Cranberry Topped Raised Pie Recipes

THE ULTIMATE PUMPKIN PIE WITH CRUNCHY CRANBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• Make the pastry: combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the ice water and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a 10-inch circle. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin and lay it inside a 9-inch pie pan. Press the dough firmly into the bottom and sides so it fits tightly. Trim the excess dough around the rim and pinch the edges to form a border. Place the crust on a sheet pan to catch any spills. Refrigerate until ready to fill.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Filling: Puree the pumpkin in a food processor with the butter and a pinch of salt. Measure 1 1/2 cups puree into a bowl. In another bowl beat the eggs and sugar until the sugar has melted. Add the eggs to the pumpkin puree and whisk well. Add the cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into the pie shell, and place on the bottom rack of the oven. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg white. Bake until the pie is set but still jiggles slightly, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the pecans on a baking sheet and bake them with the pie for about 10 minutes to toast them. Remove them from the oven and let them cool. Thaw the cranberries in a strainer set over a bowl to catch the liquid. Put the cookies, pecans, and cranberries into a food processor and pulse them a few times until they are coarsely chopped. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cooled pie and serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

PISTACHIO & CRANBERRY PORK PIE

Steps:

• Put the cranberries in a pan with the sugar and orange juice. Bring to a simmer, then cook until the berries start to burst and the sauce thickens. Set aside to cool.
• Heat the oil in a small pan and fry the onion until soft. Add the bacon and garlic, and cook until the bacon starts to brown, then stir through the thyme, sage and some seasoning. Allow it to cool slightly, then mix with the pork and pistachios. Season with salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. Set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the flour into a bowl with 2 tsp salt. Put lard and milk into a pan with 150ml water, then heat until the lard has completely melted. Pour into the flour and beat with a wooden spoon until a ball of dough is formed. Knead briefly on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
• Take two-thirds of the pastry and roll out between two sheets of baking parchment into a circle large enough to line the base and sides of a 20cm cake tin (about 4-6cm high with a slight overhang. Press the pastry into the tin making sure to push it into the corners. Pile half the filling into the pastry and flatten into an even layer. Spread over two-thirds of the cranberry sauce, then finish with remaining pork and roughly smooth the top. Keep the rest of the cranberry sauce in the fridge to serve with the pie.
• Roll out remaining pastry between baking parchment and cut to a 20cm round. Place onto the pie and glaze the edge with some beaten egg. Fold up the overhanging pastry and press down to seal. Make a steam hole with the tip of a knife, then glaze the pie with more beaten egg. Cook for 30 mins, then reduce the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Continue cooking for 40 mins until the pastry is golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of the pie and left for 10 secs feels very hot. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with the reserved cranberry sauce. Will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Watch our pork pie video for extra tips.

EASY CRANBERRY PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, brown sugar and butter. Line pie plate with bottom pastry; add filling. , Top with a lattice crust. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned.

CRANBERRY RAISIN PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. In another bowl, combine oil and water. Gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Shape into a ball; divide dough in half so one ball is slightly larger than the other. , Divide dough in half so that one ball is slightly larger than the other. Roll out larger ball on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-in or 10-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry even with edge of plate; set aside. , For filling, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; gradually stir in orange juice until smooth. Stir in cranberries and raisins; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour into crust. , Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top or use a 1-1/2-in. holly leaf cutter to make a design. , Brush pastry with milk if desired. Bake at 400° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

GAME PIE WITH CRANBERRIES & CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• First, make a cranberry sauce for the centre of the pie. Tip 150g of the cranberries and the sugar into a saucepan, add 1 tbsp water and bring to a simmer. Bubble for 4-5 mins until the cranberries have softened and you have a glossy sauce. Cool completely. Mix the remaining filling ingredients (including the remaining cranberries) in a large bowl and season well.
• When you're ready to make the pastry, boil the kettle and grease a deep 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin with a little lard. Tip the flour into a bowl and season with 1 tsp salt. Measure 220ml hot water into a jug and add the lard. Stir until melted, then pour into the flour and mix with a wooden spoon to form a dough. It's best to roll hot water crust pastry while it's warm, so - working quickly - remove a quarter of the pastry, wrap and set aside. Roll the remaining pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use the warm pastry to line your cake tin, leaving any excess pastry overhanging, and pushing it right into the corners. If it tears, patch it up with the excess - this pastry is very forgiving, so you don't have to be too gentle with it. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Pack half the filling into the bottom of the lined tin, making sure there are no air pockets. Spread the cranberry sauce over the meat, then pack the remaining filling on top, creating a slightly domed shape in the middle. Use a pair of scissors to trim the excess pastry to about 2cm all the way around, then brush the inside rim with some of the beaten egg. Unwrap the remaining pastry and roll out to the same thickness as before. Cut into wide strips and use to create a lattice on top of the pie, tightly weaving the pastry strips under and over each other. Pinch the pastry together around the edges, then roll the excess in towards the centre to create a neat edge. Brush the top of the pie with more egg.
• Cook in the oven for 45 mins, then reduce the heat to 160C/ 140C fan/gas 3 and cook for a further 1 hr 30 mins. Leave to cool at room temperature, then chill overnight, or for at least 4 hrs.
• Soak the gelatine in cold water for 5 mins, then remove and squeeze out the excess water. Heat the stock until almost boiling. Remove from the heat and stir in the gelatine. Leave to cool to room temperature.
• Pour the stock into the pie through the holes in the lattice, using a funnel. Pour in a little at a time, allowing a few seconds before each addition (you may not need all the stock). Put in the fridge for another 2 hrs to set the jelly, then serve in wedges. Eat within 3 days.