Fall
by: tiptoesinthekitchen
September16,2010
5
2 Ratings
- Serves 8
Jump to Recipe
Author Notes
This pie was inspired by one of my favorite television shows, Pushing Daisies. In one particular episode, Charlotte Charles (“Chuck”) bakes a pear pie with gruyere baked into the crust, for her aunts. I found the notion of sweet and savory charming and mouthwatering and I thought it might be fun to add some apples as well, since they’re perfect for fall. Happy pie-making! - tiptoesinthekitchen —tiptoesinthekitchen
Test Kitchen Notes
The crust is like the best cheese straw you've ever had—my whole apartment smelled incredible while the pie was baking. The pear and apple combo is great and I also loved the spice and vanilla in the filling. This pie is a savory-tangy-sweet flavor explosion. - Merrill —The Editors
- Test Kitchen-Approved
What You'll Need
Ingredients
- Crust
- 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp. cider vinegar
- about 1/3 cup ice cold water
- 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- filling
- 4 cored and peeled pears (I used 2 bosc and 2 bartletts)
- 3 cored and peeled golden delicious apples
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean (split open, seeds scraped)
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- Pinchof salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp. and 1/2 tsp. corn starch
Directions
- Crust
- Place a medium sized bowl and fork in the freezer. Combine the flour, salt and shredded gruyere in a bowl, mixing the cheese into the flour mixture with your hands.
- Dice the butter into ¼ inch pieces. Place butter and the flour-cheese mixture in a large zip lock bag, seal and roll over with a rolling pin until the butter is combined. Place the bag in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- Pour the ingredients from the bag into the cold bowl and work together with your fingertips or/and the cold fork until the mixture becomes pebbly. Gradually drizzle the ice water (excluding the ice) and the vinegar over the mixture, blending with your fingertips and the fork. Add more water if necessary - a tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the right consistency.
- Form two discs out of the dough, working each in your palm. Wrap them each tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
- When the filling is ready, roll one of the discs out onto a floured surface, dusting it with flour as you work. Transfer to the pie pan, pressing the dough into it and leaving about an inch of overhang. Crimp or style however you like. Add the filling.
- Roll out the second disc the same way and place it over top the pie, making a few slits in the center or, if you choose to cut out decorative leaves, you can place them on top of the filling instead.
- Combine 1 egg yolk with a splash of milk and brush over the crust. Sprinkle with demura sugar. Wrap some foil on the edges of the crust (so they don’t burn).Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream
- filling
- Cut the peeled and cored pears and apples into inch size pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the fruit, sugars, spices, salt, vanilla and vanilla bean seeds and pod.
- Stir and simmer on medium to medium-low heat for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat, stir in the corn starch and let the filling cool to room temperature.
Tags:
- Pie
- American
- Pear
- Vinegar
- Bean
- Apple
- Fruit
- Cheese
- Thanksgiving
- Fall
- Dessert
Contest Entries
- Your Best Autumn Pie
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17 Reviews
carmen H. May 25, 2015
Definitely look forward to trying this out. I love gruyere cheese and the combo sounds devine. Thank you!
Christy D. October 9, 2011
Thank you for posting this recipe! It was deff new and different and so totally delicious! i think this crust recipe is the best I'v ever tried,,,, never got such a flavorful, flaky crust before:)
tiptoesinthekitchen November 10, 2011
Thank you so much Christy! I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed the pie : )
Christy D. October 9, 2011
Thank you for posting this recipe! It was deff new and different and so totally delicious! i think this crust recipe is the best I'v ever tried,,,, never got such a flavorful, flaky crust before:)
gina_berthold March 27, 2011
Made this today and it was awesome! The crust is salty and cheesy and oh so delicious; the filling is sweet with just a touch of spice. The combo works so nicely. And I feel like Chuck (minus her special "vanilla") - if only I had a Ned!
pauljoseph November 2, 2010
very good recipe
Hilarybee September 25, 2010
I saw the photo and thought of Pushing Daisies. Love, love Pushing Daisies. So sad it got cancelled.
Beautiful pie, looks like a winner of a recipe. When I find some local pears, I'll try it out!
Midge September 23, 2010
This looks awesome. Congrats on the EP.
tiptoesinthekitchen September 23, 2010
Thank you all! Midge - I just voted for your pie, it sounds delicious and I love the browned butter, congratulations!
Bevi September 22, 2010
What a pretty pie! It sounds wonderful!
gingerroot September 17, 2010
Wow, what a beautiful, delicious sounding pie. Thanks for this recipe.
lapadia September 17, 2010
Your pie is an "eye catcher"! Sounds delish too!
mrslarkin September 17, 2010
This is stunning! Sounds very delicious, too!!
nannydeb September 17, 2010
Beautiful pie!
tiptoesinthekitchen September 17, 2010
thank you!
Sagegreen September 17, 2010
This is beautiful.
AntoniaJames September 16, 2010
Love the combination of apples and pears! I will sometimes add an Asian pear, if I've got one, when putting apples and pears together, just for fun. ;o)
