OTHER FALL FRUIT DESSERTS
After last week’s post, with delicious pumpkin recipes and links to lots of yummy pumpkin desserts, pies and more, it’s time to stop and ask: “What if you’re tired of pumpkin, or don’t want a spicy pie after a full meal, or just don’t like pumpkin? Well, there are many other wonderful fruit desserts to choose from because, believe it or not, fall has more fruit crops than spring-apples, grapes, pears, cranberries and, of course, all kinds of nuts.
Below is a recipe sampling for desserts using each of these fruits with links to posts giving information and more recipes attached to each category heading. I have also referred to three former posts, which deal with the general subject of fall fruit desserts. Their links are: Dec.12, 2012, Nov.8, 2013 and Nov. 7, 2019.
The first recipe here, Pecan Pie is special for me. I love the pie, but only found it in New England and the South, never in the Mid-Atlantic States. If I wanted it, I had to make it and doing so taught me that I, with little experience, could adjust a recipe, altering a dish to taste as I wanted it to. So often the pie I was served had gelatinous center with few nuts. The one I created had a light custard center full of chopped nuts. It gave me the courage to go on and carve my own cooking adventures.
I include the Apple, Raisin, Walnut Pie because it’s a close substitute, taste wise, for the Thanksgiving traditional Mince Pie. I don’t know if mincemeat is even sold anymore. Heavily laden with suet, it was one of the first foods to go when we became health-conscious about diet. I doubt if younger people even know what suet is. Still Mince Pie has a flavor long associated with Thanksgiving, and it’s nice to keep traditions alive, not to mention this pie is delicious-I think better than mince.
In addition, I’m including my pastry recipe. The biggest secret is ICE water, not cold—ICE. I often substitute ¼ cup wheat pastry flour for the white. It adds taste and crispness to the cooked crust. Finally, when baking pie shells for custard pies, especially if they’re refrigerated, I use an egg, or even a cream or milk wash on the dough before baking. It helps to waterproof t and prevent sogginess.
Above all, as you read this, if you don’t see a recipe you like, do click on the links. There are many more wonderful desserts in the posts. And many options for the coming holidays, not just Thanksgiving.
RECIPES
My Crust Recipe for single crust pie
1 cup flour
1/3 cup shortening- Crisco
3 Tbs. + if needed ICE water
In a deep bowl, cut shortening into flour with 2 knives until pea sized crumbs form. Add the water a Tbs. at a time mixing until dough holds together. Form into a ball cover and chill 30 min. Roll on a floured surface until slightly larger than the pan. Line the pan with the dough, cutting off or tucking excess under and crimping edges. Crust can be frozen, chilled or baked ahead according to pie directions.
NOTE: Tis will do 1 crust plus a lattice top if rolled thin. For 2 crusts increase flour to 1 ½ cups and shortening t0 ½ cup.
My Pecan Pie: Serves 6-8
¼ cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 eggs well beaten
¾ cup dark corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
1 cup pecan halves-divided 1/3 cup reserved
Crust for pie shell
Chop 2/3 cup pecan halves. Cream together the butter, brown sugar and salt, add the syrup, incorporate well, then fold in the eggs and chopped nuts blending evenly. Pour into the pie shell and use the reserved nuts to decorate the top. Bake in a 450 deg. oven 10 min. and reduce heat to 350 deg. for 30-35 min. more until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool. Pie will puff then fall slightly. Serve on day of baking or store covered overnight.
Apple, Raisin, Walnut Pie: Serves 6-8
1 ½ cups chopped cooking apples
2 cups raisins
3 cups apple cider
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbs. lemon juice+ ½ tsp. zest
2Tbs.butter
½ tsp. salt
3 Tbs. cornstarch
½ cup chopped walnuts.
Double crust recipe or buy 15 oz. package of 2 dough rounds
NOTE; I like a thin crust, so this will allow for some extra, especially if making a lattice top. Don’t use over a heaping ½ cup shortening. Store left over dough chilled and use within 10 days, or roll and freeze. Line pie pan.
Dissolve the cornstarch in ¼ cup of the cider; put all the other ingredients except the walnuts in a pot and heat to boiling. Stir in cornstarch mix, and simmer, stirring until thickened. Stir in nuts. Pour into bottom crust. Top with top crust, well vented, or lattice top. Bake at450 deg.for10 min. then at 30-35 min at 350 deg. Cool before slicing.
To prepare in advance; the cooked filling can be kept chilled, in a plastic container for several days and then poured into the shell and topped before baking. The pie pan can be lined and the top crust dough kept chilled in plastic wrap for several days as well.
APPLES: Nov. 2, 2017, Sept. 21, 2023
French Apple Pie : Serves 6-8
3-4 lb. cooking apples-peeled, cored in ¼ inch slices
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
Successively layer the apple slices so they lay flat, in the pie shell; a circular pattern looks best for presentation. Sprinkle each layer with some sugar and cinnamon. When the crust is filled, pour the melted butter over all, and then garn garnish with sugar and cinnamon. Bake in a preheated 450 deg. oven 10 min, then at 350 deg. for 30-40 min. until apples are tender and crust is crisp. Best done serving day, but can be done the day before. Store at room temperature.
