It’s Fun Friday! Be sure to check out my link-up post to add your recipes!
With the end of the week here, you’d think I would be thrilled. And I am. It’s just that I have fifty thousand research papers looming over my head to be graded this weekend and I’m not looking forward to it. I need to be distracted. And pie is very distracting!
It’s funny, but when it comes to pie, I only get a hankering to get my crust on at particular times of year. Thanksgiving, for instance. I go pie crazy then, making at least five different kinds for dessert after several weeks of research and flavor testing. Something about Thanksgiving makes me want the old-school crust, the pastry kind.
But come early summer, when my pie craving resurfaces with a vengeance, I just want cookie crusts. Graham cracker crust, shortbread crust, or anything else that resembles a cookie holding that pie together. It must be something to do with fruit, and we all know that nothing is nicer with a piece of fruit or sorbet than a nice, light cookie.
No matter what time of year it is, I always want a crumb topping. On pie. On cake. On muffins. In my mouth.
So when the white nectarines start to come out (a.k.a. the best fruit on the planet), it’s pie time! If you want to really impress the people who usually bake with canned peaches, pull this recipe out. It’s easy and perfect for an outdoor picnic. Or an indoor dessert session after a particularly harrowing run-in with a six year-old, a sprinkler, a dead bee and some sidewalk chalk. Don’t ask.
For this pie, I used a pre-made crust. Don’t judge! I keep telling you that. I make my own crust often enough. This time, Keebler’s shortbread crust did the trick quite nicely. If you want to be a crust snob, then make one. I dare you!
If you’d rather spend the extra time eating up the rest of the Ben and Jerry’s in your freezer, then use the grocery store crust. People will still like the pie. Actually, they’ll love it. You see, it’s filled with fresh nectarines (unpeeled, too!) and a sprinkling of vanilla and sugar.
Once you’re done with that, you make a simple crumb topping (easier if you have a pastry cutter, but that’s not a requirement), bake it up, and there you go! Fresh nectarine pie. And you can serve it at whatever temperature you like. I know most people like their pie hot with ice cream on top, but I’m weird. I love cold pie. It’s the best! Especially when it’s warm out.
Forget Pie Day. It’s Pie Season! Grab a fork and get to work!
Ingredients:
- shortbread pie crust (I used Keebler brand)
- 6 ripe white unpeeled nectarines, cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (not softened)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350.
Slice six white nectaines into small chunks. You do not need to peel the nectarines; just be sure they are washed well. Place the nectarines into the shortbread pie crust. Drizzle on the vanilla and then sprinkle the sugar evenly over the fruit.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in the butter until the ingredients become crumbly. Press the mixture onto the nectarins filling, being sure the crumbs cover the entire pie.
Bake for 50-60 minutes until the crust is crunchy and browned. Some of the nectarine juice may rise and bubble through the crumbs as well. That is perfectly okay!
Cool if desired and then cut into wedges.
I love a good peach pie, but I’ve never tried a nectarine one. I especially like how you left the peel on the nectarines. I bet that adds so much texture and flavor. We had our first fresh nectarines this week and I can’t wait for more!
Wow, let me know what you make with them! I’m obsessed with all things nectarine.
And if you’d like to link to my Fun Friday, I’d love to see more of your posts!
Oh my goodness yes, crumb toppings are a must. They make pies and tarts and whatever else just incredible. I’m literally drooling over here – why does this hotel not offer nectarine crumb pie?? Hello, I need some! 🙂
Yikes. You need a new hotel! Someplace perfect that understands why crumb topping is just a part of life!
Mmm, I love peach pie but I’ll have to try it with nectarines next time! Looks great! 🙂
Definitely try it! And also feel free to link up some of your delicious recipes on my Fun Friday post!
I’ve never tried a nectarine pie but it looks like the results speak for themselves. definitely want to give this pie a go
Thanks! Let me know if you make it!
This pie looks delicious, I love the crumbly topping. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Will do! Thanks, Laura!
Hi. This a nice recipe. Thank you for sharing as its all about the fruit! Made a yellow peach, apricot and boysenberry crumble pie added a dash of lemon juice.
Cheers!
It works with any kind of fruit. I do love the crumbs on top!