diff --git a/jekyll.gemspec b/jekyll.gemspec
index fc462f9f..473418fd 100644
--- a/jekyll.gemspec
+++ b/jekyll.gemspec
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.add_runtime_dependency('redcarpet', "~> 3.1")
   s.add_runtime_dependency('toml', '~> 0.1.0')
   s.add_runtime_dependency('jekyll-coffeescript', '~> 1.0')
-  s.add_runtime_dependency('jekyll-sass-converter', '~> 1.0.0.rc1')
+  s.add_runtime_dependency('jekyll-sass-converter', '~> 1.0.0.rc3')
 
   s.add_development_dependency('rake', "~> 10.1")
   s.add_development_dependency('rdoc', "~> 3.11")
diff --git a/lib/jekyll.rb b/lib/jekyll.rb
index e4276967..7b661048 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ require 'toml'
 
 # internal requires
 require 'jekyll/version'
-require 'jekyll/core_ext'
+require 'jekyll/utils'
 require 'jekyll/stevenson'
 require 'jekyll/deprecator'
 require 'jekyll/configuration'
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ module Jekyll
     config = config.read_config_files(config.config_files(override))
 
     # Merge DEFAULTS < _config.yml < override
-    config = config.deep_merge(override).stringify_keys
+    config = Utils.deep_merge_hashes(config, override).stringify_keys
     set_timezone(config['timezone']) if config['timezone']
 
     config
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
index ad84f0b4..091bebc4 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ module Jekyll
       begin
         files.each do |config_file|
           new_config = read_config_file(config_file)
-          configuration = configuration.deep_merge(new_config)
+          configuration = Utils.deep_merge_hashes(configuration, new_config)
         end
       rescue ArgumentError => err
         Jekyll.logger.warn "WARNING:", "Error reading configuration. " +
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ module Jekyll
           config[option] = csv_to_array(config[option])
         end
       end
-      
+
       if config.fetch('markdown', 'kramdown').to_s.downcase.eql?("maruku")
         Jekyll::Deprecator.deprecation_message "You're using the 'maruku' " +
           "Markdown processor. Maruku support has been deprecated and will " +
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/converters/markdown/kramdown_parser.rb b/lib/jekyll/converters/markdown/kramdown_parser.rb
index caeb5b65..cd1fdf9a 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/converters/markdown/kramdown_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/converters/markdown/kramdown_parser.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ module Jekyll
             end
           end
 
-          Kramdown::Document.new(content, @config["kramdown"].symbolize_keys).to_html
+          Kramdown::Document.new(content, Utils.symbolize_hash_keys(@config["kramdown"])).to_html
         end
 
       end
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/convertible.rb b/lib/jekyll/convertible.rb
index 7761a3e9..bc87f336 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/convertible.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/convertible.rb
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ module Jekyll
       further_data = Hash[(attrs || self.class::ATTRIBUTES_FOR_LIQUID).map { |attribute|
         [attribute, send(attribute)]
       }]
-      data.deep_merge(further_data)
+      Utils.deep_merge_hashes(data, further_data)
     end
 
     # Recursively render layouts
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ module Jekyll
       used = Set.new([layout])
 
       while layout
-        payload = payload.deep_merge({"content" => output, "page" => layout.data})
+        payload = Utils.deep_merge_hashes(payload, {"content" => output, "page" => layout.data})
 
