Honey Pie, for Pi Day
Published March 14, 2017 | By ashley english
Right this minute, the entire mid-Altantic and northeast regions of the U.S. are getting hammered by a blizzard. Even here in our forested western North Carolina cove, there are blustery winds and tiny snowflakes tossing every which way. Spring might be slated for a mere week from now, but winter is definitely giving us a last hurrah.
Today, though, is all about pie, or Pi, as it were. As defined by Wikipedia “The number π is a mathematical constant, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, commonly approximated as 3.14159. It has been represented by the Greek letter “π” since the mid-18th century, though it is also sometimes spelled out as “pi” (/paɪ/).” And because I love a good pun, and cheekiness in general, what better way to celebrate math, and pie, and the intersection of mid-March (3/14) with almost spring than to bake. Amiright?
To that end, I present you with my recipe for Honey Pie. Sweet without being cloyingly so, this is the kind of pie that you bake, and then, poof, it disappears. You, and those in your home, will keep creeping back for additional slices and bites and before you know it, the pie has been completely consumed. I guarantee it. It’s that good. And, because hope always springs eternal, as it were, we topped the pie with forsythia and quince blooms from our yard (both of which are edible), and fried sage leaves, for a bit of spring cheer.
Happy Pi day, happy Pie Day, happy almost-spring, and happy Wednesday!
ALSO: Spring-y pies from years past:
Carrot Pie
Strawberry Crumble-Top Pie
Honey Pie (from A Year Of Pies: A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies, Ashley English, Lark Books, 2012)
Given a good supply of available nectar, honeybees will have honey ready to harvest in late spring. This custard-based pie showcases honey’s ambrosial qualities with every bite. Incredibly easy to make, this pie would make a wonderful gift for your own “Sweetie.” If you want to really guild the lily, serve a slice with a small glass of honey mead.
Makes: One 9-inch pie.
You will need:
½ recipe Basic Pie Dough (recipe below)
Filling:
-1 cup whole milk
-4 large eggs, room temperature
-1/2 cup honey
-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
-Pinch of salt
-Nutmeg, freshly grated
Prepare the crust:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of your pie pan.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Trim the crust overhang to 1 inch and crimp the edges decoratively. Prick the bottom of the crust 6-7 times with a fork, then place the crust in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Line the piecrust with parchment and fill it with dried beans or pie weights. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, then remove from the oven, leaving the oven at 400 degrees F. Remove the dried beans or pie weights and parchment paper from the crust, and cool it completely before filling.
Prepare the filling:
Warm the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Watch carefully and remove the pan from the heat just before bubbles begin forming on the surface of the milk. Set aside. Whisk the eggs, honey, vanilla, and salt in a medium-size bowl. Add the warmed milk to the egg mixture slowly, whisking in a bit at a time before adding more. Once all of the milk is added to the egg mixture, whisk thoroughly to ensure all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Assemble the pie:
Pour the filling mixture into the prepared crust, and then grate fresh nutmeg liberally over the surface.
Place the pie pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Cool at least 1 hour before serving.
Basic Pie Dough
Makes 2 pie dough disks
You Will Need:
-2½ cups all-purpose flour
-1¼ teaspoons salt
-1 cup butter, chilled and cubed
-¾ cup ice water
To Make:
Mix the flour and salt together in a medium-large mixing bowl. Using a pastry cutter or two forks incorporate the butter until the mixture resembles a coarse meal (you should still have rather large bits of butter when you’re done). Slowly drizzle in the ice water. Stir with a mixing spoon until the dough starts to clump.
Transfer the dough onto a floured work surface, and fold it together into itself using your hands. The dough should come together easily but should not feel overly sticky. Cut the dough in half and shape into two balls. Wrap each dough ball in cellophane and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Proceed according to the recipe instructions. Alternately, store the dough disks in an airtight container or zippered freezer bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months (you’ll need to move the dough out of the freezer and into the refrigerator 24 hours before you plan to use it).