From An Expert Baker:10 Tips for Perfect Homemade Pies & 20 Pie Recipes To Try

Homemade pie has a curious reputation. On the one hand we have the saying, “easy as pie”, and yet, many home bakers find it a challenge to make a great pie crust. We have the recipes and tips you need to make the best crusts, as well as 20 recipes for pies, from summery blueberry to seasonal pumpkin, pecan, apple and more.

Easy As Pie? It Can Be!

The truth of the matter is that making rolled pie crusts scares people. Here are pro tips to turn you into an ace pie maker/baker.

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I Am Your Pie Muse

I have made thousands of pies in my day and have learned a thing or two. I am here for you to have pie success! Let me be your pie muse…

Expert Pie Making Tips

Here are my top 10 tips. You can bake a perfect pie.

Read the Recipe! 

Sometimes fillings need to chill. Sometimes oven temperatures start high and get turned down at some point. One recipe might use chilled shortening, while another might ask for a blend of butter and shortening, or even lard. Make sure you have what you need, and understand the process.

Choose Your Pie Plate Material

We use ovenproof glass, such as Pyrex, in the Test Kitchen. I find that they conduct heat very well, I can see the browning of the crust and they provide very reliable results. As an alternative, I will occasionally use a heavy ceramic, such as the Emile Henry, but they are pricey. The Pyrex, or equivalent, are inexpensive and easy to find. I am not partial to metal pie plates and I never use disposable foil. Your choice of material will affect how heat is conducted and how well your crust bakes – and a well-baked crust is a huge part of pie enjoyment.

Size Counts

Use the proper size pie plate as suggested in each recipe. A 9 inch (23 cm) pie plate is not the same as a deep-dish pie plate, which is typically 9 1/2 (24 cm) inches wide and also deeper; they are not interchangeable. Pie recipes are developed specifically and the filling of one might overfill or under-fill the wrong pie plate. This not only throws off visuals and baking time but also ultimately the texture and quality of the final product as well. You can see in the images below how there truly is a difference.

Prep Your Plate

We always coat our pie plates with nonstick spray for an easier time upon cutting and serving.

Easy Rolling

If pie dough always seems yo stick to your work surface, try rolling out on lightly floured parchment paper. This reduces sticking and also allows you to pick up the crust and easily transfer it to your pie plate. This hand roller, seen above, is one of our favorite tools. After you have rolled out your crust with your standard size rolling pin, it sometimes needs a little finessing. This hand-held device makes quick work of evening out the dough, helping create a nice round shape and generally is just a huge help. Trust me.

Hot, Hot Hot Oven

Make sure the oven is preheated properly. Many pies need a very hot oven in order to set the crust quickly. Also, know where your heat source is and adjust your oven racks as needed.

Raw, Par-Baked, Fully Baked

Individual recipes will tell you about how to proceed. Many fruit pie recipes such as our Blueberry Pie, call for raw dough. Other recipes such as our Maple Pumpkin Pie call for a partially baked crust – before the filling is added – to ensure a crisp bottom. This is called par-baking, pre-baking or blind baking. Full instructions are given in our article, Blind Baking Pie Crusts. In the image above you can see ceramic pie weights in action.

Let’s Get To The Recipes!

Choose your fave! We’ve got them all: apple, berry, pumpkin, banana cream, custard, and more

The Berries Pie

This Berries Pie is special. It combines blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in a gluten-free crust and it is about as satisfying a pie as you can make. Get the recipe.

Chocolate Pecan Pie with Whiskey

Pecan pies are sweet by nature, but in this recipe the sweetness is tempered by extra-bittersweet chocolate and a shot of whiskey incorporated into the pecan filling. Get the recipe.

Maple Pumpkin Pie with Fresh Lemon & Ginger

This version of pumpkin pie is lightly sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with fresh lemon zest and freshly grated ginger, which provide a bit of zing. If you love pumpkin pie and have been looking for something a bit different, this is it! Get the recipe.

Blueberry Pie

This classic two crust blueberry pie is based on the one my Nana used to make. It is bursting with blueberries and very juicy. Get the recipe.

Italian Ricotta Pie

This Italian ricotta pie, also called sweet Italian Easter pie, is a traditional Italian dessert that’s rich, creamy, and full of sweet citrus and warm spices. This sweet ricotta pie with a lattice crust is the perfect finale to any holiday meal. Get the recipe.

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Our Classic Pumpkin Pie brings together lactose-free evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, spices, eggs and pure cane sugar for a traditional flavor and texture. We like it best nestled in an all-butter piecrust. Get the recipe.

Chicken Pot Pie

We love savory pies and this chicken pot pie is probably our favorite. Get the recipe.

Cranberry Snowdrift Pie

This recipe is a bit unusual. It features a sweet tart cranberry filling and is crowned with toasted meringue, no drift! And you get to haul out your propane torch. Get the recipe.

