Raisin Pie

Name: Raisin Pie
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 1 9" pie
Ingredients: 2 1 ⁄ 2 cups flour; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. salt; 2 tbsp. sugar; 1 ⁄ 2 lb. chilled butter, cut into small pieces; 2 cups golden raisins; 2 cups fresh orange juice; 2 tsp. finely chopped orange zest; 1 1 ⁄ 2 tbsp. cornstarch; 1 tsp. ground allspice; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups sugar; 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice; 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Serves
makes 1 9" pie

RUSSELL KAYE

Author Apple serves several types of pies at Thanksgiving dinner. This is one of his favorites—at least partially, he says, because the raisins have an intense flavor that reminds him of fresh fruit.

Ingredients

FOR THE CRUST:

2 ¹⁄₂ cups flour
¹⁄₂ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. sugar
¹⁄₂ lb. chilled butter, cut into small pieces

FOR THE FILLING:

2 cups golden raisins
2 cups fresh orange juice
2 tsp. finely chopped orange zest
1 ¹⁄₂ tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. ground allspice
¹⁄₂ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 ¹⁄₂ cups sugar
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

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Instructions

Step 1

Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or 2 knives (mixture should resemble coarse cornmeal). Sprinkle with just enough ice water, about 3 tbsp., so dough holds together, then divide in half, form into 2 balls, wrap both in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Step 2

Combine raisins, orange juice, and zest in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat until raisins soften, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp. water. Stir cornstarch mixture into simmering raisin mixture. Add allspice, nutmeg, and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and walnuts. Set aside to cool completely.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350°. Remove dough from refrigerator. Flatten 1 ball into a round disk, then roll into a thin 12" round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9" pie pan.

Step 4

Roll out remaining dough into a second 12" round. Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, cut dough into 12 1"-wide strips. Spoon filling into pie shell. Lay 6 pastry strips across filling, then lay remaining strips over them, forming a crosshatched crust. (This dough is too tender to weave into a traditional lattice). Cut away and discard any excess dough. Crimp edges of crust and bake pie until crust is golden and filling bubbly, about 30 minutes. Pie is best at room temperature.

Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or 2 knives (mixture should resemble coarse cornmeal). Sprinkle with just enough ice water, about 3 tbsp., so dough holds together, then divide in half, form into 2 balls, wrap both in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Combine raisins, orange juice, and zest in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat until raisins soften, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp. water. Stir cornstarch mixture into simmering raisin mixture. Add allspice, nutmeg, and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and walnuts. Set aside to cool completely.
Preheat oven to 350°. Remove dough from refrigerator. Flatten 1 ball into a round disk, then roll into a thin 12" round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9" pie pan.
Roll out remaining dough into a second 12" round. Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, cut dough into 12 1"-wide strips. Spoon filling into pie shell. Lay 6 pastry strips across filling, then lay remaining strips over them, forming a crosshatched crust. (This dough is too tender to weave into a traditional lattice). Cut away and discard any excess dough. Crimp edges of crust and bake pie until crust is golden and filling bubbly, about 30 minutes. Pie is best at room temperature.