Pear And Currant Streusel Rounds Recipes

PEAR PIE WITH STREUSEL TOPPING

Steps:

• Equipment Set aside a rolling pin, 9-inch (23-cm) pie plate (I highly recommend ceramic), pastry brush, bench scraper, kitchen scissors, and plastic wrap. You will need these items as you prepare and assemble the pie dough.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the cubed cold butter pieces and toss gently, so that each piece of butter is lightly coated in the flour mixture. Using your thumb and forefinger on both hands, press the butter cubes using your thumb and forefinger of both hands into shingles or thick discs. Break up any large pieces of butter with your fingers so they're no bigger than the size of a half walnut. If the butter pieces are too large, it can result in butter leaking during baking. If the dough becomes at all greasy, allow the mixture to chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before continuing.
• Add 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of the cold ice water, then toss and mix the ingredients together with your hands until the water has been evenly incorporated. If any bits are particularly dry, add a touch of water to those bits as needed. *Note: You will most likely need to use the full 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup; 60 mL) of water, but this can vary depending on your flour and the humidity of your kitchen. The dough will be slightly shaggy, but should be able to be pressed together with your hands. Transfer to your kitchen countertop, press the dough together, folding it over itself once or twice to laminate the dough and help bring it together.
• Gently shape the dough into a round disc, roughly 1-inch thick, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours (minimum) or 1-2 days ahead. Make-Ahead Tip: Pie dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
• Remove the chilled dough from the fridge, unwrap, and place on a lightly floured countertop. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes if it is too cold. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a 14-inch (35-cm) diameter circle rotating the dough continuously to ensure it is not sticking to the countertop. Be gentle and avoid stretching the dough. If the dough becomes too soft or difficult to work with, chill in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes before proceeding.
• Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch (22-cm) pie pan. Gently lift and nudge the dough into the edges of the pan without stretching the dough. Using kitchen scissors, trim the overhang so that it extends no more than ¾-inch to 1-inch past the edge of the pan. Fold the edges under and crimp as desired. Brush off any excess flour with a pastry brush, cover the surface, tightly with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the streusel topping and pear filling.
• Set a half sheet pan in the center rack of the oven and preheat the oven (and sheet pan) to 400°F (204°C). Note: If you have a baking stone or steel, set the half sheet pan on top for an extra blast of heat.
• Make the Streusel Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ¾ cup (90g) unbleached all-purpose flour, ¾ cup (75g) rolled oats, ¼ cup (55g) light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ginger, ⅛ teaspoon allspice, and ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Add 5 tablespoons (70g) cubed unsalted butter and toss to coat.
• Using your fingertips, work and press the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is well dispersed and there is a good mixture of smaller and larger crumbs. Chill topping in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Put the lemon juice into a large mixing bowl. Peel the pears, cut in half, and core (*I use a small melon scooper for this). Chop into roughly ½-inch chunks and add to the lemon juice, tossing the pieces gently to coat. This will help them from oxidizing. Note: I like to peel, core, and chop one pear at a time, adding it to the lemon juice, and tossing before proceeding with the next pear.
• Add the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt to the bowl with the chopped pear. Toss the mixture together gently to incorporate the ingredients evenly.
• Prepare Egg Wash: Combine the egg and milk in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• Remove the shaped and chilled crust from the refrigerator. Gently transfer the pear filling with any juices into the pie shell, spreading it into an even, thick layer.
• Sprinkle the crumble topping over the pear mixture (it will be a thick and generous layer!). Brush the crimped edges of the pie dough lightly with the egg wash mixture. Transfer the pie dish onto the preheated half sheet pan in the oven. The added heat from the sheet pan will help the bottom crust cook through and brown, as well as catch any potential bubbling juices during baking.
• Bake the pie at 400°F (204°C) for 30 minutes; reduce the oven to 350°F (176°C) and continue baking for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until deeply golden and the pear filling is just bubbling.
• Set pan on a wire rack and allow pie to cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving. Allowing the pie to cool is important as it helps set and prevent a runny filling.
• Serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of heavy cream. Custard or lightly whipped cream are other great choices.
• Storage Tips: Leftover pie can be covered with plastic wrap and kept out at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 to 5 days.

PEAR CROUSTADE

Steps:

