Is anyone else as excited about the upcoming Fantastic Beasts film as I am? Growing up with J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, I was ecstatic to experience the world from an adult’s point of view. In these films the stakes are higher, the spells and creatures deadlier, the intrigue deeper as we delve into decades and centuries of wizarding history. We also see a glimpse into the United States’ magical past, including its witchcraft school, Ilvermorny.
For those following the blog, you would know that my husband and I throw an annual wizard-themed Halloween party. Last year I took a culinary tour of the Hogwarts’ founders. This year I wanted to try making some early American wizarding treats that could also double up for Thanksgiving. That’s why I chose to feature Ilvermorny with a recipe for gluten-free cornmeal-crust cranberry mini pies!
Click here to skip to the recipe for Ilvermorny Vegan & Gluten-Free Cranberry Pies!
An Ilvermorny Thanksgiving
The founding of J.K. Rowling’s Ivermorny is a story celebrating new beginnings gathering and inclusion, and gratitude for those around you — essentially the principles behind America’s Thanksgiving. It’s founder, Isolt Sayre, an Irish orphan and descendent of Hogwarts’ Salazar Slytherin, fled her muggle-hating aunt to sail across the ocean on the Mayflower and hide in North America.
At first isolating herself for her safety, she soon learns that no person can be an island in the harsh wilderness. Armed with a brave and loving spirit, and tested through a series of dangerous events, she adopts and gathers together a new family of wizard-born orphans, a muggle husband, and a curmudgeonly Pukwudgie. With this family, she founds the first North American Wizarding School.
Image source: Pottermore.
The Sayre family fashions Ilvermorny with Isolt’s second-hand stories of Hogwarts in mind. J.K. Rowling makes an interesting point by stating that the Ilvermorny houses do not have Hogwarts’ equivalents. I feel this further represents the spirit of new beginnings and cooperation as the houses appear to embrace action and learning styles rather than personality traits learned through family lines. Also in collaborating with the local Native American tribes’ magicians, the Sayres essentially found a community built on learning and cooperation.
The first American Thanksgiving was borne out of gratitude for each other’s kindness and cooperation, just like Ilvermorny. So to give thanks, I wanted to make a themed dish that also encompasses this spirit of inclusion.
Pie of the New World
I had already planned on making a take on the Ilvermorny cranberry pie for my party last week. If you haven’t read the school history on Pottermore yet, Ilvermorny’s colors are dark blue and cranberry. Blue, because Isolt thought she would be sorted into Hogwarts’ Ravenclaw House. Cranberry, because her husband loves her recipe for cranberry pie.
As the date for my wizard-themed party drew near, I noticed that I had guests who have gluten allergies or a vegan diet. Before you start scoffing, keep this in mind: as a host, you should be prepared to welcome every guest to your table. Would you enjoy a party where the only thing to eat was a veggie tray? I didn’t think so. Also, make sure to label things unless you want to cast a Crucio curse on your guests’ digestive system. I digress though.
Since Isolt likely did not have much access to the space to grow wheat while in isolation, I incorporated cornmeal into the crust. I then mixed in dried rosemary and sage to symbolize wisdom and remembrance. Besides, every good witch keeps a good supply of herbs for potion making. I imagine Isolt is no exception.
For this recipe, you’ll want a 1 to 1 ration gluten-free flour as it already contains xanthan gum to maintain the structure. This will give you a crust dough with a wet sand consistency once mixed up with vegetable shortening. I know, it doesn’t sound appetizing, but it’s easy to work with and it tastes like shortbread after baking.
The filling I chose to keep instructions simple and spare you from making cranberry sauce from scratch. You can find whole berry cranberry sauce in most grocery stores. Also I chose to mix the sauce with blackberry jam since William and Isolt find the Boot brothers while blackberry picking.
I then sweetened the filling further with maple syrup for a taste of New England and ground allspice to add warmth and depth. Like I said in my recipe for Salem Spiced Cider, I give you the flavors of three Asian spices for the price of one American one. You’re welcome.
So ready to welcome all of your friends and family for Thanksgiving with a recipe from Massachusetts’s Morrigan? Read on!
Like the printable scarf-flag toothpicks I made? You can make your own with my downloadable PDF that you can find here. Also stay tuned to next week for another Fantastic Beasts-themed Thanksgiving dish!
recipe
Expecto Pie-tronem!
Ilvermorny Cranberry Pies
Makes 24 mini pies
Equipment: Food processor, oven, 24-cup mini-muffin pan, tart tamper or muddler.
Ingredients:
Crust:
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose 1 to 1 gluten-free flour
- 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
Filling:
- 7 oz. canned whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup blackberry jam
- 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425° F
- Pulse the crust’s dry ingredients in the food processor to mix. Then pulse the shortening in, one tablespoon at a time, until it forms a consistent dough.
- Blend the filling ingredients in a separate mixing bowl with a fork and set aside.
- Scoop a tablespoon of crust dough into each cup in the muffin tin and press with your fingers. Create a depression into each cup using either a tart tamper or handle of a cocktail muddler.
- Fill each pie with a tablespoon of filling then bake at 425° F for 7 minutes in the oven.
- Reduce the oven’s heat to 350° F, then bake another 7 minutes.
- Allow pies to cool completely before removing from the tin and serving.
