Pecan pie is a delicious recipe that many people make during the winter holiday season. And it is no wonder. With the sweetness of brown sugar and the satisfying crunch of toasted pecans, pecan pie is a favorite of many. For a lot of people, the holidays are not complete without a slice of pecan …
There is nothing like a slice of pumpkin pie to wrap up the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Featuring the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and the creamy, silky texture of pumpkin, our recipe for Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie is just what your family wants on their Holiday Dinner table. Pumpkin pie is an annual favorite. …
If you love to make tasty treats for your family, it can sometimes be hard to make a decision about what to bake. Additionally, if you have opinionated family members who like different things, it can be difficult to figure out who to please. That is where kitchen creativity can come in. Recipes like this …
The versatile pie seems to get ignored at all, but on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Poor pie. It offers such a variety, and you can serve it in so many different ways. Alone. Topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Pie ala mode. Strawberries offer one of the ideal fruits for making pie, yet blueberries become …
As a 95 percent vegetarian and 110 percent Georgian, I love some peanuts. Boiled, deep fried, salty, Spanish style with skins on…however you have them, peanuts are the best protein source on the planet. Now, if you want to go a step further, stay sweet with one of these top prize-winning peanut butter pie recipes. …
Few things are as classic as apple pie. Of course, just because you have a tried and true recipe you’ve been using for years does not mean that you don’t want to step up your game a bit. These are excellent apple pie recipes you might consider adding to your recipe repertoire this year. 1. …
This pie recipe’s simple preparation belies its fabulous flavors and textures. To make this recipe you do not even have to turn on the stove or the oven. The only cooking you will have to do will be melting the butter in the microwave. If you have a collection of no-bake desserts for hot summer …
If you have never had streusel pie, it is a combination of a fruit crumble and a traditional pastry pie. In this case, the fruit crumble forms the top layer of the pie, so you won’t be fussing with the perfect pie shell for your top layer. Apple is the most common fruit used in …
Lemon Meringue Pie has been a fan favorite for over 200 years. It is the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors with a fluffy top. The crust is light and buttery and adds a nice frame to keep the filling together. The lemon pie filing has two layers. The bottom is tart and zesty, …
I am a college student on a budget and I am looking for authentic recipes traditional to New England. I have a class project that requires me to do this. Plus, I also just want to eat those recipes I find most appealing. There is one in particular that strikes my happiness chords–the Nantucket Pie …
Cream cheese pies galore! Whether it’s the holiday season and you need a cheap, fast afterwork pie for a holiday party, or it’s the springtime and Easter eggs are being hunted, there is nothing better than a cream cheese pie. Here are nearly 30 of the most fruitiest, chocolaty, peanut buttery, and even meaty cream …
A classic New England recipe, our recipe for Nantucket pie features the tangy sweetness of cranberries paired with the simplicity of a simple sponge cake. With subtle orange undertones provided by the orange zest, this simple and tasty dessert is great for work brunches or even for a classic holiday celebration. If you have a …
All things lemon during the summer months, and whether it’s pink or yellow, the resulting pie looks sensational. The bright citrus colors are always welcoming additions to any picnic spread. See what I am talking about with this recipe roundup of frozen lemonade pie recipes. Whether you use cream cheese or frozen whipped topping, or are …
While pumpkin spice is now found in all kinds of places, the original flavors were found in old-fashioned pumpkin pie. If you love pumpkin pie, but you want to create a new variation on the traditional pie, our recipe for Pumpkin Streusel Pie gives an old favorite a new twist. In our recipe, typical pumpkin pie is …
In the early 1800s, a Philadelphia woman named Elizabeth Goodfellow started America’s first cooking school. She had a classic recipe for lemon pudding which used ten egg yolks. At some point, to avoid the wasting of the egg whites, Ms. Goodfellow decided to top her lemon pudding with a lovely meringue topping, and Lemon Meringue …
Peaches begin to hit the produce section of the grocery store in mid-summer. Generally, the first peaches in the stores are “clingstone” peaches. These peaches are so good after a winter of waiting for summer stone fruits, but they might not be the best choice for a recipe like Fresh Peach Pie. Clingstone peaches have flesh …
Strawberries are the first fruits to ripen each spring. These delicious berries are cheerful, sweet, and loaded with vitamins and minerals. In fact, dietitians have called the strawberry a “superfood” because it has so much nutrition packed into a bright red, juicy form. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, a vitamin that helps boost the …
The name “derby pie” is actually protected by a trademark. The Kern family filed a copyright for the name and have been known to try to sue others who attempt to use the hyphenated title that they trademarked. Other inns, restaurants, and bakeries have received “cease and desist” letters from the Kern family when others …
Do you have a bag of blueberries taking up space in your freezer? If so, this recipe is the perfect way to use them up. While you can use fresh berries if you don’t have them on hand, no worries. The frozen ones will be just as good.