Grandmother’s Sour Cream Apple Cake: Serves 12 +
5 cups peeled, cored and sliced tart apples
¼ cup butter
½ cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
1 lemon- zested and juiced
2 Tbs. flour
½ cup chopped almonds + ½ cup toasted, slivered almonds
8 eggs separated
½ tsp. salt
Sugar, cinnamon and dry bread crumbs for garnish
Whipped cream for serving—optional
Cook the apples with the butter in a covered skillet over low heat until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the next 4 ingredients and the egg yolks, lightly beaten, to the pan and cook until thickened. Cool. Whip egg whites with salt until stiff and fold into apple mixture. Spread batter 1 inch thick in a large pan or baking dish and sprinkle top with sugar, cinnamon, bread crumbs and slivered almonds. Bake at 325 deg. for 45 min. or until the cake is firm. Can be served hot, but is best chilled with whipped cream.
CRANBERRIES: Nov. 30, 017
Cranberry Crisp: Serves 6
12 oz. fresh cranberries=2 cups
1/3 cup sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 egg
½ cup of flour
½ cup sugar
3/4 cup butter- melted
Lightly grease a 9 inch pie plate. Fill with berries, top with 1/3 cup sugar and nuts. Beat egg until foamy, beat in butter, flour and remaining sugar until batter is smooth. Pour over berries. Bake in a preheated
325 deg. oven until browned, about 45 min. This is best served warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
NOTE: This can be stored, before baking, the berries in the pie plate, covered, and the batter in a container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Combine and bake. Probably can also be reheated in the microwave the day after baking.
Cranberry Orange Walnut Ice Cream: Serves 6-Very quick and easy to make.
2 cups cranberries
¾ cup sugar
1 orange –quartered, seeds removed
½ cup chopped, toasted walnuts
1 pint vanilla ice cream- softened
Coarsely chop berries and orange, with rind. Stir in sugar and blend fruit mix, making sure the orange rind is pulverized, add walnuts and stir into softened ice cream. Pour into a mold and freeze until firm. Unmold and serve garnished with cranberries and walnuts. Or spoon ice cream into a freezer container; a couple of hours before serving fill a decorative freezer-proof bowl with individual scoops of ice cream and spoon them into dessert dishes at table
*This ice cream recipe is packed with fruit. I love it this way but some people, especially children, may prefer it if the quantity of vanilla ice cream is doubled in proportion to the fruit. Keeps frozen as long as commercial product.
PEARS: Nov.16, 017, Dec. 3, 2020
Pear Kuchen: Serves 8-10
Pastry for a 9”spring form pan or a 1 crust pie-if home-made add 2 Tbs. sugar to the dough See recipe above
1 quart canned pear halves = (2) 16 oz. cans
3 eggs
½ cup sugar
½ cup cream or fruit juice
Line the bottom and sides of a greased spring form pan with the pastry. Drain fruit and arrange cut side down in pan. Beat eggs with sugar and liquid until light and pour over the fruit. Bake at 400 deg. for 10 min. and then at 350 deg. until custard is set about 30 min. Sprinkle with slivered toasted almonds or cool and scatter chopped almond brittle over the top. Serve with whipped cream.
Wine Poached Pears: Serves 8
8 Bosc pears—peeled but stems left on
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup lighter red wine such as red zinfandel or Pisano
1cup water
¼ cup sugar
1cinnnamon stick
Put everything but pears in a large pot and heat to dissolve sugar, bring to a simmer and add pears. Cover and continue simmering, turning occasionally until pears are tender 15-20 min. Cool in syrup still turning to keep color even. Can be made a couple of days ahead, but chill fruit separate from syrup to keep color
even. Gently re-heat syrup and serve around pears.
GRAPES: Oct. 29, 2020
Grape Pie: Serves 8-10-From- https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/ruby-grape-pie/
Pastry for a 2 crust pie See recipe above.
4 cups (2 lbs.) seedless red grapes-halved
2/3 cup sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
3 Tbs. cornstarch
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. lemon zest
2 Tbs. butter
Combine grapes, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan, toss to coat and marinate 15 min. Add cornstarch, lemon juice and zest, bring to a boil, stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Pour into a pastry lined 9 inch pie plate, dot with butter and cover with top crust. Seal, trim, flute and cut steam holes in top. Bake at 425 deg. for 20 min. then at 350 deg. for 30-35 min. or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Grapes in Sweet Sour Cream: Serves 4
2 lb. seedless grapes –red makes a better presentation
1 cup sour cream
¼ cup sugar- or to taste
¼ tsp. cinnamon
Remove grapes from stems, wash and dry well. Stir the cream, sugar and cinnamon together and taste to adjust seasonings. Gently stir in the grapes and chill well. Serve in compotes. Can be transported separately and mixed before serving. Cream can be mixed a day or two in advance.
