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.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I’m with you–every ingredient in this salad is a winner on it’s own. Together? Forgetaboutit! The colors are beautiful and I can imagine how great it tastes with the balance of bitter, sweet, and tart.
Love the new layout, also. Way to go!
Yum! I am also addicted to kale since doing a CSA here in Boston 🙂
It’s so funny, because as I was scrolling through Tastespotting tonight and saw this post, I had to click because it looked so familiar to my winter couscous bowl… and then, I couldn’t believe it when I saw my blog credited at the bottom! This is a first for me 🙂 Thanks so much for the credit!
So you’ve recently moved back to Cincinnati? Which part? My family and I live in Anderson Township.
beantownbaker — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:02 am
Thanks so much for the recipe!!
We work in West Chester and are living in Oakley right now. Trying to find a house at some point…
I think this sounds amazing, Jen! And I love how colorful it is. I am always looking for new winter salads that are colorful, flavorful, and interesting.
beantownbaker — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:06 pm
This is definitely colorful, flavorful, and interesting. I have seriously been OBSESSED with pomegranates this winter, and this salad totally feeds into that obsession.
I’m on a major quinoa AND kale kick so this salad is right up my alley. So colorful and pretty, too!
beantownbaker — January 14th, 2013 @ 3:47 pm
Pretty food is definitely always tastier than ugly food 🙂
looks a lot like the one i posted last week 🙂 obviously, i’m all over it!!
beantownbaker — January 14th, 2013 @ 3:48 pm
Very similar indeed!
This is perfect for that kale and pomegranate I have in the fridge! I’m always excited to find new things to put together ahead of time for lunches and dinners, thanks! Hope you are settling in nicely 🙂
beantownbaker — January 14th, 2013 @ 3:49 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Making food ahead of time saves the day during the week! I can’t imagine not eating leftovers… Things are going pretty well for us in Ohio so far. Hope things are going well for you and your little bundle on the way!
Sounds great to me! I love the ingredients. And the colors 🙂
This sounds right up my alley! YUM!!
I was thinking about an easy and colorful, flavorful, and power-packed healthy side dish to bring for a potluck lunch after a trail work party this coming weekend. I had these amazing cute pumpkins to harvest from my garden and love both kale and quinoa. I thought to myself, mmmm, what if I made some kind of pumpkin kale quinoa and goat cheese salad to share? One quick internet search and I came across this gem! I modified and concocted a tad, which is normal for me. Thanks so much for the recipe and ingredient confirmations! The honey, olive oil, and smokey / spicy combo was the secret ingredient for me! Happy fooding!
beantownbaker — November 3rd, 2013 @ 12:35 pm
Glad you enjoyed it! I am always tweaking recipes to make them fit what I have on hand and what we like too.