butterscotch pie

_ Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

1 tsp kosher salt

2 tbsp light brown sugar, packed

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2-4 tbsp ice water

8 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed and chilled

Filling Ingredients

2 cups half and half

2 tsp vanilla

4 tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 egg yolks

1 cup packed light brown sugar

Topping Ingredients

1 tsp vanilla

3 tbsp powdered sugar

1 cup heavy whipping cream

_ Instructions

Begin by preparing the crust. In a medium bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, 

and salt.

Mix until well combined then add the cubed butter and, with your fingers, rub 

the butter into the flour mixture until the flour resembles coarse sand with pea

sized pieces of butter remaining.

Add the ice water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture forms a shaggy ball.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and press the dough into a 

rough disk. Fold the disk in half and flatten it out into a disk. Repeat this process

 three more times, or until the dough is smooth, then wrap the dough in plastic 

wrap and chill for at least one hour or up to three days.

Heat the oven to 350°F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at 

room temperature for 10 minutes. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work 

surface to a 12-inch circle that is about 1/8-inch thick. Turn the dough often, and 

dust the surface with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking.

Carefully fold the crust in half and place it into a 9-inch pie pan. Unfold and

 press the crust into the pan. Do not pull or stretch the dough. Trim the crust so 

there is a ½-inch overhang around the edge of the pan. Fold the excess crust 

under and crimp the dough with a fork or your fingers. Gently prick the bottom 

of the crust a few times with a fork to help prevent large air bubbles from 

forming under the crust.

Line the crust with parchment paper or aluminum foil and fill the crust with dry

 beans or pie weights.

Bake the crust for 15 minutes, then carefully remove the lining and pie weights

 and return to the oven for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until the crust is golden 

brown all over. Allow the crust to cool completely to room temperature.

Next, prepare the filling. In a medium saucepan add the brown sugar and butter.

Heat the mixture over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Cook for 

30 seconds, or until the mixture starts to smell like caramel, then remove the

 mixture from the heat.

In the work bowl of a food processor or blender add the half and half, cornstarch,

 and egg yolks. Blend for 30 seconds to combine then gradually, with the blender

 or food processor still running, begin adding the hot sugar mixture a tablespoon

 at a time until half the mixture is added. Stop the blender and add the remaining 

mixture and blend for 30 seconds or until the mixture is smooth.

Return the mixture to the sauce pan and cook over medium heat, whisking

 constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 8-10 minutes.

Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla.

Pour the mixture into the prepared crust and place a layer of plastic wrap directly

 on the filling. Cool for 30 minutes at room temperature, then refrigerate for at 

least 4 hours, or up to 2 days.

When you are ready to serve prepare the whipped cream topping. In a large bowl 

with a hand mixer, or in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip 

attachment, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Beat on low 

speed for 30 seconds to combine the powdered sugar, then increase the speed to 

medium-high and whip until the cream forms soft peaks, about 2-3 minutes.

Pipe or spread the cream on the pie as desired. Chill for 30 minutes before

 serving.