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Pumpkin: Caramel Pumpkin Pie

Source of Recipe

Family Circle Holiday Cakes & Cookies 1999


List of Ingredients

pie pastry for a double-crust pie
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy or light cream
3/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups canned solid-pock pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla


Recipe

Position shelf in bottom third of oven. Heat to 425ºF. Line 9-inch pie pan with single crust. Cut out leaf shapes from other crust. Line pie shell with foil; fill with dried beans or rice. Place pie pan and leaf cutouts on baking sheet. Bake in 425ºF oven 8 to 10 minutes, until light brown. Remove foil with beans; remove leaves to rack to cool. Return pie shell to oven. Bake until bottom sets, 5 minutes, pricking with fork any places that bubble up. Remove shell to rack to cool. Leave oven on at 425ºF.

In saucepan, heat milk until small bubbles appear around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Make caramel: Place the granulated sugar in heavy 3-quart saucepan. Place over medium heat until sugar begins to melt, without stirring. Tilt pan around frequently to continue melting, until colored medium brown, 1 to 2 minutes total. Remove from heat. Carefully add hot milk all at once; the mixture will bubble up, then subside. Stir in cream, brown sugar and honey; stir to dissolve sugar. If clumps do not dissolve, simmer briefly, stirring, about 2 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Place pumpkin puree in large bowl. Sprinkle with cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt; stir to blend. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in caramel mixture and vanilla. Pour the filling into pie shell. Bake on baking sheet in 425ºF oven for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 325?. Bake 45 minutes or until center is set. Turn oven off. Leave pie in oven with door partially open. Let cool completely. Garnish top with pastry leaves. Serve with whipped cream, if you wish. Makes: 12 servings.