Autumn Apple and Pear Lattice Pie Recipe

Combine 2 1/2 cups flour 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half and flatten each half into a 5-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours (overnight).

Combine 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons flour cinnamon ginger nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Add apples and pears and toss to coat well.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Position 2 racks in lower third of oven. Put a sheet of foil just a few inches larger than pie plate on bottom rack to catch drips.

Roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick) on a lightly floured work surface with a floured rolling pin. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry and trim overhang to 1/2 inch with kitchen shears or a paring knife. Roll out remaining dough in same manner and cut into 10 strips (3/4 to 1 inch wide) for a lattice.

Mound apple and pear filling into crust. Brush crust rim with some of egg wash. Dot filling with butter. Lay 5 strips of dough parallel across pie about 1 inch apart letting excess hang over rim. Lay remaining strips diagonally across pie in opposite direction. Press ends firmly to rim of pie trimming excess dough. Crimp edges with your fingers or fork tines. Brush with remaining egg wash. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar.

Bake pie in lower third of oven for 15 minutes then reduce temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake until juices in center of pie are bubbling about 45 minutes more. (Loosely cover pie with a sheet of foil if browning too quickly.) Transfer pie to a wire rack and cool 2 hours.