Chai Pumpkin Pie

Chai Pumpkin Pie

Adapted from the pumpkin pie recipe printed on the sticker on a Pamper’d Pie Pumpkin.

Prep time: 2 hours 30 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 5 minutes | Total time: 3 hours 35 minutes

Yield: 1 9-inch pie

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 sugar pumpkin*
• 1 1/3 cups sweetened condensed milk
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup brewed chai
• 1 9-inch pre-baked pie shell (see recipe below)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cut the pumpkin in half without the stem. Scoop out the seeds and strings. Place the halves cut-side down on a foil lined baking sheet. Cover the sheet with foil. Bake until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Let it cool.
3. Raise the oven temperature to 375°F.
4. Scoop out the pumpkin flesh and mash it with a potato masher or food processor until smooth. Drain if it’s too watery.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/3 cups of the pumpkin (you can save any extra for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze it), sweetened condensed milk, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and chai just until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prebaked pie shell.
6. Bake the pie for 55 to 65 minutes – the center will still move slightly. Cool and enjoy.

* You’ll often find sugar pumpkins (relatively small, round pumpkins that are best for pie) in the produce department of your grocery store in the fall.

Basic Flaky Pastry Dough

From the Cuisinart Premier Series 11-Cup Food Processor Instruction and Recipe Booklet. For some excellent pumpkin pie and crust tutorials, you might check out Savour Fare and Simply Recipes.

Prep time: 1 hour 10 minutes (including resting time) | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Yield: 1 9-inch pie shell

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in 1/2-inch pieces, well chilled
• 2 tablespoons shortening, cut in 1/2-inch pieces, well chilled
• 2 to 4 tablespoons ice water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add the flour, salt and baking powder to a food processor and process 10 seconds to sift. Add the well chilled butter and shortening. Use short rapid pulses until the mixture resembles coarse corn meal and no pieces of butter larger than a “pea” remain visible, 15 to 20 pulses. Sprinkle half of the maximum ice water on the flour and butter mixture, then pulse 5 or 6 times. The dough will be crumbly, but should begin to hold together when a small amount is picked up and pressed together. Sprinkle on more water, a teaspoon at a time, with 2 to 3 quick pulses after each addition, adding just enough water for the dough to hold together easily when pressed into a ball. (Do not allow the dough to form a ball in the processor). Add the liquid sparingly so that the dough is not sticky. Do not overprocess or the pastry will be tough, not tender and flaky.
2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Press together into a ball, then flatten into a disc about 6 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before continuing to allow the glutens in the flour to rest. The dough will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or may be frozen (double wrapped) for up to a month. Thaw at room temperature for an hour before using.
3. To prebake the pastry (bake blind), roll out the pastry 1/8-inch thick to fit your pan; crimp and seal the edges. Prick the bottom all over with a fork. Chill for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line the pie pan with a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights, dry rice or beans. Bake for 15 minutes.