-2 days ahead. Make-Ahead Tip: Pie dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
• Remove the chilled dough from the fridge, unwrap, and place on a lightly floured countertop. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes if it is too cold. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a 14-inch (35-cm) diameter circle rotating the dough continuously to ensure it is not sticking to the countertop. Be gentle and avoid stretching the dough. If the dough becomes too soft or difficult to work with, chill in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes before proceeding.
• Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch (22-cm) pie pan. Gently lift and nudge the dough into the edges of the pan without stretching the dough. Using kitchen scissors, trim the overhang so that it extends no more than ¾-inch to 1-inch past the edge of the pan. Fold the edges under and crimp as desired. Brush off any excess flour with a pastry brush, cover the surface, tightly with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the streusel topping and pear filling.
• Set a half sheet pan in the center rack of the oven and preheat the oven (and sheet pan) to 400°F (204°C). Note: If you have a baking stone or steel, set the half sheet pan on top for an extra blast of heat.
• Make the Streusel Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ¾ cup (90g) unbleached all-purpose flour, ¾ cup (75g) rolled oats, ¼ cup (55g) light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ginger, ⅛ teaspoon allspice, and ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Add 5 tablespoons (70g) cubed unsalted butter and toss to coat.
• Using your fingertips, work and press the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is well dispersed and there is a good mixture of smaller and larger crumbs. Chill topping in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Put the lemon juice into a large mixing bowl. Peel the pears, cut in half, and core (*I use a small melon scooper for this). Chop into roughly ½-inch chunks and add to the lemon juice, tossing the pieces gently to coat. This will help them from oxidizing. Note: I like to peel, core, and chop one pear at a time, adding it to the lemon juice, and tossing before proceeding with the next pear.
• Add the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt to the bowl with the chopped pear. Toss the mixture together gently to incorporate the ingredients evenly.
• Prepare Egg Wash: Combine the egg and milk in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• Remove the shaped and chilled crust from the refrigerator. Gently transfer the pear filling with any juices into the pie shell, spreading it into an even, thick layer.
• Sprinkle the crumble topping over the pear mixture (it will be a thick and generous layer!). Brush the crimped edges of the pie dough lightly with the egg wash mixture. Transfer the pie dish onto the preheated half sheet pan in the oven. The added heat from the sheet pan will help the bottom crust cook through and brown, as well as catch any potential bubbling juices during baking.
• Bake the pie at 400°F (204°C) for 30 minutes; reduce the oven to 350°F (176°C) and continue baking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until deeply golden and the pear filling is just bubbling.
• Set pan on a wire rack and allow pie to cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Allowing the pie to cool is important as it helps set and prevent a runny filling.
• Serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of heavy cream. Custard or lightly whipped cream are other great choices.
• Storage Tips: Leftover pie can be covered with plastic wrap and kept out at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 to 5 days.

PEAR-GINGER PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Sift the flour, baking powder and fine salt into a large bowl. Cut in the butter and lard with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter. Beat the egg yolk, vinegar and 1 1/2 tablespoons cold water in a liquid measuring cup with a fork. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and gently stir with a fork until just moistened. Gently gather into a ball, then shape into a disk on a lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers; set aside.
• Make the filling: Gently toss the pears with the lemon zest, lemon juice, ginger and flour in a bowl. Spread the marmalade on the bottom of the pie crust. Add the pear mixture, keeping the pears as flat as possible.
• Make the topping: Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture until fine crumbs form. Scatter the topping over the filling and gently pat down.
• Bake the pie 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling, about 40 more minutes (cover with foil if the topping is browning too quickly). Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.

GINGERSNAP CRUMB PEAR 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 400°., Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edge is light golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-6 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 350°., For topping, in a food processor, combine crushed cookies, flour, brown sugar and salt. Add butter; pulse until crumbly., For filling, in a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, ginger and salt. Add pears, lemon juice and vanilla; toss gently to combine. Transfer to crust; cover with topping., Place pie on a baking sheet; bake until topping is lightly browned and pears are tender, 60-70 minutes. Cover pie loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove foil. Cool on a wire rack at least 1 hour before serving. If desired, drizzle with caramel topping.

STREUSEL TOPPED PEAR AND BLUEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Blend all purpose flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add chilled butter pieces and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and process until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold edges under, forming high-standing rim 3/4 inch above dish sides; crimp edges decoratively. Freeze crust 25 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake crust until light golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Combine pear pieces, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice and salt in large nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until pears are tender but still hold their shape, stirring often, about 6 minutes. Transfer pear mixture to large bowl; cool to room temperature. Add blueberries, flour and remaining 6 tablespoons sugar to pears; toss gently to blend.
• Transfer filling to cooled pie crust, mounding filling slightly in center. Sprinkle with Walnut-Streusel Topping. Bake pie until juices bubble thickly, fruit is tender and streusel topping is golden brown, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool pie on rack until lukewarm. Cut pie into wedges and serve.