Pumpkin-Hazelnut Pie

Recipe by: Rick Rodgers | from Thanksgiving 101: Celebrate America's Favorite Holiday with America's Thanksgiving Expert

Cookstr

Course: Dessert

Total Time: Half Day

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

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Turn to this pumpkin pie when you want to stray from the beaten path of tradition. To tell the truth, this one isn’t an enormous diversion, just enough to make your guests appreciate the undertone of ground hazelnuts. If you wish, sprinkle each portion with minced crystallized ginger and finely chopped, roasted and peeled hazelnuts.

Yield: Makes one 9-inch pie, 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

Perfect Piecrust 101 for a single-crust pie

Filling

½ cup (2 ounces) hazelnuts, toasted and peeled (see Note)
½ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
One 15-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin (1¾ cups)
¼ cups half and half
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping

2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Following the instructions in Perfect Piecrust 101, line a 9-inch pie pan with the pie dough and flute the edges. Line the pastry shell with aluminum foil. Freeze for 20 minutes.

2. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and place a baking sheet on the rack. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

3. Fill the foil with pie weights or dried beans. Place the pastry shell on a baking sheet. Bake until the edges of the crust look set, about 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift off the foil and beans.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Process the hazelnuts, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a food processor with the metal chopping blade until the hazelnuts are powdery. Transfer to a medium bowl and add the pumpkin, half-and-half, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Whisk well.

5. Pour the filling into the hot crust and return to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until the filling is puffed with a 1-inch diameter area in the center that remains unpuffed, about 45 minutes.

6. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Cover the pie and refrigerate until chilled. (The pie can be prepared 1 day ahead.)

7. To prepare the topping, whip the heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Transfer the cream to a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch fluted tip. Pipe 8 large rosettes around the edge of the pie. (Or spread the cream over the filling in a thin layer.) Serve chilled.

Notes

Make Ahead: The pie can be made 1 day ahead.Many markets now sell toasted and peeled hazelnuts. If you have hazelnuts with their skins, bake them on a baking sheet in a preheated 350°F oven, stirring occasionally, until the skins are cracked and the nut beneath the skin looks toasted, about 10 minutes. Wrap the nuts in a clean kitchen towel and let stand for 10 minutes. Using the towel, rub the nuts to remove the skins—do not be concerned if some of the peel remains on the nuts.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information does not include Perfect Piecrust 101. For nutritional information on Perfect Piecrust 101, please follow the link above.

Calories 254kcal (13%)

Calcium 66mg (7%)

Vitamin C 3mg (5%)

Vitamin A 515mcg RAE (17%)

Potassium 231mg

Magnesium 32mg

Protein 4g

Sugar 24g

Fiber 3g