Put this pie in your holiday lineup for a little nod to Kentucky. We've topped the traditional transparent pie with some holiday embellishments: Sugared Cranberries and Whipped Crème Fraîche.
![Transparent Pie with Whipped Creme Fraiche and Sugared Cranberries](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/XWj6ftFIj7nePZXC4WIAMcjEMJg=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/transparent_pie_with_whipped_creme_fraiche_and_sugared_cranberries_2540501_pieso_599_0_0-2000-81de53d0e9164cb7b4a89f6dd00e5508-6f80c009d42d4c35bdd2d093e9b7f8ab.jpg)
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Ingredients
Sugared Cranberries
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1 1/2 cups water
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2 3/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
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2 cups fresh cranberries (about 8 oz.)
Crust
Filling
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1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
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4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
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1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
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6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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3 large eggs
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1/2 cup half-and-half or evaporated milk
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1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped Crème Fraîche
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2 (8-oz.) containers crème fraîche
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6 tablespoons granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
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Prepare the Sugared Cranberries: Stir together water and 1 3/4 cups of the sugar in a medium saucepan. Place over medium, and bring to a simmer, stirring often until sugar dissolves. Continue simmering sugar syrup, without letting it boil, until it thickens slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool until warm, about 5 minutes. (If cranberries are combined with the sugar syrup when it is too hot, they may burst from the heat.)
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Combine fresh cranberries and warm sugar syrup in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Cover bowl, and chill 8 hours or overnight.
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Sprinkle a rimmed baking sheet with 1/2 cup of the sugar. Pour chilled cranberry mixture through a wire-mesh strainer over a bowl. (Reserve cranberry syrup in bowl for another use.) Spread cranberries in a single layer on sugar on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Gently shake baking sheet, making sure cranberries are evenly coated with sugar. Let stand, uncovered, until cranberries are dry and crisp, about 2 hours. Shake off any excess sugar on cranberries, and place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
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Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 375°F. Unwrap chilled pie dough disk from Single-Crust Pie Pastry, and place on a lightly floured surface. Let stand at room temperature until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle dough with flour, and roll into a 12-inch circle. Carefully fit dough circle into a 9-inch glass pie plate; fold edges under, and crimp. Line pastry with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
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Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes. Transfer crust to a wire rack; remove pie weights and parchment, and let crust cool, about 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400°F.
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Prepare the Filling: Whisk together sugar, flour, and salt in a large bowl. Add melted butter to flour mixture, stirring with a fork until mixture is combined and resembles damp sand.
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Whisk eggs in a medium bowl until well beaten. Add half-and-half and vanilla, and whisk until well combined. Pour egg mixture over sugar-butter mixture, and whisk to combine into a smooth, thick, creamy yellow filling. Pour into prepared piecrust.
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Bake at 400°F for 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake until edges puff up and center is fairly firm, wiggling only slightly when you gently nudge pie plate, about 35 minutes. Transfer pie to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
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Prepare the Whipped Crème Fraîche: Beat crème fraîche with an electric mixer in a large bowl on medium-high speed until soft and lightened in texture, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla, and beat until smooth, fluffy, and well combined, about 2 minutes. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Top pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries.