Deep-dish winter fruit pie with walnut crumble

To save the trouble of making a crust and to decrease the calories, I made this without a crust.  Since I couldn't find figs, I substituted about 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup golden raisins.  It came out delicious and filled a deep pie dish and an 8x8 inch square.  It became better each day, and sweeter, making me think that we could do without the raisins.  Even the cranberries, which can be quite tart, became sweet with the baking.

This deep-dish crumb-topped pie combines several winter fruits and confirms that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The pears become soft, the apples remain slightly firm, the figs add texture and sweetness, and the tart cranberries pop in your mouth, making this rustic pie a sensory treat. Be sure to plan ahead, as this recipe calls for chilling the dough for one hour, chilling it again after you roll it out (this reduces shrinkage of the crust during baking), and then baking the pie for over an hour. It is an hours-long process, off and on, but it is worth every minute. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a glass of apple or pear brandy (preferably from Clear Creek Distillery), it is the perfect final touch to a dinner party.

ingredients

Pie Pastry

• 1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons ice water
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Walnut Crumb Topping

• 3/4 cup (3 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed (5 3/4 ounces) brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) raw walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, melted

Fruit Filling

• 1 cup (5 1/2 ounces) dried figs (see below)
• 4 small apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2 inch thick (12 ounces prepped)
• 4 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2 inch thick (1 1/4 pounds prepped)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• I left out the figs (because I couldn't find any) and added 1/4 cup dried cranberries ; consider 1/4 cup raisins

preparation

To make the pie pastry, put the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl, stir to combine, then put the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Add the butter to the flour mixture and toss to evenly coat. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender, a food processor, an electric mixer, or your hands, just until the mixture becomes coarse and crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Stir the water and lemon juice together, then pour over the dry ingredients and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured work surface and press it into a 6-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Roll the chilled dough into a 14-inch disk, then line a 9 or 10 by 3-inch springform pan with the rolled-out dough. Patch any holes and trim off any dough that hangs over the edges of the pan. Chill for an additional 30 minutes while you prepare the crumb topping and the fruit filling.

To make the walnut crumb topping, mix the flour, brown sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl. Stir in the butter, then work it in with your hands until the texture of crumbs. Put the topping in the refrigerator while you make the fruit filling.

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F.

To make the fruit filling, remove the stem from each fig, then boil the figs in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Slice each fig into 4 to 5 pieces, put them in a large bowl, and add the apples, pears, and cranberries. Separately, rub the sugar and cornstarch together, then add to the fruit and gently toss until evenly coated.

Transfer the filling to the pie shell and top with the walnut crumb. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 60 to 75 minutes, or until the crumb is golden, the fruit juices are bubbling thickly around the edges, and the fruit is tender when pierced with a wooden skewer. If the crumb is getting too dark, cover it with foil.

Storage: Covered with a tea towel, the pie will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. Spooned into a bowl and drizzled with chilled cream, it makes a wonderful breakfast.

Reprinted with permission from Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies, and More by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson, copyright © 2009. Photography © 2009 by Sara Remington. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc.