Far extra American than apple pie is the native pecan selection. Deeply nutty and caramel-sweet, with a flaky, cream cheese pastry, it’s the right celebratory centrepiece for Thanksgiving, Christmas or simply about some other special day you might need developing. A favorite of everybody from Elvis to President Obama, its existence is conclusive proof that happiness actually is as straightforward as pie.
Prep 40 min
Prepare dinner 1 hr
Cool 2 hr +
Makes 1 x 23cm pie
For the pastry
110g butter, effectively chilled, plus additional for greasing
190g plain flour, plus additional for dusting
¼ tsp salt
75g cream cheese
For the filling
125g pecans
100g darkish mushy brown sugar
100g maple syrup
85g butter
200ml single cream
2 tbsp cornflour
2 tbsp bourbon, or different whisky, or rum, and so on (non-compulsory)
2 egg yolks
¼ tsp salt
1 Make a begin on the pastry
The pastry wants to sit back, so make that first. Reduce the butter into roughly 2cm cubes. Put the flour and salt in a big bowl, stir to mix, then spoon within the cream cheese (drain off any extra liquid from the bathtub first). Rub within the cheese together with your fingertips (or pulse briefly in a meals processor) to mix.
2 Incorporate the butter
Add the butter to the bowl and squish the items flat together with your fingertips (or pulse into small chunks), then squish (or pulse) till the combination simply begins to return collectively right into a dough. Tip out on to a clear tea towel or sheet of clingfilm, fold over to cowl, then gently knead right into a coherent dough – take care to not overwork it, although, or the tip consequence shall be powerful.
3 Roll out the pastry
As long as the dough doesn’t really feel heat and mushy, roll it out instantly on a flippantly floured floor right into a roughly 5mm-thick spherical that’s giant sufficient to line a 23cm loose-based tart tin (a centimetre both aspect must be nice). Flippantly grease the tin. If the pastry could be very mushy, nonetheless, wrap it first and chill for 20 minutes earlier than rolling it out.
4 Lay the pastry within the tin and chill
Run a palette knife beneath the pastry to launch it, if vital, then fold it in on itself – it will make it simpler to deal with. Switch the pastry to the greased tin, then unfold it and flippantly press into the bottom and sides. Cowl and chill for 20 minutes (or freeze till you’re able to bake).
5 Blind bake the pastry
Warmth the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gasoline 6. Tip the pecans on to an oven tray and bake for about six minutes.
Take away, go away to chill barely, then roughly crush half the nuts. Trim the chilled pastry to neaten the sides, then prick the bottom throughout with a fork.
Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans (or dry beans, rice, pie weights and so on), then blind bake for quarter-hour.
6 Now for the filling
Whereas the pie case is baking, put the sugar, syrup, butter and cream in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, till they’ve all melted collectively.
Beat a bit of of this combination into the cornflour till easy, then stir again into the bowl and whisk till the combination thickens sufficient to coat the again of a spoon. Take the bowl off the warmth, then stir within the crushed pecans, bourbon, egg yolks and salt.
7 End the pie case
After the pie case has had its quarter-hour, take away the paper lining and baking beans, then return the pie case to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or till flippantly browned on the bottom. Pour the filling combination into the baked pie crust and bake for quarter-hour extra. Take away, then organize the remaining entire pecans on high in concentric circles (or no matter sample pleases your eye).
8 End the baking
Return the pie to the oven and bake for an additional quarter-hour, or till agency on high however nonetheless barely wobbly within the center, then take away and go away to chill and set fully – it will take just a few hours. As soon as chilly, slice and serve. Pecan pie is scrumptious by itself, however it’s usually served with whipped cream or vanilla ice-cream.
9 Variations on the theme
Pecans are on the costly aspect, so you may definitely use cheaper walnuts as a substitute (a Dolly Parton favorite, by the way), and/or use golden syrup rather than the additionally dear maple selection. To get forward, make the crust as much as the purpose of baking, then freeze, effectively wrapped, and blind bake from frozen. Pecan pie may also be made a day forward with no lack of high quality.
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