Monday, June 23, 2008

Sugar High Friday (SHF) #44 Taste Canada: Sugar Pie in Jars

Sugar Pie in a JarEarlier this year, I was hunting for a “Tarte au Sucre” recipe that is part of the cooking school curriculum I'm working through as a self-directed study. At first I thought all I had to do was pull out the sugar pie recipe that’s common at Christmas time with French Canadians. I was disappointed to find out that the Tarte au Sucre I was being asked to make was a yeasted cake, like brioche with a sugar topping. Not even close to the French Canadian version!

When Jennifer of The Domestic Goddess, who launched the popular Sugar High Friday blogging event, announced that she was hosting this month and that the theme was Canadian sweets, I knew I had to participate. I also knew I had a chance to make Sugar Pie, the Canadian version (my take on it!). I took some liberties with the traditional recipe. Mine has Dulce de Leche, as if it weren't sweet enough already! I also had to throw in a touch of maple syrup, since it's made just 45 minutes from my home!

This pie is more often than not served as a tart, but I added a little whiff of pastry on top to keep its pie delineation. The addition of flour is debated, and I’m sure my flavoring additions will be hotly debated by traditionalists, but I have taste testers who will back me up saying it was delicious! However, they are not French Canadian and it was their first taste of sugar pie. Here’s a great article for some more information about sugar pie.

Earlier this month, I’d read about pie in jars. I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to use this brilliant idea. Megan from Not Martha got the idea from Amy at Angry Chicken who got the idea from Mariko at Super Eggplant who saw it on Etsy and things went viral from there. LloydandLauren also made frozen mudslide pies in jars. I love it!

Recipe for Sugar Pie

Sugar Pie ingredients

Makes 6 little jars or 1 8-inch pie

Pastry recipe is from Baking from My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

1½ cups flour
½ cup icing sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick plus 1 tablespoon butter
1 egg yolk
Drops of water

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour
2/3 cup (160 mL) evaporated skim milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon Dulce de Leche
½ teaspoon maple syrup

For the pastry: Put all the ingredients on the counter. Blend with your fingers. Add drops of water until it comes together into a ball. Press a small ball into each jar. Chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. (Save some pastry dough for the top.)

Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Pre-bake the shells until they’re golden, about 8-10 minutes. Cool.

For the filling: In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, flour, evaporated skim milk, and heavy cream. Whisk constantly until thick. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg. Dulce de Leche, and maple syrup. Let cool.

Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Pour the filling into the pre-baked shells. Top with a bit of pastry cut into a shape. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Serve with ginger-flavored whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Sugar Pie in a JarTasting Notes
This is a rich, sweet dessert. Some like it with vanilla ice cream and some with whipped cream and some unadorned. It’s delicious in small doses, and especially fun to eat with a spoon from a jar!

If you would like to join me as I cook my way through a cooking school curriculum, send me an email with "Whisk Wednesdays" in the subject line. I'd love to have your help, feedback, and input! Click HERE for more info!


Sugar Pie baked in jar

Here is my recipe for Sugar Pie, the Canadian version ...

See Sugar Pie baked in jar on Key Ingredient.







18 comments:

ostwestwind said...

Wee, what a great looking pie in a jar! I bet on Nanaimo bars, I was very impressed about them.

Ulrike from Küchenlatein

Helene said...

Tarte au sucre is one of my dad's favorit, it is also a Belgian favorite seems like. I love your presentation!

Anonymous said...

Very nice...love the presentation.

I read Angry Chicken and Not Martha also...it's a small world, isn't it?

Jules Someone said...

So totally adorable! I've been eyeing those mini pies. I may just have to start some myself!

PheMom said...

Oh this sounds awesome - and the jar idea? Super cool!

Shelley said...

Very cute -- and the little jar is a nice idea for a rich dessert, not to mention making the presentation extra-special. There's just something about getting your own wee little jar or ramekin that makes a treat even nicer.

Peabody said...

The jars are just so very cute.

Shari said...

Thanks everyone for dropping by and leaving a comment! I'm looking forward to seeing more desserts in jars (and maybe savory food too...chicken pot jar...).

Patricia Scarpin said...

Shari, I love this idea! It looks adorable and delicious.

Anonymous said...

what a great idea! a pie in a jar:) fun! Looks so delicious!

Domestic Goddess said...

Shari, this is a great recipe and I love the pie-in-a-jar presentation! And lucky you living so close to a Maple Syrup manufacturer!

Thanks so much for joining in on Mmm...Canada!

Liliana said...

If you live in Quebec, you will have tasted tarte au sucre at sometime or other. Great idea on the sugar pie in jars. They look awesome!

Kaitlin said...

So cute! I think I may go out and get some small mason jars this weekend. My 500mL jars won't do the trick--this would be such a cute presentation for so many different things. Very inspiring.

The Apron Queen said...

What a great spin on this recipe! Looks delicious.

Stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen for a piece of Maple Walnut Fudge: http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/2008/06/maple-walnut-fudge-old-fashioned-way.html

Anonymous said...

What a delicious take on this dessert - I absolutely love things in jars, it's just adorable :) Beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

I love the addition of the dulce de leche in the filling. I can eat that straight from the can! Beautiful and scrumptious looking dessert!

Baked, By Anna said...

SO adorable! Looks very sweet!

NKP said...

Adorable, I have never seen anything like them!