         self.output = render_liquid(layout.content,
                                          payload,
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/core_ext.rb b/lib/jekyll/core_ext.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 43edcb13..00000000
--- a/lib/jekyll/core_ext.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
-class Hash
-  # Merges self with another hash, recursively.
-  #
-  # This code was lovingly stolen from some random gem:
-  # http://gemjack.com/gems/tartan-0.1.1/classes/Hash.html
-  #
-  # Thanks to whoever made it.
-  def deep_merge(hash)
-    target = dup
-
-    hash.keys.each do |key|
-      if hash[key].is_a? Hash and self[key].is_a? Hash
-        target[key] = target[key].deep_merge(hash[key])
-        next
-      end
-
-      target[key] = hash[key]
-    end
-
-    target
-  end
-
-  # Read array from the supplied hash favouring the singular key
-  # and then the plural key, and handling any nil entries.
-  #   +hash+ the hash to read from
-  #   +singular_key+ the singular key
-  #   +plural_key+ the plural key
-  #
-  # Returns an array
-  def pluralized_array(singular_key, plural_key)
-    hash = self
-    if hash.has_key?(singular_key)
-      array = [hash[singular_key]] if hash[singular_key]
-    elsif hash.has_key?(plural_key)
-      case hash[plural_key]
-      when String
-        array = hash[plural_key].split
-      when Array
-        array = hash[plural_key].compact
-      end
-    end
-    array || []
-  end
-
-  def symbolize_keys!
-    keys.each do |key|
-      self[(key.to_sym rescue key) || key] = delete(key)
-    end
-    self
-  end
-
-  def symbolize_keys
-    dup.symbolize_keys!
-  end
-end
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/page.rb b/lib/jekyll/page.rb
index 6900e533..0c71c7d1 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/page.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/page.rb
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ module Jekyll
     #
     # Returns nothing.
     def render(layouts, site_payload)
-      payload = {
+      payload = Utils.deep_merge_hashes({
         "page" => to_liquid,
         'paginator' => pager.to_liquid
-      }.deep_merge(site_payload)
+      }, site_payload)
 
       do_layout(payload, layouts)
     end
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/post.rb b/lib/jekyll/post.rb
index 58d1fc5f..180faa27 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/post.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/post.rb
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ module Jekyll
 
     def populate_categories
       if categories.empty?
-        self.categories = data.pluralized_array('category', 'categories').map {|c| c.to_s.downcase}
+        self.categories = Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'category', 'categories').map {|c| c.to_s.downcase}
       end
       categories.flatten!
     end
 
     def populate_tags
-      self.tags = data.pluralized_array("tag", "tags").flatten
+      self.tags = Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, "tag", "tags").flatten
     end
 
     # Get the full path to the directory containing the post files
@@ -241,10 +241,10 @@ module Jekyll
     # Returns nothing.
     def render(layouts, site_payload)
       # construct payload
-      payload = {
+      payload = Utils.deep_merge_hashes({
         "site" => { "related_posts" => related_posts(site_payload["site"]["posts"]) },
         "page" => to_liquid(EXCERPT_ATTRIBUTES_FOR_LIQUID)
-      }.deep_merge(site_payload)
+      }, site_payload)
 
       if generate_excerpt?
         extracted_excerpt.do_layout(payload, {})
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/utils.rb b/lib/jekyll/utils.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d74174c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/jekyll/utils.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+module Jekyll
+  module Utils
+    class << self
+
+      # Merges a master hash with another hash, recursively.
+      #
+      # master_hash - the "parent" hash whose values will be overridden
+      # other_hash  - the other hash whose values will be persisted after the merge
+      #
+      # This code was lovingly stolen from some random gem:
+      # http://gemjack.com/gems/tartan-0.1.1/classes/Hash.html
+      #
+      # Thanks to whoever made it.
+      def deep_merge_hashes(master_hash, other_hash)
+        target = master_hash.dup
+
+        other_hash.keys.each do |key|
+          if other_hash[key].is_a? Hash and target[key].is_a? Hash
+            target[key] = Utils.deep_merge_hashes(target[key], other_hash[key])
+            next
+          end
+
+          target[key] = other_hash[key]
+        end
+
+        target
+      end
+
+      # Read array from the supplied hash favouring the singular key
+      # and then the plural key, and handling any nil entries.
+      #
+      # hash - the hash to read from
+      # singular_key - the singular key
+      # plural_key - the plural key
+      #
+      # Returns an array
+      def pluralized_array_from_hash(hash, singular_key, plural_key)
+        if hash.has_key?(singular_key)
+          array = [hash[singular_key]] if hash[singular_key]
+        elsif hash.has_key?(plural_key)
+          case hash[plural_key]
+          when String
+            array = hash[plural_key].split
+          when Array
+            array = hash[plural_key].compact
+          end
+        end
+        array || []
+      end
+
+      # Apply #to_sym to all keys in the hash
+      #
+      # hash - the hash to which to apply this transformation
+      #
+      # Returns a new hash with symbolized keys
+      def symbolize_hash_keys(hash)
+        target = hash.dup
+        target.keys.each do |key|
+          target[(key.to_sym rescue key) || key] = target.delete(key)
+        end
+        target
+      end
+
+      # Apply #to_s to all keys in the Hash
+      #
+      # hash - the hash to which to apply this transformation
+      #
+      # Returns a new hash with stringified keys
+      def stringify_hash_keys(hash)
+        target = hash.dup
+        target.keys.each do |key|
+          target[(key.to_s rescue key) || key] = target.delete(key)
+        end
+        target
+      end
+
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/helper.rb b/test/helper.rb
index 97faab12..b9b7e4cd 100644
--- a/test/helper.rb
+++ b/test/helper.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ STDERR.reopen(test(?e, '/dev/null') ? '/dev/null' : 'NUL:')
 class Test::Unit::TestCase
   include RR::Adapters::TestUnit
 
