Say what now? PARSNIP? PIE? Yup!
The filling is a custard similar in texture and flavor to Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Pie, in other words YUM!
For our Crazy Ingredient Challenge this month the CIC Bloggers voted for Parsnips and Cardamom. Parsnips are those oversized white carrot looking things in the produce aisle near the turnips and rutabagas. Cardamom is the third most expensive spice per ounce behind saffron and vanilla bean.
Team Candied Ginger was a bit disappointed our ingredient lost in the monthly vote (by ONE vote! just one vote.) Luckily, I like cardamom too. And I actually had that in house so I didn’t need to buy it when I picked up the parsnips. Be sure to scroll below the recipe to see what everyone else made.
After going through many choices in my head, I finally settled on these Parsnip Pie Bars.
They tasted absolutely delicious, but so many things went wrong in making them that I have not felt much like baking or blogging for a week.
The pan I used was the Pampered Chef Bar Pan (which I love!)and it was too big for this amount of crust and filling so the bars came out far too thin.
If you want to use that pan or one like it, double the recipe. Or use a 9 x 13 pan as I recommend in the recipe.
Then there was having to go outside to take my photographs because I have horrid lighting in my kitchen after noon. And on one of the last trips, this happened!
And while removing the bars from the oven I got careless and this happened!
Then I turned around while it was cooling, my little taste tester grabbed a spoon and helped himself.
Of course, he had to do it on the opposite side as the one I messed up.
In the end they were great, despite being too thin. Even Mr. “Gag When I Eat a Veggie” loved them. If cardamom isn’t your thing, go with pumpkin pie spice.
I combined a few recipes to make these and healthified them a bit by using some whole wheat flour in the crust and swapping yogurt and milk for the buttermilk among other tweaks. They aren’t health food, but they aren’t all that naughty either.
Parsnip Pie Bars
Prep time | 15 minutes |
Cook time | 30 minutes |
Total time | 45 minutes |
Meal type | Dessert |
Occasion | Autumn, Winter |
Ingredients
crust
- 2/3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour (or use all all-purpose flour)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup butter (chilled and diced)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
filling
- 1lb parsnips (peeled and cut into chunks)
- 1 cup plain non or low fat yogurt
- 1/2 cup non or low fat milk
- 2/3 cups packed dark brown sugar
- 2 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
Note
If desired, omit cardamom and add
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
The filling is enough to make a 9" single crust pie (pre-bake crust, fill and bake for approximately 1 hour).
Directions
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Well after all those mishaps they still turned out lovely and look delicious.
I love that you included your blooper photos! Great and different idea to create pie bars, I like this idea a lot.
Impressive! Love your recipe idea. This one was sure a challenge too.
Wow – these look delicious!!
These look delicious! I have never baked with them before. Stopping by from SITS.
I love these bars! I’m allergic to pumpkin and am always looking for other ways to “indulge” in the fall. I think these bars could be just the ticket! (And I like that they’re thin.)
This looks so incredible! I’m always so amazed by your talent. Pinned and tweeted. Please join us on Monday at 7 pm and party with us! It is so super fun to see what you have been working on! Lou Lou Girls
Sounds interesting…Reminds me of “Chopped” on Food Network channel! They use crazy ingredients but make delicious stuff with them. Thanks for sharing with us a the Home Matters linky party. Hope you join us again!
The final product looks great and I take my hat off to you for attempting it!
Thanks for linking up at the Talented Tuesday party last week 🙂 I hope you can join us again this week!
Hey girl!!! Thanks for linking up to Creative K Kid’s Tasty Tuesdays Linky Party. I’ve pinned your post to the Tasty Tuesday’s Pinterest board!!! Have a great week!!