FIRST SNOW CHERRY PIE WITH SNOWFLAKE SUGAR COOKIES

First Snow Cherry Pie with Snowflake Sugar Cookies image

Every year on the day of the first snow fall, I make a cherry pie for my children to enjoy after school. This, like my children, is the grown-up version.

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 1h40m

Yield 1 pie plus extra cookies

Number Of Ingredients 20

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water
1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup cherries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup peeled and chopped apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice, plus 1 tablespoon zest
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons brandy
Sugar Cookies, recipe follows
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
Icing and candies, for decorating

Steps:

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and butter in a food processor. Pulse until the consistency of fine meal. Add 4 tablespoons water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Pinch the dough with your fingers; if it doesn't hold together, add a tablespoon of water at a time, pulsing between additions, until it does.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and work it until it just comes together.
Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic and place it in the refrigerator to chill at least 20 minutes.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Transfer it to a 9-inch pie plate. Roll or trim the edges as you like.
Line the dough with parchment and fill with pie weights. Bake until set, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights from the crust.
For the filling: In a large saucepan, combine the cranberries, cherries, apples, sugar, orange juice and zest and cinnamon. Bring to a simmer and cook until the cranberries pop and the cherries and apples are soft. Be careful to not cook the apple to mush. If using frozen cranberries and cherries, hold the apples until the last 5 minutes and then add them. Thicken by stirring in the cornstarch mixture. Stir for 1 minute. Stir in the brandy and remove from the heat.
To make the pie: Fill the pie crust with the pie filling. Bake until bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool to just warm or room temperature. Top with the Sugar Cookies.
For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter, flour, sugar, vanilla and eggs on medium speed until well combined. Flatten the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic. Chill in the refrigerator, at least 20 minutes.
Roll out the dough to desired thickness. Cut out cookies with your favorite cookie cutter.
Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until slightly crisp on the edges, 9 to 11 minutes; adjust for thickness.
Let cool, then decorate as desired.