This pie is absolutely fantastic, with classic sliced apples topped with an oatmeal crumb topping. It is greatly sliced and served on its own, but we think that to really showcase this pie, you might want to top each slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of walnuts or pecans. To …
Pecans are trees that are native to the North American continent, so it is little wonder that Pecan Pie is a staple of most North Americans’ Thanksgiving meals. While Pumpkin Pie is also very popular at Thanksgiving, Pecan Pie is eaten all year round. Our recipe for Pecan Pie is the simple, traditional version of this …
We include instructions for creating a pie crust from scratch. However, if you don’t feel like rolling out a pie crust or don’t have the time or inclination to mess with it, you can definitely use a store-bought crust from the dairy department of your local grocery store. Simply unfold the crust into your pie …
Also called turnovers, hand pies are made from rounds of pastry dough filled with a delicious filling, doubled over, and fried in butter. In some cultures, hand pies are filled with a savory filling, which is delicious, but these hand pies are made with a fruity, sweet apple filling. Our recipe for Fried Apple Hand …
When you make a pie crust for the first time, you’ll probably have a few moments of frustration. Getting just the correct amount of water incorporated, making sure the dough isn’t too wet or too dry, having dough stick to the countertop, and transferring the rolled out pie crust to a pan are all common …
Cherry pie is created in the same basic way that other fruit pies like blueberry and apple pies. You can follow the instructions below to make a pie crust from scratch. However, if you don’t want to take the time to do so, feel free to use a refrigerated pie crust from your grocers dairy …
It’s sad to say, but many are intimidated by the idea of making a pie from scratch, mostly because they believe that creating your own pastry crust is difficult. Of course, making a pie crust does take a bit of a knack, but after you’ve done it a few times, you’ll start to find it …
Pecan pie is a favorite kind of dessert, typically served at fall and winter holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. And yet, there are many people who just love the flavor and texture of pecan pie, no matter the time of year. The crunchy, golden brown nuttiness of that top layer, the chewy, gooey …
This pie is unusual in that it uses a cornmeal crust rather than your typical graham cracker or shortbread crust. The cornmeal adds a wonderful texture to the dessert, and the nice thing about this pie crust recipe is that you don’t have to roll out any kind of dough. Did you hear that? Rolling …
Cooking with kids can be plenty of fun and may spark a lifelong interest in preparing food for themselves and others. Many skilled home cooks and even professional chefs can trace their love of food and cook back to positive childhood experiences both with a loved one and on their own. Learning to cook can …
One year on my birthday, I was given key lime pie. I’ve never really been into sweets very much but that smooth lime mixed with the crunch of the graham cracker crust had me invested. When I got home, I passed out hard. That sweetness was too much for my system, so I completely shut down. I learned at a young age that the pie, as I pictured it, was not my friend. Even though it was quite delicious.
Lucky for me, pie isn’t contingent on sugar. Depending on where you’re from, hearing the word pie will evoke different sensory memories. For some, pie is a glorious sweet thing that comes as a dessert. For others, there’s a savory pie that would be served as an entree.
