Want to dress up your favourite Thanksgiving pie with quick and easy toppings that are sure to please? We’ve got five fabulous hacks that take mere minutes to prepare and deliver on both taste and wow factor. Who says you can’t have your pie and eat it, too?
Putting together an entire Thanksgiving dinner can seem daunting, but we’ve got time and turkey-saving tips and tricks up our sleeves that you can use to pull it off. And to vault you to superstar-cook status, we’ve got five dessert hacks, so you can focus on everything else.
Our Compliments frozen and bakery-ready pies in traditional pumpkin and apple and also pecan are fabulous on their own, but for those who want those oohs and aahs around the table, these hacks are tailor-made for you!
1. Pumpkin Meringue Pie
Whip up a quick and easy meringue, then load it up atop a Compliments Pumpkin Pie. The crowning glory is the torched meringue with its golden peaks and swirls for both a show stopping dessert and that roasted-marshmallow flavour that can’t be beat. Here’s how:
In a bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together 10 tbsp (150 mL) room temperature pasteurized egg white product and ¼ tsp (1 mL) cream of tartar until foamy, 1 to 2 min. Beat in 10 tbsp (150 mL) granulated sugar, 1 tbsp (15 mL) at a time, until meringue is glossy and stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 min. Pile meringue in centre of Compliments Pumpkin Pie; with back of spoon, create peaks and swirls. Toast peaks of meringue with a crème brûlée torch, or broil pie in centre of oven, rotating every 30 sec., until peaks are golden-brown, 2 to 3 min. Garnish with pecans, if desired.
Tip: Make sure the bowl and beaters are clean, dry, and free of any oil, which may prevent egg whites from whipping properly.
2. Salted Dark Chocolate and Pretzel Pecan Pie
Take a tasty Compliments Pecan Pie to a whole new dimension by topping with a thin, smooth layer of homemade dark chocolate ganache. We up the ante by garnishing with mini pretzels, toasted pecans, and sea salt for a savoury textural crunch to offset the sweet filling. In about 10 min., you’ll go from good to “oh, my pie!” Here’s how:
Finely chop a 100 g (3½ oz) pkg of dark chocolate. In a microwaveable bowl, microwave chopped chocolate with 1½ tbsp (20 mL) 35% cream, stirring halfway, until smooth, 30 to 45 sec. Pour melted chocolate over top Compliments Pecan Pie and spread evenly to the edge. Arrange ⅓ cup (75 mL) each mini pretzels and lightly roasted pecan halves over chocolate. Sprinkle with ¼ tsp (1 mL) flaked sea salt.
3. Apple Pie with Warm Spiced Cranberry Sauce
Give our deconstructed take on a cranberry-apple pie a whirl with this easy hack. For this, you’ll take a warm homemade cranberry sauce and serve it over a slice of Compliments Apple Pie for a spiced, sweet, and tangy combination that’s sure to please. Here’s how:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1½ cups (375 mL) frozen or fresh cranberries with ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ tsp (1 mL) cinnamon and pinch allspice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst, 1 to 2 min. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce starts to thicken, 7 to 10 min. Set aside to cool slightly. Serve slices of Compliments Apple Pie topped with a spoonful of warm cranberry sauce.
4. Brûléed Pumpkin Pie
Sometimes, all it takes is one ingredient to turn your pie from simple to simply exquisite. Try this sugar-topped, brûléed technique on your Compliments Pumpkin pie and top with ripe fall fruit like figs, raspberries, and blackberries. You’ll be the belle of the ball. You’ll need a hand torch for this one, which can come in handy when you’re making other treats like any one of these ooey-gooey s’mores. Here’s how to get that brûléed effect:
Using the back of a spoon, gently press down on edges of Compliments Pumpkin Pie to create a smooth, flat surface. Sprinkle 6 to 8 tbsp. granulated sugar evenly over pie to the edges. Caramelize sugar with a crème brûlée torch until melted and golden. Garnish with fall fruit (such as quartered figs, blackberries, raspberries), if desired. Serve immediately.
Tip: Using more sugar will create a thicker sugar “crust” which will give a nice shatter effect when broken.
5. Apple Crumble Pie and Peanut Butter-Yogurt Breakfast Parfait
It’s hard to believe there might be pie left over from your Thanksgiving feast. But just in case, we’ve got this delicious breakfast parfait at the ready using leftover Compliments Apple Crumble Pie layered with a peanut butter-vanilla yogurt for an easy, satisfying way to start your day. The pie’s crumble layer and crust add a tasty, granola-like crunch to the parfait.
Tip: These are perfectly portable too (in jars), in case you’re on dessert duty and are invited to a brunch or informal get-together. Here’s how to make it:
Stir 2 cups Greek yogurt with 1 tsp vanilla, and ½ cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) in a medium bowl until smooth. Alternate layers of chopped Compliments Apple Crumble pie and peanut butter-yogurt in glasses or small jars, ending with yogurt layer. Sprinkle with peanuts, if desired.