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

We have even more pumpkin pie recipes then we have mentioned on this page, but this is the lightest one. This low FODMAP Pumpkin Chiffon pie is a nice addition to any other pies you have on your holiday table. Get the recipe.

Rhubarb Pie with Lattice Crust

In the spring when it is at its peak we make as many rhubarb recipes as possible, and always include this lattice crust rhubarb pie. Get the recipe.

Old-Fashioned Custard Pie

My Grandma’s Old Fashioned Custard Pie features a rich and creamy nutmeg scented custard nestled inside a flaky crust. Get the recipe.

Gluten-Free Lemon Chess Pie

Brighten up your day with this zesty lemon chess pie! A perfect blend of tangy lemon and sweet flavors baked into a gluten-free crust. Get the recipe.

Grandma’s Apple Pie

This classic recipe for old fashion apple pie is my family’s go to every Thanksgiving. It’s a simple, old-timey recipe that tastes so simple yet so delicious. Tender apples baked with warm cinnamon sugar encased in the most flaky, buttery pie crust ever. Grandma’s pies are classic for a reason! Get the recipe.

Salted Caramel Apple Pecan Pie

We hope the title of this recipe entices, because it’s certainly gets our mouth watering! Salted caramel is combined with apple and pecan for a unique pie that your guests will be clamoring for. Get the recipe.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Pie

This easy, homemade old fashioned chocolate pie recipe delivers a creamy, chocolate pudding filling just like grandma’s recipe. Get the recipe.

Banana Cream Pie

Diner food at its best, Banana cream pie is a favorite for many, and our gluten-free version tastes just like the classic. Get the recipe.

Fresh Blueberry Pie

What is Fresh Blueberry Pie? A pie that is so blueberry-y that it is practically incomprehensible. It is made by cooking blueberries on top of the stove until they are jammy, and then folding in fresh blueberries and the whole shebang is poured into a flaky, pre-baked crust. Get the recipe for Fresh Blueberry Pie.

Honey Sweetened Blueberry Pie

This blueberry pie recipe has a healthy new look! It’s super easy to make too.

It makes a delicious pie with NO refined sugar! Naturally sweetened with honey and real blueberries. With this healthier, clean eating dessert, you can have your pie and eat it too! Get the recipe for Honey Sweetened Blueberry Pie.

Mini Cherry Pies

Mini cherry pies. Cute little handheld desserts perfect for sharing with the neighbors. I get to save 1 (or 3 but who’s counting?) pies for myself and gift the rest away. The perfect pay it forward gift from the cherries I had been given by a friend. Get the recipe for Mini Cherry Pies.

Raspberry Pie

This raspberry pie recipe is one I learned to make when I lived in Germany. It’s light, delicious, and perfect for a warm summer evening’s dessert.

While I never got the chance to actually make it while I was in Germany, I wrote down the recipe as it was recited to me by the mother of the family I was staying with. I will love her forever for giving me this recipe. Get the recipe for Raspberry Pie.

24 Cobblers, Crisps, Grunts, Slumps, Crumbles, Buckles, & Bettys! Now That’s A Delicious Mouthful!

When we have a hankering for fruit and something cake or pastry-like, but don’t want to make an actual pie, we turn to the old-fashioned group of desserts called Cobblers, Crisps, Grunts, Crumbles, Buckles, & Bettys. These traditional desserts each offer a unique combination of textures and flavors, often highlighting seasonal fruits. There are even vegan versions, ones you can make in the air fryer, single-serve microwave recipes! We have 24 recipes for you, but first let’s define what these homespun desserts are, and take a look at why one of them is known by a woman’s name.

READ: 24 Cobblers, Crisps, Grunts, Slumps, Crumbles, Buckles, & Bettys! Now That’s A Delicious Mouthful!

20 Homemade Sorbets, Sherbets, Granitas, Popsicles And Ices For Summer Fun!

Ice cream and gelato get a lot of love, but sometimes we want an icy treat that is a bit lighter. Enter the world of Sorbets, Sherbets, Granitas, Pops, and Ices! And trust us: if you think these cannot be as satisfying as ice cream, we suggest you try our Chocolate Sorbet right now. Dairy-free, yet rich and creamy. Twenty in all featuring pineapple, strawberries, espresso, papaya, lime, cherries, banana, coconut and all the flavors you crave.

READ: 20 Homemade Sorbets, Sherbets, Granitas, Popsicles And Ices For Summer Fun!

18 Healthy Summer Snacks That Help You Beat The Heat & Sustain Energy

We are big snackers around here, and in the summer, we do like lighter snacks – and they are even better if they help cool us down. Luckily, there are loads to choose from, both sweet and savory. Are your favorites listed? Or, which new-to-you one will you try first?

READ: 18 Healthy Summer Snacks That Help You Beat The Heat & Sustain Energy

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