Spiced Custard Pie With Sesame Crust

Serves: 4

Olin Prosacco

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

51

Spice

55

Sweetness

47

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tbsp

Sugar

1 tsp

Kosher Salt

3 cups

Half-And-Half

Directions:

1

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt

2

Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-sized crumbs appear

3

With the machine running, add 2 tablespoons ice water and sesame seeds and process until the dough just holds together

4

Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, pulse in another tablespoon of ice water

5

Do not overprocess

6

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and push together into a rough ball

7

Knead a few times just to combine and flatten into a flat disc

8

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to overnight)

9

When ready to bake pie, combine half-and-half with 1/3 cup sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, ,stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar

10

Cover and steep the mixture for 30 minutes

11

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F with rack in lower third of oven

12

Place a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven

13

On a floured surface, roll out dough into a 13-inch round

14

Line the pie pan with the dough

15

Trim, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang around the pan

16

Tuck the overhanging dough under and crimp as desired

17

Transfer pie dish to the refrigerator for 30 minutes

18

Line the dough with a piece of foil and top with pie weights or beans

19

Place the pie pan on the preheated baking sheet and bake until the edges are lightly golden, 20 minutes

20

Remove the foil and weights and bake until crust is light gold in color, 15 to 20 minutes more

21

Remove pie dish from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool at least 10 minutes, leaving foil-lined baking sheet in the oven

22

Lower oven temperature to 350°F

23

In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar

24

Beat with an electric mixer until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture forms pale yellow ribbons, about 2 minutes

25

Rub a small amount of the egg mixture in between your fingers to check for any undissolved sugar

26

If any remains, continue beating the mixture for a bit longer

27

Gradually whisk 1/2 cup warm cream mixture into the egg mixture to gently warm (or temper) the eggs

28

Continue to gradually whisk in remaining half-and-half mixture into egg mixture until completely combined

29

Whisk in vanilla

30

Place the pie pan on the baking sheet in the oven and strain custard into the cooled pie crust (do not overfill

31

) Bake until the center is just set, 55 to 65 minutes

32

Transfer to a wire rack; let cool to room temperature

33

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days ahead)

34

If you'd like to create a burnt-sugar crust, sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar evenly over top of tart just before serving

35

Light blowtorch and move flame evenly back and forth just above top of tart, avoiding crust, until sugar is caramelized and slightly browned (be careful not to burn sugar)

36

Let tart stand 5 minutes before serving

37

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt

38

Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-sized crumbs appear

39

With the machine running, add 2 tablespoons ice water and sesame seeds and process until the dough just holds together

40

Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers and if it is very crumbly, pulse in another tablespoon of ice water

41

Do not overprocess

42

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and push together into a rough ball

43

Knead a few times just to combine and flatten into a flat disc

44

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to overnight)

45

When ready to bake pie, combine half-and-half with 1/3 cup sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, ,stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar

46

Cover and steep the mixture for 30 minutes

47

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F with rack in lower third of oven

48

Place a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven

49

On a floured surface, roll out dough into a 13-inch round

50

Line the pie pan with the dough

51

Trim, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang around the pan

52

Tuck the overhanging dough under and crimp as desired

53

Transfer pie dish to the refrigerator for 30 minutes

54

Line the dough with a piece of foil and top with pie weights or beans

55

Place the pie pan on the preheated baking sheet and bake until the edges are lightly golden, 20 minutes

56

Remove the foil and weights and bake until crust is light gold in color, 15 to 20 minutes more

57

Remove pie dish from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool at least 10 minutes, leaving foil-lined baking sheet in the oven

58

Lower oven temperature to 350°F

59

In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar

60

Beat with an electric mixer until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture forms pale yellow ribbons, about 2 minutes

61

Rub a small amount of the egg mixture in between your fingers to check for any undissolved sugar

62

If any remains, continue beating the mixture for a bit longer

63

Gradually whisk 1/2 cup warm cream mixture into the egg mixture to gently warm (or temper) the eggs

64

Continue to gradually whisk in remaining half-and-half mixture into egg mixture until completely combined

65

Whisk in vanilla

66

Place the pie pan on the baking sheet in the oven and strain custard into the cooled pie crust (do not overfill

67

) Bake until the center is just set, 55 to 65 minutes

68

Transfer to a wire rack; let cool to room temperature

69

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days ahead)

70

If you'd like to create a burnt-sugar crust, sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar evenly over top of tart just before serving

71

Light blowtorch and move flame evenly back and forth just above top of tart, avoiding crust, until sugar is caramelized and slightly browned (be careful not to burn sugar)

72

Let tart stand 5 minutes before serving