Belula

Lattice Top Quince Pie (Pasta Frola Argentina)

This easy quince pie recipe is made with a lemon scented crust base, filled with quince paste and topped with a lattice top. It is also known as Pasta Frola from Argentina.

Belula April 14, 2020 November 22, 2021
The baked lattice top quince pie as seen from above.

This quince pie recipe is delicious and simple to make. It has a lemon scented buttery dough, it is filled with quince paste and covered in a beautiful woven lattice top. It is the pie of my childhood, the Pasta Frola from Argentina, the one we adapted from the Italian masters! Spoiler alert: you can totally do this, and the only fancy thing you will need is patience to make this beautiful lattice top quince pie. Can't wait for you to make it!

Closeup of the baked quince pie inside the tart tin.
One slice of quince pie as seen from the front with a piece on the side.

Material & Ingredient Notes

  • Quince Paste: depending on where you live you can find it in every supermarket, or you might have to order it. It is not expensive at all. I'm working a homemade recipe as I write these lines. Will keep you updated.
  • 20 cm (8 inch) tart tin: I like to use a dismountable tin like this one.
  • Pastry wheel: I used this one to cut the dough bands to make the lattice top for this pie. However, you can simply use a knife.

How to make this recipe

To make this quince pie recipe you simply must:

  • Make the quince pie dough
  • Line the tart tin with half the dough (rolled out to 4/5 mm)
  • Fill with the pureed quince paste
  • Cover with a woven lattice top
  • Brush the pie with egg wash
  • Bake until golden
The quince pie dough.
The rolled-out quince pie on top of a parchment paper.
The quince pie filling inside a beige bowl.
Two hands holding the tart in lined with the quince pie dough with a bowl with quince pie filling in the top corner of the frame.
One hand spreading the quince pie filling over the tart base using a spoon.
Two hands pressing a rolling pin over the edges of the tart tin to cut off the excess dough.
Closeup of the woven lattice top quince pie on the tart tin.
The lattice top quince pie brushed with egg wash.
The baked quince pie inside the tart tin.

Recipe notes: lining the tart tin

  • It is important to chill the dough for at least 2 hours before rolling it out
  • Cut the dough in half and work with each half separately.
  • The first half is to line the tart tin. After rolling it out and before lining the tart tin if you find the dough breaks and becomes sticky pop it back in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before lining the tart tin.
  • Line the tart tin with the dough, leaving the excess dough that falls over the sides.

Recipe notes: making the quince pie filling

  • If the quince paste is too hard, cut in cubes, add in the water the recipe calls for and warm it up over medium heat. Then puree it.
  • If the quince paste you are using is soft, and can be pureed as is, then avoid this step and puree directly without warming it up.

Recipe notes on making a woven lattice top pie

  • The first and most important tip: the dough must always be cold as it has a high butter content and becomes fragile fast.
  • After rolling out the second half of the dough, transfer onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Work on a piece of parchment paper to avoid touching the bands too much.
  • Once cold cut the 1.5 cm bands using a ruler and a knife or a pastry wheel and place back in the refrigerator for an extra 30 minutes.
  • Place the bands vertically on top of the quince pie, leaving space between them. How much is up to you.
  • As shown in the photo, to make a woven lattice top you must lift every other vertical band, then place a band in the horizontal way and cover it with the vertical bands. Then repeat until the surface is covered completely.
Two hands covering the quince pie with the dough bands forming a lattice top pie.
Two hands covering the quince pie with the dough bands forming a lattice top pie.
Two hands holding the lattice top quince pie before baking.

Storage Tips

It keeps for up to 4 days at room temperature.

It keeps for up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature.

Freezer Instructions

  • The quince pie dough keeps for up to 3 months in the freezer properly covered.
  • The assembled quince pie: can be wrapped in saran wrap, placed in a freezer container, and kept in the freezer for up to 1 month before baking. Place in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Overhead shot of the quince pie over a light surface.
Overhead shot of the sliced quince pie with a knife on the side.
One slice of quince pie as seen from the front with a piece on the side.

Make Ahead

  • Quince pie dough: you can keep in the fridge for up to 3 days before assembling the pie.
  • Quince pie filling: you can make for up to 1 week in advance. Puree once again if too hard to spread over the pie base.
  • The assembled quince pie: this pie can be made and kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking. To bake, brush with egg wash and let it sit at room temperature before placing in the oven.

Variations to this recipe

  • The bands can be as large as you like, and you can even play and make bands of different widths.
  • You can scent the dough with orange zest instead of lemon zest if you like it better.
  • You can use a different filling, like sweet potato paste for example.
The ingredients used in all recipes on this site are measured using the metric system. I use a scale to be precise with my measurements and ensure good results. If you would also like to use a scale, here are some: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition: 320 cal
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Quince Pie Dough

  • Powdered Sugar 100 g
  • Butter 100 g
  • Lemon (the zest of 1 lemon) 1
  • Eggs 2
  • Milk 25 g
  • All-purpose Flour 310 g
  • Baking Powder 7 g
  • Salt 1 pinch

Quince Pie Filling

  • Quince Paste 500 g
  • Water 30 g

Egg Wash

  • Eggs 1
  • Salt 1 pinch

Procedure

  • 1. Make the quince pie dough: Mix the softened butter with the powdered sugar using the paddle attachment on your stand mixer. Add one egg, the lemon zest, the milk and 1/3 of the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder). Mix until there is no more liquid. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and continue to mix until the dough has come together. Shape the dough into a rectangle, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours minimum.
  • 2. Prepare the quince pie filling: In the meantime, put the quince paste (cut into small cubes) and the water in a pan and melt over medium heat. Puree the quince paste with a mixer. Set aside.
  • 3. Prepare the egg wash: Beat the egg and the salt. Strain over a fine mesh sieve and set aside.
  • 4. Assemble the Quince pie (part 1): Divide the dough in two equal parts. Place one half back in the refrigerator. Roll out the first half (4/5 mm) and line the 20 cm (8 inch) tart tin. Fill with the pureed quince paste. Roll out the second half of the dough and cut bands 1.5 cm thick using a knife or a pastry wheel. Cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  • 5. Assemble the Quince Pie (Part 2, the lattice top): Cover the quince pie with the dough bands weaving the bands to form a lattice top. Place the bands vertically over the quince pie leaving space between them. Then place the rest of the bands horizontally also leaving space between them. (See recipe notes above to make a beautiful woven lattice top for the quince pie). Then using a rolling pin, press the borders of the tart tin to cut off the excess dough and stick the dough together.
  • 6. Bake the quince pie: Pre-heat the oven to 170 C° (340 F). Brush the quince pie with egg wash and bake until golden. About 40 minutes. Let it cool down over a wire rack at room temperature before enjoying!
If you made this recipe I would really appreciate it if you leave a rating or comment below! Also, if you share on social media please use #cookwithbelula, I would love to see what you create!
1 comment
(1)
Share
You May Also Like
1 Comment
Maria November 03, 2021

The BEST quince pie I have ever made! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Belén Gowland
Belula January 18, 2022

HI Maria,
So happy you enjoyed the recipe! It is a childhood treasure :)

Leave a comment and/or rating
Would you like to rate this recipe? (optional):