+  def build_configs(overrides, base_hash = Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS)
+    Utils.deep_merge_hashes(base_hash, overrides)
+  end
+
+  def site_configuration(overrides = {})
+    build_configs({
+      "source"      => source_dir,
+      "destination" => dest_dir
+    }, build_configs(overrides))
+  end
+
   def dest_dir(*subdirs)
     test_dir('dest', *subdirs)
   end
diff --git a/test/test_configuration.rb b/test/test_configuration.rb
index a390da81..3a8918f9 100644
--- a/test/test_configuration.rb
+++ b/test/test_configuration.rb
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class TestConfiguration < Test::Unit::TestCase
     should "load different config if specified" do
       mock(SafeYAML).load_file(@paths[:other]) { {"baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev"} }
       mock($stdout).puts("Configuration file: #{@paths[:other]}")
-      assert_equal Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge({ "baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev" }), Jekyll.configuration({ "config" => @paths[:other] })
+      assert_equal Utils.deep_merge_hashes(Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS, { "baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev" }), Jekyll.configuration({ "config" => @paths[:other] })
     end
 
     should "load default config if path passed is empty" do
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class TestConfiguration < Test::Unit::TestCase
       mock(SafeYAML).load_file(@paths[:other]) { {"baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev"} }
       mock($stdout).puts("Configuration file: #{@paths[:default]}")
       mock($stdout).puts("Configuration file: #{@paths[:other]}")
-      assert_equal Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge({ "baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev" }), Jekyll.configuration({ "config" => [@paths[:default], @paths[:other]] })
+      assert_equal Utils.deep_merge_hashes(Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS, { "baseurl" => "http://wahoo.dev" }), Jekyll.configuration({ "config" => [@paths[:default], @paths[:other]] })
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/test_kramdown.rb b/test/test_kramdown.rb
index 1d4c09ff..4bfe725e 100644
--- a/test/test_kramdown.rb
+++ b/test/test_kramdown.rb
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class TestKramdown < Test::Unit::TestCase
       assert_match /<p>(&#8220;|“)Pit(&#8217;|’)hy(&#8221;|”)<\/p>/, @markdown.convert(%{"Pit'hy"}).strip
 
       override = { 'kramdown' => { 'smart_quotes' => 'lsaquo,rsaquo,laquo,raquo' } }
-      markdown = Converters::Markdown.new(@config.deep_merge(override))
+      markdown = Converters::Markdown.new(Utils.deep_merge_hashes(@config, override))
       assert_match /<p>(&#171;|«)Pit(&#8250;|›)hy(&#187;|»)<\/p>/, markdown.convert(%{"Pit'hy"}).strip
     end
 
diff --git a/test/test_pager.rb b/test/test_pager.rb
index b066b9a3..976925f0 100644
--- a/test/test_pager.rb
+++ b/test/test_pager.rb
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ require 'helper'
 class TestPager < Test::Unit::TestCase
 
