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Cakespy: The Pumpkin-Apple-Pecan Pie

Posted by cakespy, November 18, 2009 at 2:15 PM

The holy trinity of Thanksgiving pies.

[Original artwork and photographs: Jessie Oleson]

It happens every year: that delicious dilemma at the dessert table when you have to decide between the three titans of Thanksgiving treats: pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie? But what if they could be combined into one triple threat, a veritable Turducken of a Thanksgiving pie?

I was set on finding out so I recently prepared three pie shells and three respective batches of pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie filling, and experimented in various ways.

That would be Pie #3, or the Peace Sign Pie.

Pie #1: The filling contained three distinct layers (pecan, apple, and pumpkin) all on top of each other, so that when sliced, you could see a strip of each.

Pie #2: The filling contained a slurry of all three flavors in equal parts. They were mixed together, then poured into the shell.

Pie #3: A pie shell divided into sections, TV dinner tray-style, and filled with individual portions of the pie fillings in their pure, unmixed form.

From left: Pie #2 and Pie #1.

Because each pie had a different suggested baking time and temperature, I ended up baking each in the oven for a middle-of-the-road 350°F for about one hour. In the case of Pie #3, however, I baked the pumpkin and apple fillings for 15 minutes first before adding the pecan.

The Results

Pie #1: While the apple and pecan layers worked well together, and the pumpkin with the pecan was tasty, the combination of all three simply did not harmonize. But since the fillings were neatly layered, it was still possible to carefully compose each forkful (pecan-pumpkin or pecan-apple) for a delicious experience.

Pie #2: That wasn't true in this case. The fillings were all mixed together and it was harder to eke out bites of the complementary flavors.

Pie #3: Ultimately this was the winner. As it turns out, each filling benefited from being baked in such close quarters. Each flavor had a certain unexpected dimension, perhaps a result of aromatic infusion? While the flavors may not work all at once, this pie's design proved that they can still co-exist in peace (or is that pieces?).

Note: I have included the recipe for one generous pie crust and a full pie's worth of each filling. This means you can choose your own adventure with the extra filling. You could simply double the pie crust and use the extra filling to make more pies, or divide the below pie crust, using two-thirds of the crust for your main pie, then divide the extra crust into small circles and make mini pies using cupcake cups. Or, you could try halving the filling recipes—I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

The Pumpkin-Apple-Pecan Thanksgiving Pie

- makes one 10-inch pie (see note, above) -
Fillings adapted from The Grand Central Baking Book.

Ingredients

For pumpkin filling:

1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups half and half
2 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch of salt
A healthy handful of marshmallows or whipped cream for topping (optional)

For apple filling:

2 pounds tart, firm apples (4 to 5 large ones)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

For apple crumb topping:

1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled

For pecan filling:

1 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups pecan halves, lightly toasted

For the crust:
- makes one rather thick pie crust -

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
4 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Procedure

1. Prepare the pie crust. Put the flour, salt and sugar into a food processor and pulse once or twice. Add the butter and process until the mixture looks grainy. Then slowly, while pulsing, add the water until you can form the dough by pressing it between your fingers (Note: if you don't have a food processor, this can all be done by hand as well).

2. Put the loose dough onto a piece of plastic wrap. Using the wrap, fold the loose dough towards the middle and press with the back of your hands to form dough. If you are going to save some of the dough to make mini pies as suggested above, separate dough into two pieces, reserving 2/3 for the main pie and 1/3 for the mini pies. Wrap and chill for at least 4 hours before using.

Super high-tech dividers.

3. Using aluminum foil, form dividers which will divide the pie plate into a sort of peace sign design.

4. When you're ready, roll it out with a rolling pin to an approximately 13- to 14-inch circle (slightly larger than you'd usually use for a pie, because you will need the extra crust to shape around the dividers in the pie plate). Transfer this to the pie plate, gently shaping the dough around the dividers, and trim the edges and shape them in any way you'd like.

5. Blind bake the crust for about 10 to 15 minutes at 350°F.

6. Prepare the apple filling. Peel and core the apples and slice them 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick; this should yield about 8 cups. Toss the sliced apples with the sugars, cinnamon, and lemon juice, and then set aside for an hour or so, until they begin to release some of their juices. While this sets, you can make the crumb topping and other fillings.

7. Prepare the apple crumb topping. In a large bowl, mix the oats with the flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender or two knives (or your very clean hands!) cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Press the mixture into clumps; set aside.

8. Prepare the pumpkin filling. Combine the pumpkin, half and half, eggs, granulated and brown sugars, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a large bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated.

9. Prepare the pecan filling. Put the corn syrup and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla. Let the mixture cool, then add the eggs; whisk until smooth. Make this filling last.

10. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

11. Pour pumpkin filling into one of the three sections; spoon apple filling into another section. Put the pie in the oven for about 15 minutes.

12. Remove the pie from the oven and add the pecan filling. Add enough pecans to the remaining section so that the bottom of the section is covered; pour the pecan filling mixture on top until the section is filled.

13. While you've got the pie out of the oven, go ahead and add the apple crumb mixture to the top of the apple pie section.

14. Return the pie to the oven for another 40 minutes or so. When fillings are set, if desired, put a handful of marshmallows on top of the pumpkin section; as soon as they have a golden edge, it's time to take the pie out of the oven. If you'd rather top the pumpkin part with whipped cream, wait until the pie has completely cooled before applying the topping.

About the author: Jessie Oleson is a Seattle-based writer, illustrator, and cake anthropologist who runs Cakespy, an award-winning dessert website.

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Tags: apple pies, Cakespy, pecan pies, pies, pumpkin pies, Thanksgiving pies