Baked Sweet Potato Hand Pies

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2002

1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes

Hand Pie Dough, recipe follows

1 large egg yolk

1/4 cup cane syrup

2 tablespoons Bourbon whiskey

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Pinch salt

3 tablespoons melted butter

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Vanilla ice cream, accompaniment

Orange Ginger Sauce, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until tender, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the potatoes from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.

Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a rectangle, about 24 by 8-inches and 1/8-inch thick. Using a round 4-inch cutter or a plate as a template and a small, sharp knife, cut 12 (4-inch) rounds.

Peel the potatoes and place the flesh in a large bowl. Add the egg yolk, cane syrup, bourbon, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until well blended and creamy. Divide the filling among the centers of the pastry rounds, about 1/4 cup on each. Bring 1/2 of the pastry round over the other, and press down lightly with your fingertips to enclose the filling and expel any air. Using the tines of a fork, crimp the edges of the pastry to seal completely. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. With a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of each pie with melted butter.

Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is warmed through, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and dust lightly with the confectioners' sugar. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and drizzle with Orange Ginger sauce.

Hand Pie Dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour

Pinch salt

2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter

3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Into a mixing bowl, sift the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the shortening and butter and work it in with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and work it in with your hands to form a smooth dough. Form into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Use as directed in the Baked Sweet Potato Pie recipe.

Yield: dough for 12 (4-inch) pies

Orange Ginger Sauce:

1 cup orange marmalade

2 tablespoons ginger conserve

1/4 cup rum

2 tablespoons julienne crystallized ginger

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over low heat and cook until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve warm.