Description
Honey and lavender are one of those pairings that run deep in my memories. When I was 18 my mother took me to Napa to a cooking class at a bed and breakfast. We cooked from the garden with summer veggies, buttery lettuces, fresh figs and local cheeses. In town I had my first scoop of honey lavender ice cream. The delicate floral paired with sweet honey blew my mind. Since then the heavenly combo has always reminded me of spring in California.
Ingredients
1 sourdough pastry for 9 inch pie, crimped and frozen
8 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 (150 grams) cup sugar
2 teaspoons culinary lavender
1 tablespoon white cornmeal
1/ teaspoon salt
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
3/4 cup (255 grams) honey
3 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
flaky salt for finishing
Instructions
- Make the lavender sugar: Put the lavender and sugar into a food processor and grind until the lavender is finely ground.
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, lavender sugar, cornmeal, salt and vanilla. Stir in the honey and the eggs one eat a time, followed by the heavy cream and vinegar.
- Place the frozen pie shell on a rimmed baking sheet and strain the filling through a fine-mesh sieve directly into the pie shell. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 45-50 minutes, rotating when the edges start to set, 30 to 35 minutes. The pie is finished when the edges are set and puffed up high and the center is no longer liquid but looks set like gelatin and is golden brown on top. Allow to cool completely on aa wire rack, 2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle with flake salt. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
- The pie will keep refrigerated for 4 days or at room temperature for 2 days.
Notes
Note: the crust must be prepared and frozen in the pie pan before beginning this recipe. So plan ahead! I recommend using a 9 inch pyrex pan for best results. I found when I made this pie using a ceramic dish the filling did not completely set.