This Autumnal Pie Combines Two Fall Favorites (Trace: It is Not Pumpkin!)

I spent a number of years studying the artwork of pie making at 4 & Twenty Blackbirds, a beloved bakery positioned in Brooklyn, NY. Come fall, clients swiftly turned their consideration to the signature salted caramel apple pie, however I used to be a steadfast fan of their candy potato–apple crumble. Impressed by that mixture, this pie marries candy potatoes and apples with a mixture of spices—together with cinnamon, Chinese language five-spice powder, and white pepper—and generously tops it with a punchy almond and thyme-spiced crumble.

Choosing Apples for Crumble

For the apples, I took a cue from Stella, who solely requires tart apples (like Granny Smiths) in her old school apple pie recipe. Combining apple slices with brown sugar and spices and permitting the combination to macerate for 3 hours reduces its quantity, which suggests extra uncooked fruit can match right into a single pie. When baked, Granny Smiths maintain their form effectively, ship a barely tart chunk, and complement the tender texture of candy potatoes.

Easy methods to Prepare dinner Candy Potatoes for Crumble

With the candy potatoes, I examined a number of strategies with the intention to pinpoint one which delivers a mushy, supple texture. First, I attempted par-boiling complete peeled candy potatoes (the identical methodology employed by 4 & Twenty Blackbirds), which generally resulted in totally tender ones however had been extra typically both inconsistently cooked, with mushy exteriors and uncooked interiors, or utterly overcooked. To shorten the cooking time and enhance reliability, I opted to slice the candy potatoes into smaller items that prepare dinner by way of quicker and extra persistently. The result’s crisp-tender items that change into completely cooked as soon as baked.

A pair different notable strategies I examined for the candy potatoes that didn’t make the reduce: Kenji’s methodology of par-cooking candy potatoes at low temperatures, which reinforces their sweetness, produced ones that had been too candy within the context of this pie; microwaving the candy potatoes, in the meantime, yielded blended outcomes—whereas the method works effectively for totally cooking a candy potato till mushy and silky, it is not almost constant sufficient when the objective right here is par-cooking.

To complete the pie is a nubby crumble topping, made by combining flour, sliced almonds, sugar, thyme, salt, spices, and a liberal quantity of melted butter. The result’s a show-stopping pie that not solely might be a welcome addition on the vacation desk, however pulls off the exceptional feat of satisfying each apple pie lovers and candy potato pie lovers alike.