Depths-of-Fall Butternut Squash Pie

Monday, November 17, 2008

Depths-of-Fall Butternut Squash Pie

My two-pies-in-one-pie-pan experiment helped me to choose my first pie for the pie competition at work. This pie is delicious. I’m thinking the filling would make a great squash salad for Thanksgiving…

Depths-of-Fall Butternut Squash Pie – from Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking from My House to Yours”
Double pie crust – I used this recipe
1 1/4 pounds (about 2 cups) cubed (1-inch) peeled, ready-to-cook butternut squash
2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup moist, plump dried fruit, such as cranberries, raisins, or finely diced apples or pears
1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Grated zest of 1/2 orange
2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 Tbsp plain dry bread crumbs

Position rack in the lower third of oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

Cook squash in microwave for 6 minutes, or until almost cooked through (or you can steam the squash). Pat the squash dry and toss it into a large bowl.

Add the remaining filling ingredients to the bowl and turn them gently with a large rubber spatula to blend. Let the filling sit for 5 minutes or so, just long enough to give the sugar time to melt, then gently mix again.

Remove the pie plate and top crust from the refrigerator and put the pie plate on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Spoon the filling into the bottom crust and level the top. Brush the rim of the bottom crust with a little water and center the rolled-out top crust over the pie – if the top crust is too cold and not pliable, let it sit for a couple of minutes. Using your fingertips, press the top crust gently against the bottom. Seal crusts together.

Using a small sharp knife, cut 4 slits into the top crust, and cut a circle out of the center of the crust using the wide end of a pastry tip. Refrigerate pie for 30 minutes (if you have time). The pie can also be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 2 months; bake directly from the freezer, adding about 10 minutes to the baking time.

Brush the top of the pie lightly with water and dust with a little sugar. Bake the pie for 55-60 minutes, or until it is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling up through the center hole. Check the pie at 40 minutes – if it is already pretty brown, cover it loosely with a foil tent. Transfer the pie to a rack to cool to just warm or room temperature.

Storing: This pie is really best served the day it is made. If you must keep it overnight, store it covered in the refrigerator and bring it to room temperature or warm it for a few minutes in a 350 degree oven before serving.

Dessert, Pies and Tarts

2 comments »

16 Responses to “Coconut Layer Cake Filled with Lemon Curd”

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Erica @ Inandaroundtown — April 6, 2011 at 4:22 pm

WOW – I would like to have a piece of that cake as soon as possible! looks beautiful and delicious!
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FunandFearlessinBeantown — April 6, 2011 at 4:26 pm

This cake looks beautiful and I love the addition of toasted coconut!
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Christina — April 6, 2011 at 4:32 pm

I love love cakes with coconut. So delicious.
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4

Maria — April 6, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Beautiful cake!
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DeliciousDish — April 6, 2011 at 4:48 pm

Totally agree – the more layers the better! The cake looks stunning!
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Paula Kelly-Bourque — April 6, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Had I been at your dinner party you wouldn’t have had to cook anything. I would have just completely indulged in this gorgeous cake!
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Evan — April 6, 2011 at 5:29 pm

This cake looks incredible! coconut and lemon are two of my favorite flavors; I’m glad you don’t have to choose one or the other with this recipe.
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Bianca Garcia — April 6, 2011 at 5:34 pm

This sounds wonderful. Coconut with lemon curd, yummmm!
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Taryn — April 6, 2011 at 5:49 pm

This looks fantastic – so springy and beautiful, and absolutely delish 🙂
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ammy 92 — April 6, 2011 at 6:28 pm

what a wonderful cake!
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ErinsFoodFiles — April 6, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Beautiful cake! I’ve been craving a coconut cake, but I know too many people who don’t like coconut cake that if I made it I wouldn’t have anyone to share. Boo.
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Shannon — April 6, 2011 at 8:01 pm

ooh, fabulous. love the lemon curd-coconut combo, and in a layer cake, fun!!
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A Boston Food Diary — April 6, 2011 at 8:30 pm

OF COURSE 4 is better than 2!!! This looks amazing….I love the idea of lemon and coconut together-and it’s gorgeous!
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Aimee — April 6, 2011 at 8:47 pm

Love lemon curd, love coconut, especially love a cake that lets me “frost” the sides with ease. This looks so yummy!!
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Nutmeg Nanny — April 6, 2011 at 9:31 pm

Such a delicious cake! I honestly didn’t know a 6 inch was half of a 9 inch….thank you 🙂
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Kelly Jaremco — April 29, 2015 at 8:39 pm

I told my girlfriend I would bake her a cake for her birthday this Sunday !!! I got lemon curd and coconut stuck in my brain, so I started googling… which led me to your page !!! This recipie looks almost perfect !!

Couple questions…

Do you think the coconut extract was too strong for the cake, because you also have the browned coconut pcs too? I was considering vanilla bean cake, lemon curd and toasted coconut on the outside… but perhaps that wouldn’t be enough coconut flavour…. your thoughts?

Lastly… what did you use as the frosting to keep the toasted coconut on? It looks like whipping cream…. ?!?!?

Thanks !!!
Kelly

P.S
This is the first cake I’ve ever baked !!! lol