Pop Culture Kitchen: Cthulhu Pie

If you’re looking for a dessert that will haunt your nightmares to the point of insanity, this is the pie for you! Make this Cthulhu pie to terrify your family this Halloween!

Ingredients:

Pie Crust

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter , cold
1/2 cup lard or shortening
6-8 tablespoons ice water

Blackberry Pie Filling

5 cups blackberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch , use 2 extra tablespoons if using frozen berries
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Apple

Egg Wash

1 large egg
2 teaspoons milk
sugar for dusting

Instructions:

Pie Crust

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.
Cut the butter into small pieces.
Cut the butter and shortening into the flour mixture. Work it in until all the butter & lard are in very small pieces.
Using a rubber spatula, gently stir the water in 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture begins to form into a dough.
Form the dough into a ball, ensuring to include all the flour from the bottom of the bowl.
Divide the dough in half, then form each half into a round disc shape about 1 inch thick.
Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Blackberry Pie Filling

Add the blackberries, cornstarch, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and cinnamon to a large bowl. Save out two blackberries for later.
Stir together until the blackberries are evenly coated.

Assemble the Pie

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees.
Take the pie dough out of the fridge. Let it warm up for 10-15 minutes.
On a very well floured surface using a floured rolling pin, roll out 1 disc of pie dough into a circle about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter.
Roll the dough up onto your rolling pin, then transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate.
Spoon the blackberry pie filling into the pie dough using a slotted spoon. Do not add the liquid from the bottom of your bowl. Place an apple where you want your Cthulhu head to be.
Cut a 1 inch ball of dough away from the rest of the second disk and save for later. Roll out the second disc of pie dough on your floured surface. Leaving a circle large enough to cover your apple, cut strips away from it that will become your tentacles. These can be different lengths and sizes. Use the reserved piece of dough to shape eyes onto your Cthulhu head and fill with a blackberry each.
In a small bowl whisk together the egg and milk for the egg wash. Brush the egg wash on top of the pie. And sprinkle with sugar.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes at 400F, then turn the oven down to 375F and continue baking for 30 minutes. If the pie starts to brown but it’s still early in the bake time, cover with tinfoil and continue baking.
Cool the pie fully, and let to rest for at least 3 hours before slicing into it.