Ask A DFW Expert: Your Best Thanksgiving Pie

Even though your guests may be feeling stuffed after chowing down on turkey and all the fixings, a Thanksgiving feast isn't complete without dessert. To help make your dessert spread memorable, executive pastry chef Ruben Torano from The Joule and Marche Ann Mann, chef and owner of the Black Rooster Bakery, have shared some Thanksgiving pie recipes that are sure to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

Chef Ruben Torano
The Joule Hotel
1530 Main St.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 748-1300
www.thejouledallas.com Executive pastry chef extraordinaire Ruben Torano, of The Joule Hotel, is known for wowing die-hard dessert-aholics with an array of sweet concoctions he creates for the hotel's chic brasserie CBD Provisions. Here, Torano shares his recipe for an autumn-inspired dessert that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any Thanksgiving table — pear pumpkin cobbler with brown cinnamon horchata ice cream. This dessert can be made a few days in advance and assembled before serving.

Pear Pumpkin CobblerIngredients for the filling:

• 6 medium diced pears
• 1 lemon, zested
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 vanilla bean (split open)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 8 oz. sugar
• 2 cups apple juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 8 oz. cranberries
• 3 additional pears, medium diced
• 1 can pumpkin puree

Directions:

1. Place the first six ingredients and the salt in a large saucepan.
2. Add enough apple juice to cover and bring to a boil.
3. Add cranberries to mixture and slowly cook until fruit becomes soft and the liquid begins to thicken.
4. Remove from heat and add in the additional diced pears and let rest until tender.
5. Mix in pumpkin puree and allow mixture to cool. Once cool, remove cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean.

Ingredients for topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 7 oz. butter, softened and chopped
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger, ground

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.
2. Mix in butter by hand until mixture resembles course meal.
3. Spread mixture on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees F, stirring every 5 minutes for 30 minutes or until evenly baked.
4. Cool, break apart until crumbly in texture and set aside.

Assembly:

1. Place cobbler filling in cast iron pan and cover generously with crumble topping. 
2. Bake in preheated 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes until filling begins to bubble around edges.
3. Serve with brown-cinnamon horchata ice cream.  

Brown Cinnamon Horchata Ice CreamIngredients:

• 22 oz. heavy cream
• 6 oz. rice milk (unsweetened)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 oz. brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a heavy saucepan, bring milk, cream and cinnamon stick to a boil.
2. Remove mixture from heat and set aside.
3. Whisk sugar, yolks and ground cinnamon together.
4. Gradually whisk in half of hot cream mixture to yolk mixture to temper.
5. Add tempered yolks to remaining cream mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and coats a spoon. Remove cinnamon stick.
6. Cover and chill at least two hours or overnight.
7. Pour chilled mixture into ice cream machine and spin until frozen. Keep frozen until ready to use.

Related: Ask A DFW Expert: The Perfect Holiday Menu

Chef Marche Ann Mann
Black Rooster Bakery
2430 Forest Park Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76110
(817) 924-1600
www.blackroosterbakery.net When chef Marche Ann Mann opened the Black Rooster Bakery in 2010, it instantly became Fort Worth's go-to place for European-style artisan breads. Mann's bakery even provides bread to many of Fort Worth's top restaurants. Along with bread, the Black Rooster is known for its delicious sandwiches and a wide variety of delectable sweets. Mann says that pies rule the Rooster's roost and one of her favorites is a cranberry chess pie that she has graciously shared the recipe for here. You can substitute the cranberry topping for any topping you fancy, the possibilities are numerous for dressing it up, says Mann.

Cranberry Chess Pie Ingredients:

• 1 baked 9-inch pie shell
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, separated
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 cup cranberries, partially chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in egg yolks.
3. Add flour, lemon juice, nutmeg and salt to combine.
4. With mixer running, slowly add the buttermilk.
5. Whip egg whites until soft peaks form and gently fold into the buttermilk mixture.
6. Pour mixture into pie shell and top with cranberries.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes until pie is lightly browned.
8. Serve at room temperature.

Related: Best Places To Buy A Turkey In DFW

Ilene Jacobs is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. Ilene enjoys writing about a variety of topics, ranging from food, fitness and travel, to kids, pets and senior care. You can find some of her work at Examiner.com.