   def build_site(config = {})
-    base = Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge({
+    base = build_configs({
       'source'      => source_dir,
       'destination' => dest_dir,
       'paginate'    => 1
     })
-    site = Jekyll::Site.new(base.deep_merge(config))
+    site = Jekyll::Site.new(site_configuration(
+      {"paginate" => 1}.merge(config)
+    ))
     site.process
     site
   end
diff --git a/test/test_sass.rb b/test/test_sass.rb
index 3e70e314..b39c8eea 100644
--- a/test/test_sass.rb
+++ b/test/test_sass.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
 require 'helper'
 
 class TestSass < Test::Unit::TestCase
-  def site_configuration(overrides = {})
-    Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge(overrides).deep_merge({
-      "source" => source_dir,
-      "destination" => dest_dir
-    })
-  end
-
   def converter(overrides = {})
     Jekyll::Converters::Sass.new(site_configuration({"sass" => overrides}))
   end
diff --git a/test/test_tags.rb b/test/test_tags.rb
index d7c8df24..a0a5c579 100644
--- a/test/test_tags.rb
+++ b/test/test_tags.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ class TestTags < Test::Unit::TestCase
 
   def create_post(content, override = {}, converter_class = Jekyll::Converters::Markdown)
     stub(Jekyll).configuration do
-      Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge({'highlighter' => 'pygments'}).deep_merge(override)
+      site_configuration({
+        "highlighter" => "pygments"
+      }.merge(override))
     end
     site = Site.new(Jekyll.configuration)
 
@@ -545,7 +547,7 @@ CONTENT
     context "include tag with variable and liquid filters" do
       setup do
         stub(Jekyll).configuration do
-          Jekyll::Configuration::DEFAULTS.deep_merge({'pygments' => true}).deep_merge({'source' => source_dir, 'destination' => dest_dir})
+          site_configuration({'pygments' => true})
         end
 
         site = Site.new(Jekyll.configuration)
diff --git a/test/test_core_ext.rb b/test/test_utils.rb
similarity index 63%
rename from test/test_core_ext.rb
rename to test/test_utils.rb
index c3e62cb5..cfd6c4a6 100644
--- a/test/test_core_ext.rb
+++ b/test/test_utils.rb
@@ -1,63 +1,63 @@
 require 'helper'
 
-class TestCoreExt < Test::Unit::TestCase
+class TestUtils < Test::Unit::TestCase
   context "hash" do
 
     context "pluralized_array" do
 
       should "return empty array with no values" do
         data = {}
-        assert_equal [], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal [], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return empty array with no matching values" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar' }
-        assert_equal [], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal [], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return empty array with matching nil singular" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tag' => nil, 'tags' => ['dog', 'cat'] }
-        assert_equal [], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal [], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return single value array with matching singular" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tag' => 'dog', 'tags' => ['dog', 'cat'] }
-        assert_equal ['dog'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return single value array with matching singular with spaces" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tag' => 'dog cat', 'tags' => ['dog', 'cat'] }
-        assert_equal ['dog cat'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog cat'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return empty array with matching nil plural" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => nil }
-        assert_equal [], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal [], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return empty array with matching empty array" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => [] }
-        assert_equal [], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal [], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return single value array with matching plural with single string value" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => 'dog' }
-        assert_equal ['dog'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return multiple value array with matching plural with single string value with spaces" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => 'dog cat' }
-        assert_equal ['dog', 'cat'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog', 'cat'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return single value array with matching plural with single value array" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => ['dog'] }
-        assert_equal ['dog'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
       should "return multiple value array with matching plural with multiple value array" do
         data = { 'foo' => 'bar', 'tags' => ['dog', 'cat'] }
-        assert_equal ['dog', 'cat'], data.pluralized_array('tag', 'tags')
+        assert_equal ['dog', 'cat'], Utils.pluralized_array_from_hash(data, 'tag', 'tags')
       end
 
     end