Spiced Apple And Pear Pie

Serves: 5

Floy Nolan

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

53

Spice

53

Sweetness

51

Sourness

38

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Sugar

1 tsp

Salt (fine)

1 large

Egg (beaten)

1

Lemon

Directions:

1

Watch how to make this recipe

2

Dough: Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl

3

Rub 1/4 cup of the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until completely absorbed

4

Then rub in the remaining butter until it resembles cornmeal mixed with pea-size bits of butter

5

(If it gets warm and sticky, refrigerate it to chill

6

) Beat the egg with 3 tablespoons of the water; then drizzle it evenly over the dough

7

Lightly stir the dough together with a fork

8

(The dough should just hold together when you squeeze it together, with some dry crumbly bits

9

) If the dough is really dry, sprinkle it with the final tablespoon of water

10

(To make the dough in food processor, see below

11

) Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and shape into disks

12

Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 days

13

(The dough can be frozen for 2 months

14

Defrost dough in the fridge overnight

15

) Filling: Finely grate the lemon zest and set aside

16

Peel, core and then slice both the apple and pear into 1/2-inch slices

17

Squeeze the lemon juice over the fruit, then toss fruit with the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and nutmeg

18

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat

19

Add the fruit and cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves and juices simmer, about 2 minutes

20

Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, until the fruit softens and the juices evaporate some, about 10 minutes

21

Evenly mix the flour into the fruit; then cook about a minute more to thicken the juices slightly

22

Stir in the vanilla and lemon zest; and remove from the heat

23

(The filling should resemble a tight compote

24

) Cool completely

25

Form the pie: Lightly dust the work surface with flour

26

Roll a disk of dough into an 11 to 12-inch circle

27

Transfer the dough to 9-inch glass pie pan (see photo), trimming so it hangs about 1/2-inch over the edge of the pan

28

Fill the crust with the prepared fruit so it mounds slightly in the center

29

Roll the remaining dough into a 12-inch circle

30

Brush the rim of the crust with some of the egg

31

Roll the dough onto the rolling pin and unroll it over the fruit so it hangs over the edge of the pie pan by about 1/2-inch

32

Trim crust if needed, reserving the scraps for decorations or for patching, if needed

33

Fold the top crust edge under the bottom one, then press the edges together to seal

34

Cut trimmed scraps into designs if desired and set aside

35

Flute the crust by pressing a finger into the crust against the other hand's index finger and thumb to make an even impression

36

Repeat every 1/2 inch around the pie to create a ruffled edge (see photo)

37

Refrigerate the pie for at least 20 minutes

38

Meanwhile, place a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 425 degrees F

39

Brush pie with egg and place cut dough designs on top if desired

40

Brush again and sprinkle with sugar

41

Cut 6 to 8 small steam vents into the top of the dough

42

Place pie on a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F

43

Bake until the crust (both top and bottom) is golden brown, about 50 minutes more

44

If the edges begin to brown too quickly, cut a pie shield out of a piece of aluminum foil and cover the edges (see photo)

45

Cool on a rack

46

Serve pie warm or at room temperature with whipped or ice cream

47

Keep pie, covered, at room temperature for a day, or refrigerate for up to four