• For crust
• Mix flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter. Using on/off turns, process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to large bowl. Mix egg yolk and 1 1/2 tablespoons ice water in small bowl. Using fork, blend enough yolk mixture, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, into flour mixture to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly before rolling out.)
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to °F. Roll out dough on floured parchment paper to 10-inch round. Transfer dough on parchment paper to large baking sheet.
• For filling
• Toss pears, sugar, flour, lemon juice and allspice in large bowl. Overlap pear slices atop dough, leaving 2-inch border. Fold dough border over fruit, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks. Brush dough with egg white. Drizzle cream over filling.
• For topping
• Mix flour and sugar in small bowl. Rub in butter with fingertips until mixture forms small clumps. Sprinkle topping over filling.
• Bake tart until crust is golden and filling bubbles, about 40 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack; cool slightly, about 15 minutes. Slide metal spatula under crust to free from parchment. Using large tart pan bottom as aid, transfer tart to platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR-CRANBERRY PIE WITH FAUX LATTICE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured work surface, roll 1 disk of dough to 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Trim edges flush with rim. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• On a piece of lightly floured parchment paper, roll out remaining disk of dough to 1/8 inch thick. Top with an inverted 9-inch pie plate or a cake ring, and gently press to make a light indentation (this will be your guide for cutting the lattice to fit the pie). Using a 3/4-inch square cutter, cut a lattice pattern out of the round, leaving at least 1/2 inch between cutouts and edge of round. Transfer squares to a parchment-lined baking sheet. To make partial squares where the lattice meets the rounded edge, make a very light indentation with the cutter, then cut out the portion of the square that is inside the round with a knife. Using a paring knife or a pizza cutter, cut out the round, leaving an additional 1/2 inch of dough beyond the marked circle. Reroll scraps, and cut out as many additional squares as possible. Transfer parchment with the lattice top to a baking sheet. Refrigerate lattice top and squares for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in middle and lower positions. Peel, halve, and core pears. Very thinly slice 3 pears lengthwise, and cut remaining 2 pears into 8 wedges each.
• Toss together pears, cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl. Using the tip of a paring knife, scrape vanilla seeds over pear mixture, and toss until seeds have been evenly incorporated. Pour filling into piecrust, gently pressing to make it as level as possible. Dot filling with butter.
• To make egg wash, whisk together egg yolk and cream in a small bowl. Lightly brush edge of piecrust with egg wash. Remove lattice crust and squares from refrigerator. Gently place another baking sheet on top of lattice, and carefully invert. Slide lattice on top of filling, and remove parchment. Gently press edges of crust to seal, trimming edges of lattice if necessary.
• Lightly brush lattice with egg wash. Arrange dough squares around edge of pie, overlapping them slightly. Lightly brush top of each square with egg wash as you work to help them adhere.
• Place a foil-lined baking sheet on lower oven rack to catch any juices. Place pie on middle rack, and bake until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling gently, 90 to 100 minutes. Tent with foil if crust browns too quickly. Let pie cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat preserves in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. Puree in a food processor until smooth. Press through a fine sieve into a bowl or another saucepan, and reheat if necessary. Brush warm pie with a generous amount of warm apricot glaze. Let cool completely on rack.

APPLE AND PEAR STREUSEL PIE

Steps:

• Make the topping: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the butter and, using your fingertips, pinch the ingredients together into a sandy, crumbly mixture. Do not over mix; as soon as the mixture is sandy, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. If using a refrigerated crust, use it to line a glass pie dish. If using a frozen crust, let thaw at room temperature and gently remove the crust from the aluminum liner. Transfer to a glass pie dish.
• In a medium bowl, toss the apples, pears, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and butter together. Place the filling in the pie crust. Sprinkle the streusel topping on top and place the pie on a sheet pan to catch any juices. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling. Check the pie after 30 minutes; if the streusel topping is already brown, cover lightly with foil.
• Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BAKED PEARS WITH CURRANTS AND CINNAMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using apple corer, cut through stem of each pear and all the way through pear to base to remove core. Trim bottoms so that pears stand straight. Arrange pears in 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Combine sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add currants. Fill pear cavities with half of sugar mixture. Stir cup water into remaining sugar mixture; pour around pears. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Bake pears uncovered until tender and sauce is syrupy, adding more water to dish by 1/4 cupfuls if syrup becomes too thick and basting occasionally, about 50 minutes. Serve pears warm with syrup.

PEAR AND CURRANT STREUSEL ROUNDS

Steps:

• : Heat 2 heavy large skillets over medium heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in each skillet. Divide pears, currants, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon between skillets. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean halves to skillets. Cook until juices evaporate and pears caramelize, stirring often, about 35 minutes. Let fruit cool in skillets. Remove vanilla bean halves.
• : Preheat oven to 400°F. Blend almonds, flour and sugar in processor until almonds are finely chopped. Add butter. Using on/off turns, process until large moist clumps form. Sprinkle mixture onto heavy baking sheet. Bake until streusel is pale golden, stirring often and leaving mixture in clumps, about 10 minutes. Cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store streusel airtight at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate fruit mixture.)
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Arrange ring molds on large baking sheet. Divide fruit mixture evenly among molds, pressing to compact. Sprinkle streusel evenly over fruit.
• Bake until fruit is heated through, about 5 minutes for room-temperature fruit and 10 minutes for refrigerated fruit. Let cool 5 minutes. Slide metal spatula under ring molds and transfer to plates. Remove molds. Drizzle sweetened cream around fruit and serve.
• *Sold at most specialty cookware stores. If unavailable, substitute clean 8-ounce cans with bottoms and tops removed.