Modern Prune Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pound Pitted Prunes (About 1 pound, pitted)
• 0.75 cup Granulated Sugar (Adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1.5 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (Cut into small pieces)
• 1 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour (For thickening)
• 2 cups Water (For soaking and cooking prunes)
• 1 recipe Pie Crust (Double crust, homemade or store-bought)

Instructions

1. 1Wash the prunes and place them in a bowl. Cover with 2 cups of cold water and let them soak for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
2. 2Drain the prunes, reserving the soaking liquid. Place the prunes in a saucepan with the reserved liquid. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the prunes are very soft, about 15-20 minutes.
3. 3Remove the prunes from the saucepan and let them cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, cut the prunes into quarters and place them in a bowl. Add the sugar and lemon juice to the prunes and mix well. In the saucepan, reduce the prune liquid to about 2-3 tablespoons over medium heat. This will take about 5-7 minutes. Add the reduced liquid to the prune mixture.
4. 4Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9-inch pie plate with the bottom pie crust. Pour the prune filling into the crust. Dot the top of the filling with the butter pieces and dredge with the flour.
5. 5Cover the pie with the top crust. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
6. 6Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before serving. This allows the filling to set properly.