Pies, Cobblers & Crumbles

The secret to perfectly even graham cracker crusts? Check your kitchen cabinets.

Just like the professionals!

This rustic dessert is easy and delicious.

Choose a mix of sweet and tart apples from this list for the ultimate apple pie.

Whether you made it (or bought it) ahead or have leftovers, here's how to safely store pecan pie.

Its origins may be debatable, but the appeal of this sweet and creamy pie is never in question. Here’s what you need to know.

Try this simple trick for quick and easy tarts.

Here's everything you've ever wanted to know, including how they get their names.

Pretzel pie crust? Yes, please!

Filing this under things I wish I knew sooner.

And it uses an unexpected item you most likely have on hand!

You'll wonder why you didn't know this sooner.

Never spend hours baking a pie again.

Definitely trying this for Thanksgiving!

We've got answers!

Take a leap of watery faith.

It makes the buttery streusel topping so much better.

Ahead of all the cool, creamy pies we plan to bake this spring and summer, we put 6 popular methods for binding baking pie crusts to the test.

Here are her 10 tips for better pies.

It's almost too pretty to eat.

But it is incredibly easy and doesn't require any fancy tools.

Never waste those precious pie scraps again!

Plus, a great way to use the sugar when you're done!

"The easiest and most delicious hash browns you’ll ever make.”

What baking powder does for biscuits, it can also do for pie.

Make those grocery store bouquets last as long as possible!

Make a fruit-filling frisbee and reap the rewards later.

We rated them based on color, sheen, and consistency of browning.

No more shrunken filling or soggy crusts!

Pie scraps can be a problem. Fortunately, the solution is delicious.

This little tip from Sister Pie is totally changing our baking.

Forget turkey, just make PIE for your Friendsgiving potluck this year!

No, really. You've got to try this.

We make a lot of pies here at The Kitchn — which is great, because practice makes perfect when it comes to pie-making. Along the way, we’ve picked up quite a few tips and tricks for the perfect pie, from rolling it to freezing it to cutting that tricky first slice. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a pie-baking pro, you’ll learn something new from these 15 tips.

Mid-winter is ideal pie time, in my opinion. There might not be the swath of ripe berries and stone fruits of summer, but the weather is cool enough to justify cranking up the oven and making the most of winter citrus. And blind baking — or letting the pie crust bake for a bit on its own before you add the filling — is a key step in the process. One of the most common ways to blind-bake a pie is to use dried beans to weigh down the crust as it bakes.

When I was a little girl, I thought there was nothing cooler than one of those cakes with a doll stuck in the middle of it, so it looked like the doll was wearing a big dress made out of red velvet and buttercream frosting. If the doll could be made to look like a Disney Princess, that was even better. Now a culinary genius named Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin has taken the doll-in-a-ball-gown cake concept and made it even cooler, because hers are made entirely out of pie.

Just when we thought the world had hit its pumpkin spice peak, a baffling new fall treat has sent the internet into a frenzy. Enter: clear pumpkin pie, a madcap creation from the chefs at Alinea in Chicago. What looks like gelatin poured into a pie crust is actually pumpkin pie that has been distilled into a totally transparent jello-like confection. Allegedly it tastes like real pumpkin and not pumpkin spice or pumpkin-flavored gelatin.

Crumbles make the most of the bounty of summer berries and stone fruit, transforming them into a striking yet straightforward dessert we’d happily eat all season long. It doesn’t take much convincing to put one of these together, but when we learned there was an even easier way to have our crumbles (thanks to a tip from one of our readers), a whole world of crumbles opened up to us, ready to be prepared without much effort whenever the craving struck. The secret weapon? Your freezer.

Cobbler is one of those scrappy recipes beloved for its ability to transform fresh fruit and pantry staples into a well-loved dessert, while simultaneously being un-screw-up-able. Although, like many casual desserts, cobbler can be mastered or ruined by just a few key choices. Today, we’re going to tackle the six most common things you shouldn’t do so your cobbler turns out beautifully every time.

There are stories of wise, mystic women stirring cauldrons to create potions and seek divinations. I get that. My cauldron, which is actually a big ol’ Le Creuset pot, is where I stir up a mess of greens with equal parts mastery and beginner’s mind. And then I get to eat them. Truth.

Ever notice how some arguments have had the same opposing sides for what seems like all of time? We’re exploring the discourse around common kitchen arguments in our series on ancient debates and food rivalries. There are always two sides to a story, and sometimes everyone’s right. Have you ever gotten into a good-natured screaming match with someone you’ve only known for two-and-a-half days? We did. It was about pizza.

Confession: I hate pumpkin pie. It feels crazy to admit this because, like Star Wars and Fitbits, pumpkin pie has so many die-hard fans. And I want to like it, I really do, but store-bought or homemade, I’ve been consistently underwhelmed with every bite. It’s not welcoming like a slice of warm apple pie, or impressive like a proud, browned lemon meringue peak. It’s just there, inert on my plate like a bored cat.

Pumpkin pie is an icon of the Thanksgiving table, a dish of rich pumpkin custard fragrant with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves wrapped in flaky pastry crust. Served with a generous dollop of whipped cream, there aren’t many slices of pie so universally loved. But even pro bakers know that a near-perfect pumpkin pie requires a few special considerations to take it from ordinary to memorable. Here are five mistakes to avoid when baking your holiday pie.

Now that we’ve made it to November, perhaps you’re growing weary of pumpkin spice, well, everything. Not to worry, though, because there are a handful of spice blends out there that just might rival that classic combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. They may seem unconventional in your pumpkin pie or muffins, but give one a try and I guarantee that your taste buds will delight in the vast world of flavors beyond pumpkin pie spice.

