It’s been a long while since I posted a recipe, right? I’m not sure how full on food bloggers post food recipes AND create cookbooks at the same time! I’ve been finding it hard enough to photograph and talk about daily enough on top of all the cookbook work! I’d like to send them all big high fives, and maybe a pizza delivery. Good job, guys.
So this recipe, it’s super simple– and a really great variation of the typical apple pie. It’s filled a warming ginger and garam masala spices, lightly sweetened, and overall it’s really delicious and perfect for this holiday season. The pie crust recipe will actually be in the cookbook– and trust me, it’s not overwhelming, and doesn’t contain weird ingredients— it’s straight forward too! But hey, if you’re scared of dough (which I understand) this pie could take you a good 15 minutes of actual work time if you just by a pre-made crust. I won’t be offended 😉
Maybe you don’t love indian spices as much as I do (maybe you do), but I still recommend giving it a go! It’s not overwhelming and it won’t feel like you’re getting kicked in the face with curry. It really has a perfect balance. Pair it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream served with hot cocoa, or even sprinkled in chocolate— perfect with a warm latte for breakfast too 😉
Vegan Spiced Apple & Pear Pie
filling ingredients:
2 pears, de-cored and sliced
3 apples, de-cored and sliced (we used two pink ladies and one granny smith, but I’d recommend two macintosh and one granny smith– or any combination of those)
juice of half lemon
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons grated ginger (I use a microplane to grate, it’s my best friend)
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons garam masala
pie dough ingredients:
-2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1 tablespoon sugar
-2 sticks cold/refrigerated vegan butter (I use earth balance)
-1 cup ice water
*if you’d like to create a lattice top or cover for the pie, you’ll need two batches of pie crust.
dough how to:
-in a big bowl combine flour and sugar
-slice sticks of butter into small pieces and add on top of flour mixture.
-with a pastry blender, food processor, or your hands, combine cold butter with flour. I use my hands, it’s cheap and is easy clean up 🙂 The flour is going to clump together from the butter. Once you have itty bitty clumps, you’re good for the next step!
-pour about a quarter cup ice cold water over flour and with your hands, begin to work it around edges of dough, creating a ball. If needed, add another quarter/tiny bit at a time and continue to try to form a solid dough ball. Sometimes I use about a 1/4 cup, sometimes 1/2 a cup, it varies. Just add water slowly because you don’t want a mushy ball, and you don’t want it dry— just keep at it slowly, (almost kneading your dough) to create a ball.
-pat it smooth, wrap in plastic, and place in fridge to rest for at least an hour, or overnight if you’re planning on making pie the next day.
method:
–dough in fridge? check.
-pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
-in a large bowl, combine sliced apples, pears, sugar, garam masala, and ginger and allow to sit for 20 to 30 minutes. At this point, I need you to try really hard not to eat all the fruit. It’s really delicious, I know, but the pie wants it.
-drain out extra liquid from fruit bowl and your fruit is ready for you pie!
-pull dough out of the fridge, and carefully roll out pie dough on a floured surface. Once the dough is wide enough to cover the entire pie pan (and sides), it is time to ever so carefully pick up the dough and place in pie pan. You can do this by rolling your dough over your rolling pin (too scary for me) or I might recommend asking a friend to help (yes, thats what I do– four hands are better than two).
-place on pan and carefully press into sides. You can cut extra dough off for a clean edge or make a pattern with thumbs by pressing along the rim (oooh, so fancy!)
-place fruit in pan, leaving a taller mound and center.
-create a top, or ask your toddler to make hearts for the top. At this point, you can sprinkle with sugar if you’d like, for an extra sweetness.
-place pie in oven and allow to cook for 40 to 55 minutes, until golden brown.
-share with (or hide from) friends.
-enjoy!
It seems like a lot of work– cause I’m kind of wordy— but trust me, its easy to make! and vegan! and not completely packed with sugar! and really, really good too! Perfect for the holidays next week! Let me know if you try it 🙂
A big thanks to my friend alana for helping me photograph then eat my pie. With the exception of two pieces, the pie never even made it to the table, we devoured it after the photos were taken. mmm pie.
leftover tip: hide the pie, otherwise your husband will eat it when you’re not looking. womp womp.
ps: looking for more holiday recipes? try THIS vegan holiday post! pps. this is what three days of pajamas look like.
hooray!
5 Comments
yum! looks so good!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
Looks so yummy!!
and the hearts ! 🙂
Looks delicious!
I also love your plates!
So colorful & pretty ♥️
This pie is almost too pretty to eat. Almost. I'd eat it in a heartbeat. I love trying new vegan recipes!
:] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
This looks absolutely amazing, Drea (big surprise there)! lol I definitely want to try this over the holiday season!
~ Samantha