Tag Archives: Pie

Dutch Apple Pie

It doesn’t get anymore Dutch than Apple pie!
Apple pie is served at every occasion in the Netherlands, it’s available in every single cafe or restaurant and also every single supermarket. And although these are ok, nothing beats home-made Dutch Apple pie. This recipe has been in my family for generations and my grandmother’s apple pie is legendary. This is her recipe!
It’s very simple and that is the beauty of it. The best apples are Jonagold, they hold their shape and don’t loose too much moisture, also Braeburn, Elstar or Golden delicious are great and you can also use a mix of apples which is what I usually do.

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg, beaten
2 1/2 cups (320g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup (60gr) fine sugar
16 tablespoons (2 stick, 225g) chilled unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2-3 tablespoons very cold water
6 large apples approximately,
1/4 cup (60gr) fine sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. Cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

To make the dough, in a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse 3 or 4 times to blend. Add the cubed butter and half of the beaten egg (the other half is for brushing over the crust) and pulse again until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the ice water over the mixture and pulse again until it just comes together when pressed. Transfer to a sheet of plastic wrap, divide into two and shape into two disks. Wrap tightly and chill for an hour.
Remove the dough from the fridge and let stand for 10 minutes.
Place one part of the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll out to an even thick large round big enough to cover the bottom and sides of an 8 inch / 20 cm cake tin. Flour the dough as needed slightly to prevent sticking.
Line your tin with parchment paper then carefully transfer disk to tin, if it breaks its ok, just patch it up as you go. Make sure to line the sides evenly and all the way up. Place the pie tin in the fridge while you make the filling.

Pre heat oven to 160C/320F.
Make your filling by peeling and removing the core of your apples. Then cut into pieces of about 1/2″/1.5cm. Place in bowl and add the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and corn starch. Toss to mix and add the your pastry lined tin.
Roll out the second disk to a thickness of approximately 1/4″/0.6 cm to make the pretty lattice for the top. Cut into strips and place on apple filling to make a lattice pattern making sure to gently press the ends of the strips to the dough 8n the tin.
Brush all the visible dough with the remaining beaten egg
Transfer to the oven and bake for one hour.
Transfer to a rack and let cool for 15 minutes.
Cut into wedges and serve as is or with whipped cream or ice cream.
Enjoy.

Cheats Banoffee Pie, step by step.

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Cheats Banoffee pie

It’s always good to have a cheats recipe or two up your sleeve, just in case you don’t have time, or simply aren’t in the mood for fuss. Especially now with the holidays around the corner, there’s plenty to do already.
Maybe someone is going to ask you to bring along a dessert at a dinner party, this would be perfect. And because I add a layer of chocolate to the base, the pie crust stays nice and crunchy and doesn’t go soggy.
This Cheats Banoffee Pie recipe is so good and very simple with just a few store cupboard ingredients. You can make my simple pastry crust recipe or make it even easier by buying a ready made crust. It’s all about as little effort as possible today.

Prep time : 30 min (if you’re making the crust, otherwise 10 min)
Cooking time : 20 min (for the pie crust)
Serves : 8
1 x 20cm/8in spring form tin

INGREDIENTS:

For the base:
• 1 x super simple pastry dough recipe or store bought ready pie crust
• 100 gr./ 3.5 oz. dark or milk chocolate (whichever you prefer) chopped
For the caramel filling:
• 1 x can 397gr./14oz. Dulce de Leche or creamy thick caramel from a jar
For the topping:
• 300ml/10fl oz. double cream
• 3 medium bananas, peeled and sliced
• 100 gr./ 3.5 oz. dark or milk chocolate (whichever you prefer)

METHOD:

1. Line the base of a 20cm/8in spring form tin with baking paper.
2. To make the base, follow the recipe for pie crust and bake accordingly. Let cool.
3. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted. Spread over the pie crust base and place in the freezer until set. This will only take 15 minutes or so.
4. For the filling, simply spread a can of dulce de leche over the chocolate.
5. Whip the cream in a bowl until soft peaks form.
6. Arrange the banana slices in neat rounds on top of the toffee. Spoon or pipe the cream on top and level. Set in the fridge for an hour.
7. Decorate with chocolate shavings or sprinkles.* see note

Note: I have a little trick for the chocolate shavings that I use all the time. Unwrap a chocolate bar and place it on a plate, flat side up. Place it in the microwave.
Set on defrost program and run for 30 to 60 seconds. Then take a vegetable peeler and shave off the curls.

