This pumpkin pie may look like every pumpkin pie you've seen, but the wonderful soft custard simply melts in your mouth. It's hard to believe that anything so delicate-tasting is so easy to make.
The common criticism of pumpkin pies is that is can have a soggy bottom crust, but it need not be that way. Pre-baking (or "blind baking" in kitchen speak) the crust is key. It's an extra step but worth the payoff.
If you have time
make the dough a day ahead. It needs to chill in the fridge at least an hour
before you roll it out anyway, in order to give it time to relax (that way it will
shrink less after being rolled out.) If the dough has been chilled overnight, let
it soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out, or it will crack.
Make some time, take the day off work before The Big Day...a
it takes about 5 hrs from start to finish, so worth it!
it takes about 5 hrs from start to finish, so worth it!
TOOLS
Large mixing bowl
Measuring spoons and cups
Pastry blender
Cheese grater
Rolling pin
Pie weights
Fork
Turkey or your favorite Autumn themed cookie cutter
9” pie dish
Foil
Plastic wrap
Baking sheet
Cooling rack
Cooling rack
Standing mixer with paddle stick and whisk
Rubber spatula
Parchment paper
PASTY DOUGH INGREDIENTS
Makes enough dough for a 9” pie plate.
3/4 stick cold or frozen unsalted butter
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp very cold vegetable shortening
1/4 tsp salt
2-4 tbsp cold ice water
PASTRY DOUGH DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
With the cheese grater, grate the frozen butter
and chilled shortening. Blend together flour, butter, shortening and salt
in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender until most of mixture
resembles coarse meal, small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of ice water evenly over and gently
stir with a fork until incorporated.
To test the mixture gently squeeze a small amount
in your hand. It should come together without crumbling apart. If it doesn’t,
add more ice water, 1 tbsp at a time. If you overwork the dough or add too much
water, pastry will be tough.
To form the dough, turn out onto a floured work surface and gently gather the dough together and form it, rotating it on the work surface, into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm. At least 1 hour. Note: Dough can be chilled up to 1 day.
To form the dough, turn out onto a floured work surface and gently gather the dough together and form it, rotating it on the work surface, into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm. At least 1 hour. Note: Dough can be chilled up to 1 day.
Roll out dough into a 14-inch round on a lightly floured
surface and fit into a 9” pie plate. (4 cup capacity). Crimp edge decoratively
and prick bottom all over with the fork. Chill for 30 minutes.
With the remaining scraps roll out the dough again
and press your cookie cutter, this will be the decoration on top.
Line pie shell with foil and fill with pie weights.
Bake in middle of oven for 20 minutes. Remove pie weights and foil and bake
shell until pale golden, 6-10 minutes more. Cool in pan on a rack. In a baking
sheet place the cookie cut out decoration and bake for about 10 minutes or until
golden brown. Set aside.
PUMPKIN PIE FILLING INGREDIENTS
15oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (2 cups)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
15oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (2 cups)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
PUMPKIN PIE FILLING DIRECTIONS
Whisk together pumpkin, cream, milk, eggs, brown sugar, spices and salt, then pour into shell. Place pie on baking sheet and bake pie in the middle of oven 40-50 minutes, or until filling is set but center still trembles slightly. Filling will continue to set as pie cools. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. Once cooled place your cookie decoration in the center of pie.
Whisk together pumpkin, cream, milk, eggs, brown sugar, spices and salt, then pour into shell. Place pie on baking sheet and bake pie in the middle of oven 40-50 minutes, or until filling is set but center still trembles slightly. Filling will continue to set as pie cools. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. Once cooled place your cookie decoration in the center of pie.
Note:
To prevent over baking you should start checking the pie's doneness at 45 minutes, as ovens vary. Pie may be made 1 day ahead and chilled covered, however crust will not be as crisp as made the day of serving.
BOURBON WHIPPED CREAM INGREDIENTS
1-1/4 cups heavy cream
2 tbsp confectioner’s sugar
BOURBON WHIPPED CREAM DIRECTIONS