Here, we’re going to explore the realm of various types of pies, so if you fancy yourself a pie connoisseur, you might be able to broaden your horizons.
Cream pies are cold but warm up your heart
The smoothest pies around are ones that don’t really require cutting, since the knife just glides right through. Cream pies have a custard-like filling and are sweet. Most often, they are served with whipped cream on top. There are plenty of flavors but don’t really contain things that take a lot of effort to chew.
Banana Cream Pie
This might be the best summer pie. It’s chilled and has some banana slices mixed in. Also included is vanilla pudding and vanilla wafers, if you want an extra crunch. With the milk and all that mixed, a banana cream pie slice is thick. Like all the pies in this category, it’s very rich, so you might want to eat the pie before your dinner to soak up all that sugar.
French Silk Pie
You won’t need another dessert for a week after having French silk pie. There’s probably a picture of it in the dictionary next to decadent, or death by chocolate. The main filling ingredient is chocolate bars. Several of them. Also, heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract. On top of the pie is more heavy cream with more chocolate shreds. Surprisingly, there’s no cream or chocolate in the crust. That doesn’t mean there can’t be, though.
This is such a popular pie that a fast-food ice cream giant came out with a French Silk Pie Blizzard. The same chocolate overkill with actual crust pieces but ice cream instead of pie filling.
Peanut Butter Cream Pie
Perhaps the best part of cream pies is that they don’t need to be placed in an oven. This no-bake peanut butter cream pie is a great way not to bury yourself in sugar but yet enjoy a sweet treat. Luckily, this one has some protein! For this pie, you’ll have actual peanuts that are ground down and cream cheese. Of course, a whole cup of peanut butter, too.
Fruit pie tries to soften the blow of sugar by adding fruit pieces
Weall remember those cartoons where the mom would put a freshly baked pie on the window sill. Shortly afterward, a character up to no good is tempted by the scent and can’t help but to take the whole thing for himself. It’s relatable because pie can tempt anyone.
Apple Pie
While the pie nor the apples are native to the United States, apple pie is the most American dessert. At least, that’s been the association for years. From songs to movies and everything in between, the symbol has been a popular one. Destiny’s Child took it a step further and titled a song, “Apple Pie a la Mode.”
The best apple pies can be smelled all over the house and have so many slices of apple inside that it practically takes up the entirety of the filling. On top is a criss-cross pattern of crust that offers little windows into the tender fruit underneath.
Cherry Pie
There is also a song called Cherry Pie. While it doesn’t necessarily give baking instructions, it is meant to represent something sweet. A cherry pie comes out looking similar to the apple pie but with cherries, which makes the pie kind of red. Cherries are somehow messier than apples, probably because they are small and round, so there are more of them included.
You also have the option of picking very sweet or more sour cherries, depending on your preference.
Strawberry Pie
Unlike apples or cherries, strawberries don’t have a variety. Strawberries are naturally sweeter, so the pie uses regular gelatin to create a cohesive filling. This fruit pie does not require baking. You pour the filling over a pre-made crust and refrigerate overnight. Pie for breakfast? Why not.
Old Time Favorites are the classic pies that have been around
If you think about it, many pies can be referred to as a favorite from generations ago. However, some pies don’t easily fall into categories such as fruit or cream. Some pies are more. Some might even say those pies are extra. So, this is a type of pie where they are unique enough to stand on their own.
Buttermilk Pie
Speaking of the classics, the first time I ever went to a shop that was entirely dedicated to pies was just a handful of years ago. The Buttermilk Pie Shop offers family and personal-sized pies, not to be confused with personal pan pizzas. As someone who has a hard time eating a lot of sugar, I was delighted at not being overwhelmed by an entire monster pie. Just enough is the best portion size.
So, while there, I had to try the namesake. It’s actually the perfect pie for someone who isn’t obsessed with sugar, as it’s not insanely sweet. I’ve also never had much of a use for buttermilk, but this pie has shown me the way. I wish my grandmother was still alive to enjoy it as she was a big fan of buttermilk, which would be a massive upgrade from her buttermilk and cornbread snack.