Enjoy!

PS: the wonders you can do with a can of Dulce de Leche….or otherwise caramel related recipes

If you make this Cheats Banoffee Pie recipe, be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

Strawberry Cheesecake mini Pies

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Simple Strawberry Cheesecake mini Pies, are made with fresh strawberries, a quick cheesecake filling and brushed with a strawberry glaze. They come together in minutes and are so delicious.

You only have to bake the Pastry shells and the rest is done in a jiffy. I have used my Super Simple Pastry dough recipe, so once the shells are baked and cooled you just spread some cheesecake filling on top and layer with fresh strawberries. The shells could be baked the day before and stored in an air-tight container.
Serve as a dessert, snack or at parties. These are always great!

The pastry crust is a no-brainer and you can find the recipe here.

Makes 6 small tarts or one medium 20 cm / 8 inch

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe super simple pastry crust, prepared all the way.
3 cups fresh Strawberries
2 tubs of cream cheese (400 gr/ about 1 3/4 cups)
3 tbsp. of milk of choice for loosening up the cream cheese
50 grams/ 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp strawberry jam diluted with water for drizzling on top, or honey.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Remove the crown from the Strawberries and cut them in half.
Place the cream cheese in a bowl and beat until soft, adding the milk to get to process started, add the vanilla extract and the confectioners sugar. Beat until combined and fluffy.
Spread 1/6th of the cream cheese filling in each mini pie, place some strawberries on top.
Mix the strawberry jam with a tablespoon or two of water and drizzle the glaze over the strawberries. You could also drizzle with some honey instead. Assemble the mini pies close to serving time, since the pastry shells might soften if you leave them filled overnight. Serve with whipped cream (optional).

Enjoy!

If you make this recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you. And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!

Super simple Pastry Dough

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Super simple Pastry Dough!

And when I say simple, I mean really simple and pretty much fool proof and no fail. This flaky pastry dough keeps amazing in the fridge for a few days and also in the freezer for about a month. We always have some in the freezer.
Sometimes I prepare various tins filled with dough, pop them in the freezer so I can make a pie or mini tarts at a moments notice.
What I love about this recipe is that you can use it for both sweet or savoury pies.
The most important thing with pastry is that it has to be, and stay as cold as possible at all times until it goes into the oven. When using ice water use as little as possible, a high fat content is essential in the butter you use, 80% preferably. Cut the butter in small cubes and place it in the freezer for 5 minutes while you set up your food processor and get everything ready.
After that it’s five minutes work and your done.

Prep time : 10 min

Cooling time : 2 x 30 min

Cooking time : 20 min

Serves : 8

1 x 20cm/8in spring form tin or 8 small tins

INGREDIENTS:

– 200 gr / 7 oz. cold butter
– 300 gr / 10 1/2 oz all purpose flour
– a pinch of salt
– about two tablespoon of ice cold water (maybe three)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill a glas with ice cubes and add water.
2. Cut your butter into small cubes, place them in a bowl a place this in the freezer while you get out your flour and food processor.
Measure the flour and place in the bowl of the food processor. Add all the butter, divided evenly over the flour. You want to process as little as possible and as quickly as possible.
Add the pinch of salt.
Pulse the food processor a few times until the mixture resembles sand, add the ice water one tablespoon at a time. Pulse again. To test, grab some pastry between your fingers and press together, as soon as it holds , it’s ready. Tip out on to a work surface and shape into a ball. Wrap in cling film and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before shaping.
When ready to use, roll out the pastry to desired shape, place in tin that has been oiled slightly, pierce the pastry with a fork and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Add some baking beans. Return to the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to cool completely before baking.
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the parchment paper and baking beans and bake for for 5 more minutes.
Now they are ready to be filled with your favourite filling, sweet or savoury.
Enjoy!