CRACK PIE

 

say crack again.. CRACK! ok i couldn't not quote mean girls! anyways, this weekend i decided to tackle momofuku's crack pie. i actually have yet to go to momofuku and have the famous crack pie [it is on my spring to do list], but this recipe turned out so good, i can only imagine the real thing! it looks a little lengthy but the actual process is so easy. you basically just make one giant oatmeal cookie, and then crush it up into a pie crust. the filling is a cross between a sugar pie and a butter tart filling. it is definitely on the sweet side, but than again it is called "crack pie". AND if you are wondering why my pie has a fox design in the middle, it is my favourite animal and nothing more! here we go...this recipe has been adapted from the momofuku cook book:

INGREDIENTS (makes two ten inch pies)

oat cookie:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  1. in the bowl of a stand mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. add egg and vanilla, and continue to mix until even lighter and fluffier.
  3. add flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  4. spread out on one big cookie sheet (to make one giant cookie) and bake at 350 degrees until the edges begin to brown.
  5. remove from oven and let completely cool before continuing on

crust:

  • 1 giant oat cookie, cooled
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  1. crumble up oat cookie with your hands, until it becomes a sandy, coarse, texture.
  2. add sugar, salt, and butter, and mix until the crumbled cooking begins to stick together.
  3. separate between two pie dishes, and old into a cruse shape.

filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup cold heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 egg yolks [egg white omelette in the morning anyone?]
  1. in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  2. add the melted butter and blend until ingredients are evenly mixed.
  3. add the vanilla and heavy cream, mixing until the cream is even dispersed.
  4. add all the egg yolks at once and mix until the batter becomes glossy, but be careful not to over mix!
  5. divide mixture evenly into the two prepared pie plates.
  6. bake at 350 degrees for exactly fifteen minutes, once the time is up, reduce oven to 325 degrees and open the oven door until this temperature is reached.
  7. once the oven reaches 325 degrees, close oven door and bake for 10-15 minutes longer (pie will still be very jiggly, but the edges should be browned)
  8. let cool and room temperature, then freeze over night.
  9. dust with powdered sugar and add whatever fun design you desire!

ASIAGO PRETZEL TWIST

 
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for some reason, the thought of making pretzels from scratched scared me! i mean, you have to boil them in water THEN bake them?! but this all changed once i had the asiago pretzel from starbucks. i knew i had to recreate this level of deliciousness into something even better. so i did my research until i found the perfect recipe [adapted from just a taste], and guess what! they turned out pretty damn perfect. so here it is, i highly suggest you give it a shot*.

* i mixed the asiago cheese into the batter, however sprinkling it on top instead of the coarse salt prior to baking works too.

ASIAGO PRETZEL TWIST (makes 8-10 twist)

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon raw sugar
  • 1 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup grated asiago cheese
  • 1/2 cup baking soda (for boiling pretzels)
  • 1 egg yolk & 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
  1. in the stand mixer bowl, mix warm water, raw sugar, and salt. sprinkle the yeast on top (but do not stir in) and let it sit for 5 minutes. if it does not begin to foam, check the expiration date on your yeast!
  2. with the dough attachment on your mixer, add one cup of flour and all the butter to the bowl. mix until combined.
  3. add grated cheese and remaining flour and mix/knead until the dough becomes smooth and pulls away from the bowl.
  4. form into a ball, and let it sit in the mixing bowl covered for an hour (or until it has doubled in size).
  5. preheat the oven to 425ºF and line two sheets with parchment paper.
  6. in a separate dutch oven, mix 6 cups of boiling water with the baking soda.
  7. once the water begins to boil, roll your dough into your desired twist/pretzel shape and boil individually for 30 seconds.
  8. place each twist onto your baking tray and brush with egg wash and a sprinkle of coarse salt.
  9. bake until the pretzels become a golden brown, approximately 12-15 minutes.

BANANA BREAD/MUFFINS

 

 happy spring:) there is nothing that makes me happier then the sight of rotten bananas! i use to hate any form of banana unless it was mashed into a cake/bread.. but banana & i are cool now. this recipe is honestly the best banana bread you will ever make! i have come up with the perfect balance of butter and oil, because why chose just one? i also use raw sugar in and on top of the banana bread for the texture (& health benefits i suppose). the results will be a moist, dense, sweet bread that you can add just about anything you like into it (walnuts, chocolate, raisins [yuck] & more chocolate). 

BANANA BREAD (makes one loaf or 12 muffins)

ingredients

  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 cup raw sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • raw sugar, to sprinkle on top

directions

  1. preheat the oven to 325°F and butter a loaf pan.
  2. in a mixing bowl, mash bananas with the melted butter and oil.
  3. stir in raw sugar, egg, and vanilla until combined.
  4. sift in cinnamon, flour, baking soda, and salt. mix until just combined.
  5. pour into loaf pan and sprinkle with raw sugar.
  6. bake until the top is golden brown and you a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 45 minutes.

 enjoy xo!