Lemon Meringue
You may be thinking, shouldn’t a pie named after a fruit be under the fruit pie label? It would if there were actually lemons in it. Sure, there is lemon zest and lemon juice, but those hardly count as pieces of fruit. This is inspired by the lemon, but it’s also nothing like a pie that is made mostly of fruit. This is a meringue.
A meringue is funny because it’s mostly fluffy white stuff with a sliver of jelly underneath. Basically, a helping of meringue with a side of lemon filling. Looking at the lemon meringue from the top makes you think of clouds or waves of sweetness. It’s a work of art.
Pecan Pie
Pee-can or puh-kan? It’s a great debate as far as desserts go. How you pronounce it has a lot to do with where you are from because what you heard growing up is going to be how you are most comfortable saying it. What really matters, though, is how it tastes.
Originating over a century ago in the southern part of the United States, pecan pie has been turning desserts into sticky situations ever since. If you’re like me, you may have rationalized eating a piece by acknowledging pecans are legit sources of protein. That does not make it better, but it does help mentally.
Pecan pie is basically syrup, nuts, and crust that bakes for an hour. The whole house is sucked into devouring this pie because the aroma is so alluring. Why it’s so delicious, we may never know. Perhaps it’s the perfect mix of salty and sweet that tricks the brain into believing it hasn’t had too much.
Savory
Finally, we get to my favorite part of the list, savory pies. Even though I don’t have a sweet tooth, I have no problem indulging in the occasional slice of fruity goodness. With that being said, I could let loose on a savory pie every day. Who needs all that sugar, anyway?
Shepherd’s Pie
One of my favorite dining moments on the road came from the unlikely source of an Irish pub in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I haven’t been to Ireland, but since a chunk of my DNA hails in that direction, I’m always down to try the food of my people. So, after hours of driving, I got to the hotel and started looking immediately for nearby places to eat at. That’s when I saw the pub. What I didn’t know was that the dining experience would leave a mark on me forever.
A traditional shepherd’s pie consists of lamb with peas, carrots, and a layer of mashed potatoes on top. The pie is then baked to perfection and served piping hot. The exact same ingredients but with beef instead of lamb is called a cottage pie. At first glance, the dish isn’t that big but it’s deeper than it appears. Due to the thickness of the sauce and the accumulation of other ingredients, it fills you fast.
I could barely finish my shepherd’s pie in one sitting, I had to be pulled out to the car in a wheelbarrow. Well, that’s how I like to remember it anyway. I barely had the energy to get back to the room before passing out. That’s a meal well done.
Quiche
I had quiche for the first time in high school and wasn’t sure how I had lived so long without it. I view it more as a specialty dish. It’s not the type of thing I cook myself because I don’t want to tarnish the good name of quiche. So, when I see it out in the wild, I take advantage.
Another great meal discovered while traveling is when I found an entire menu section dedicated to quiches at a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. They are made fresh on-site and were just the right amount. The best kind of treasure to find.
Quiche has a flaky crust that lightly holds the fluffy egg and cheese mixture inside. These aren’t eggs in the traditional sense, they are whipped and create more of a pie filling with other ingredients like spinach or bacon. You can have one for breakfast or dinner.
Meat Pie
I hate to say it, but yes, this is another story from the road. On a hot day in St. Augustine, Florida, I sauntered into an Australian cafe where I saw ice-cold beverages from the window. In my excitement, I stopped and saw that they had small pies available, too. Never one to turn down an international delight, I ordered my first minced meat pie.
Despite there not being any air conditioner in the tiny room adjacent to the counter, I had a rather nice experience trying something new. The crust is more sturdy and can be used to pull out a piece of the pie. Inside is a hearty serving of beef, onions, and tomato sauce. Seasonings give quite a kick, so be sure to have a beverage when you try it yourself.