Bon Appetit Desserts!

While I am working on losing weight, I believe it is also important not to deprieve myself. I would also rather have a quality dessert rather than choosing a dessert based on quantity. For that reason, I am really excited about the Bon Appetit Desserts cookbook! Written by Barbara Fairchild, the Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit magazine, this book includes more than 600 desserts and is described as “The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful” as its subtitle.

I’m really excited about the fact that there is such a variety and wealth of information in this cookbook! As a relatively novice baker, I am looking forward to learning more about the fundamentals of baking in the chapters on “Equipment: The Basics” and “Techniques: The Basics”. With the holidays fast approaching I’m also looking for some inspiration from a combination of classic and unique recipes in the chapters on “Bar Cookies and Brownies” and “Candy” – I’m hoping to use some of these recipes to make holiday gift baskets for our family and friends! And, while I am working on losing weight, I know I will wholeheartedly appreciate the chapter on “Cheesecakes” as I do enjoy a high-quality indulgence!

Check out this site for an example of one of the recipes in Bon Appetit Desserts – Pumpkin Pie is a favourite among many of my family members, so I can’t wait to try it out and take it to the next family dinner (just reading this recipe makes me hungry – it looks divine!)!

Classic Pumpkin Pie
A bit of sour cream gives the filling of this special pie a subtle tang and a little extra richness. If you’d like to decorate the pie with pastry leaves, prepare and roll out a second pie-crust dough disk; sprinkle the leaf-shaped cutouts with sugar before baking. Serve the pie with whipped cream, if desired. 8 servings

Flaky Pie Crust dough disk (see recipe)
3⁄4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
1⁄4 teaspoon (generous) salt
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
3⁄4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
3 large eggs, beaten to blend
1⁄2 cup sour cream
1⁄4 cup apricot preserves

Roll out dough disk on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim dough overhang to 1⁄2 inch. Fold overhang under and shape edge to form high-standing rim. Make cut in crust edge at 1⁄2-inch intervals. Bend alternate edge pieces inward. Freeze crust 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line crust with foil and beans or pie weights. Place crust on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake crust until sides are set and dry, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Continue to bake crust until cooked through and pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, 13 to 15 minutes longer. Cool crust on sheet 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Whisk both sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in medium bowl until no lumps remain. Whisk in pumpkin, whipping cream, eggs, and sour cream. Gently spread apricot preserves evenly over inside of crust to coat. Pour filling into crust.

Bake pie on sheet until filling puffs at edges and center is almost set, 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool pie completely on rack. Cover and chill until cold.

Do Ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.

Flaky Pie Crust
All purpose flour and cake flour combine to make a tender crust, while the mixture of butter and shortening lends flavor and a flaky texture. If you don’t own a food processor, simply use your fingertips or a pastry blender to combine the butter and shortening with the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Makes 1 dough disk (enough for one 9-inch or 10-inch crust)

1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1⁄3 cup cake flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3⁄4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1⁄2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons chilled non-hydrogenated solid vegetable shortening, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons (or more) ice water

Mix both flours, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter and shortening; using on/off turns, process until mixture resembles very coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and process until large moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill until cold and firm, at least 1 hour.

Do Ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.

With its upcoming release on November 2nd, I’m really looking forward to the Bon Appetit Desserts cookbook!