With the new season now upon us, it’s time to start planning some warm and comforting meals to see you through the darker evenings. It’s always nice to have a sweet treat after a meal, but it seems even more vital in the cold and wintry months. Pie is a delicious, fruit-filled option to have as your sweet course, and once you’ve got the knack of making your own pastry (or rolling out some store-bought), filling the pie is quite simple and easy. Check out these three recipes for pie fillings which are fruit, fun and flavorsome.
Cherry, Pear and Spiced Wine
Ingredients (to serve 8):
- 3 pears
- 2/3 cup of fresh or frozen pitted cherries
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- ½ cup of red or rose wine
- ¼ cup of water
- 2 teaspoons of ground allspice
- 2 tablespoons of butter
Instructions:
- Heat the wine and water in a pan, adding the ground allspice once the liquid starts to steam. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from the heat.
- Heat the butter in a pan, and add the sliced pears and cherries. As the fruit softens, add the sugar.
- Once the pears are soft, add the wine to the fruit. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
- Allow the mix to cool slightly before filling the pastry. Bake the pie until it is golden on top.
Apple and Cashew Nut Cream
Ingredients (to serve 8):
- 4 large apples
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- ½ cup of cashew nuts
- ½ cup of warm water
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
Instructions:
- Soak the cashew nuts in the warm water for half an hour, then drain.
- Slice the apples and add them to a pan along with the cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Cook until the apples are soft.
- Blitz the soaked cashews with the maple syrup in a food processor (you may need to add a splash of water). Add the nuts to the apples and stir well.
- Fill the pie with the mix and bake until the pastry is golden.
Banana, Blueberry and Coconut
Ingredients (to serve 8)
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- ¼ cup of desiccated coconut
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
Instructions:
- Heat the blueberries in a pan with the sugar. After 5 minutes, add the sliced banana.
- Add the desiccated coconut and cook for a further 10 minutes.
- Allow the mix to cool before using it to fill the pie.
Serve the pie with cream, custard, or ice cream for a real autumnal treat.
