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Pumpkin Tart with Anise-Seed Crust

4.8

(14)

A pumpkin pie and a fruit tart on a credenza waiting for their moment to shine.
Pumpkin Tart with Anise-Seed CrustJonny Valiant

Truth be told, it’s hard to reinvent the Thanksgiving wheel year after year. But this crust—anise seeds baked into sweet pastry dough—is a little kiss of Italian spice; it takes pumpkin pie to a whole new level.

Cooks' note:

Tart shell can be baked 1 day ahead and kept (once cool), wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    3 hr (includes making pastry)

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

For pastry:

1 tablespoon anise seeds

Pumpkin filling:

1 1/2 cups pure pumpkin (from a 15-ounce can; not pie filling)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
Equipment: an 11-by 1 1/4-inch fluted round tart pan (1 1/4 inch deep) with a removable bottom; pie weights or dried beans
Accompaniment: lightly sweetened whipped cream

Preparation

  1. Make tart shell:

    Step 1

    Prepare dough, adding anise seeds to dry ingredients, and chill as directed in dough recipe. Roll out dough into a 14-inch round on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, then fit into tart pan and trim excess dough. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.

    Step 2

    Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.

    Step 3

    Lightly prick bottom of shell with a fork, then line with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake shell until side is set and edge is pale golden, about 15 minutes.

    Step 4

    Remove foil and weights and bake shell until golden all over, about 15 minutes more. Cool completely in pan. Leave oven on.

  2. Fill and bake tart:

    Step 5

    Whisk together pumpkin, sugar spices, and salt in large bowl. Whisk in eggs, then cream.

    Step 6

    Pour filling into cooled tart shell and bake until puffed about 1 1/2 inches from edge and center is just set, 40 to 45 minutes. (Cover edge of tart with foil if browning too quickly.) Cool in pan, about 2 hours. (Tart will continue to set as it cools.)

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