Lattice Berry Pie

I have decided what I want for Christmas.

A food processor. I have found out how amazing it is for making pastry dough. Pure wizardry.

B is very unimpressed and feels this is not a romantic gift for our first Christmas together as husband and wife, but I don’t care. You can see our struggle between romantic / practical (guess who represents who?) is a running theme in our relationship.

I made this pie a while back during our vacation in the Bay Area. How long ago that seems. How sad it seems I won’t have a vacation til next year. No such things as holidays in intern year of residency (or any year of residency).

Still, doesn’t mean I can’t practice my pie making skills. I’ve never made a lattice pie but always loved how beautiful they look. It’s not hard, but requires a lot of patience. Sadly my pie lattice sank as it baked, but it tasted great anyway.

B’s parents wanted to host a second wedding reception for their side of the family, and many couldn’t make it to Texas for our wedding. This was also the formal introduction – most of them I have never met. I made this pie for the day after BBQ – again, no better way to win over relatives and in laws with baking skills (although an MD degree also helps gain approval!)

Lattice Berry Pie

Ingredients
PASTRY DOUGH*
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
6 to 8 tbsp ice water

FILLING
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups total (1 cup each fresh blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon sanding or granulated sugar

*I made the the pastry dough for the lattice and then used 1 premade crust for base

Directions
PASTRY DOUGH: Put flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a couple times to mix. Add the butter, a little at a time, and pulse. Add water a little at a time, and pulse until the dough just barely begins to hold together (do not overmix). If you don’t have a food processor, you can mix by hand.

Roll dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

PIE FILLING: Put a large baking sheet in middle of oven and preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt, and berries. Place on a sieve to drain out excess juices (this prevents your pie from being too soggy).

Roll out your chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and roll to about 1/8 inch thickness. Add water if needed to work the dough. Trim long strips to make the lattice top.

In your other pie crust (homemade or store bought) shell,  fill pie with your berry filling. Top the pie with other pastry, forming a lattice pattern (see guide here). Beat your egg to make your egg wash for a golden color. Brush the lattice with the egg wash and sprinkle granulated sugar

Bake pie on hot baking sheet in middle of oven 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, about an additional 45 minutes.
Cool pie on a rack to let juices thicken and enjoy.