Sweet potato pie is the sweeter, creamier Southern cousin of pumpkin pie. And it’s the antidote for pumpkin spice haters. While sweet potato pie does require cooking a few sweet potatoes, it doesn’t require cooking the filling, and if you’ve got a tart pan you can skip blind baking the crust. While sweet potato pie is a near perfect replacement for pumpkin pie, there are still a few missteps you’ll want to avoid on your path to pie perfection.

Every host has at least one diner coming to Thanksgiving with a dietary restriction. While the main event isn’t vegan (although, if you need one, try this root vegetable pot pie), most of the other dishes on the table are easily adapted to be enjoyed by both vegans and non-vegans alike. But what about the pumpkin pie? Pie crust is easily made vegan with a switch of butter to vegetable shortening or even oil.

Pumpkin pie is the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert. This custard pie might taste complex, but it’s simply an accumulation of smart shopping, thoughtful preparations, and patience. Here’s a primer for baking a pumpkin pie from scratch. We’re looking at pumpkin pie from the crust to the filling and sharing a few tips on the details in between. We’ll start with the filling and end with ways to primp the pie before serving.

I always try to have pie dough in the freezer at all times. It’s not only helpful to have around when it comes to making dessert, but it’s also a lifesaver when it comes to making a fast dinner. And I am not just talking about using the dough to make a quiche or savory galette — it has a slew of other dinnertime uses that you might not have thought of.

Feeling stumped by those pie shells in the freezer aisle that come ready to go in their own individual aluminum pans? Aside from making a sweet pie, what good are they? Well, it turns out you can actually do quite a lot with them. Here are five ways to make use of this grocery-store convenience from morning to night. A rich, custardy quiche makes for a perfect lunch or brunch. A purchased pie shell makes it easy to throw one together.

Quiche fits the bill any time of day, be it breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. You can make it rich and decadent, with the butteriest crust and heaps of cheese, or you can lighten it up and pack it with flavorful veggies. Whichever way you choose, it’s a guaranteed hit. That is, as long as you avoid a few common quiche-making mistakes. Baking a quiche is really quite simple. In its most basic form, it’s a custard of eggs and milk baked in a pie crust.

Q: I’m making my first — yes, very first — apple pie. I’ve baked lots of other goodies, but I’ve never tried making an apple pie. My partner baked one last night; it was beautifully cooked on top, but not the bottom. I’d like to avoid those issues. Any advice? Sent by Louise Editor: Apple pie can come off as deceptively simple, but there are a few key things to be aware of to ensure pie success, like picking out the right apples and whipping up a sturdy crust.

Ah, the humble pie. Whether it’s a free-form galette, a double-crust slab, or a lattice-topped number, pies always maintain an air of rustic charm. But if you’re getting more comfortable with pie dough and are itching to try out something new, we’ve got your covered. Here are five pretty and unique ways to make your pie crust stand out. On butter: When making decorative pie crust, steer clear of an all-butter crust.

Cooking dinner for your sweetie at home this Valentine’s Day? We’re all for it (in fact, we have a few ideas on what to cook). But what’s for supper is just one part of setting the sultry scene. To help you pair your meal with the most fitting flowers, we asked Caroline Bailly to play matchmaker.

Q: How long can I refrigerate an unbaked peach pie before the crust will get soggy? Sent by Jan Editor: The short answer — not terribly long at all. Fruit tends to water out pretty quickly after it’s been mixed with any sort of sugar, and as a result, your crust will grow gummy in a matter of minutes. The first thing you should do is blind bake the crust. Once par-baked (or even baked all the way), it’s less likely to grow mushy.

Whether you just rolled out a flaky, homemade buttery pie crust, or took a store-bought one out of the freezer (no shame in that!), there’s one more crucial step before you pop that pie into the oven and wish it well: brushing the dough with a glaze. But which glaze gets you the result you want? What does whole egg do to create a burnished finish? Cream? Sugar? We decided to test out a few popular glazes on pie dough strips and see how they make that pie crust pop!

It may seem like the only equation you need for figuring out how much pie to have for Thanksgiving is pie + more pie = enough pie. After all, extra pie is the easiest way to ensure there’s enough for a slice the next morning. We’re with you — next-day pie for breakfast is always a good idea. Nevertheless, planning takes priority in some situations, so it’s also a good idea to know how many pies to have on hand.

We’re in the midst of prime time for apple-pie baking. And with Thanksgiving on the horizon, there’s something important you should know about making this classic dessert: it’s about all making your apple pie filling. If you’ve been filling your apple pies with raw, thin slices of fruit, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Sautéeing the apples along with sugar and spices will add a deep, rich caramelized flavor to your pie.

I know what you’re going to say: “But pie dough is so easy! But homemade is so much better than store-bought! But you’re a food writer, how could you?” I hear you. I even agree with you. I’ve made a few of those arguments myself. But I’ve been wrestling with this for a long time and I just need to get it off my chest: I love pie, but I hate making pie dough. With a passion. I’ve gone through all the stages of grief on this one.

If you’ve ever blind-baked a pie crust (essential for desserts like pumpkin pie), it’s likely you’ve encountered the tragedy that is a shrunken pie crust. You rolled out the dough, carefully placed it in the pie dish, made a perfectly crimped edge, and transferred it to the oven to pre-bake before adding the filling. But what came out of the oven was something almost unrecognizable.

Growing up, my favorite summer lunch was the tomato and mayonnaise sandwich. Nothing could ever beat the combination of fresh, juicy tomatoes and rich, creamy mayo on white bread (with the crusts cut off, please). That is, until now. Because now there is tomato mayo pie, which combines beautiful heirloom tomatoes with a shiitake mushroom mayo — all inside a buttery, flaky pie crust. Swoon.