The 50 Best Pie Recipes: Tasty, fresh, and easy to make!

By Adams Media

They’re tasty. They’re easy to make. And they’re right at your fingertips. The 50 Best Pie Recipes is an appetizing selection of sweet desserts and savory main dishes. From Southern Pecan Pie to Tex-Mex Taco Pie, there are plenty of delicious options included so you can satisfy your hunger and your sweet tooth. Enjoy! They’re tasty. They’re easy to make. And they’re right at your fingertips. The 50 Best Pie Recipes is an appetizing selection of sweet desserts and savory main dishes. From Southern Pecan Pie to Tex-Mex Taco Pie, there are plenty of delicious options included so you can satisfy your hunger and your sweet tooth. Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Release date: Nov 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781440534416

Adams Media

At Adams Media, we don’t just publish books—we craft experiences that matter to you. Whether you’re diving deep into spirituality, whipping up delights in the kitchen, or planning your personal finances, our diverse range of lifestyle books, decks, journals, and more is designed to feed your curiosity. The Adams team strives to publish content that celebrates readers where they are—and where they’re going.

Book preview

The 50 Best Pie Recipes Cover

The 50 Best

Pie Recipes

Tasty, fresh, and easy to make!

Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Avon, Massachusetts

Contents

Introduction

Flaky Crust

Mealy Crust

Graham Cracker Crust

Pretzel Crust

Tart Crust

Puff Pastry Crust

Cornmeal Crust

Stabilized Whipped Cream

All-American Apple Pie

Windowsill Cherry Pie

Key Lime Pie

Southern Pecan Pie

Sweet and Tangy Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Pomegranate Cream Cheese Pie

Better than an Espresso Pie

Chocolate Cherry Custard Pie

Creamy Pumpkin Pie

Cheesecake Pie

Sneaky Zucchini Pie

Hazelnut Fudge Pie

Creamy Praline Pecan Pie

Chocolate Mocha Pie

Lovely Lemon Chiffon Pie

Lemon and Blackberry Tart

Zesty Margarita Pie

Sinful Chocolate Silk Tart

Strawberry Shortcake Tart

Fig and Sweet Cheese Tart

September Pear Tart

Pumpkin Pie with Pecans

Sweet Potato Brandy Pie

Quick and Easy Mincemeat Pie

Spiced Gingerbread Custard Pie

Tuscany Torta della Nonna

Cookie Dough Pie

Triple Threat Sorbet Pie

Apple Pie Pocket

Takeaway Pumpkin Hand Pies

Tiramisu Pie

Shoofly Pie

Spicy Strawberry Pie

Sundried Tomato Tart with Pesto

Quiche Lorraine

Apple-Cheddar Quiche

Salmon Quiche with Dill and Chives

Bean Empanadas

Your Very Own Chicken Potpie

Tex-Mex Taco Pie

Chinese-Style Beef Pie

Shepherd’s Pie

Also Available

Copyright Page

Introduction

Pie, in its most basic form, is a baked food with a filling that is prepared in a pastry and often topped with a pastry crust or other topping. The tradition of pie spans the globe, with most cultures having some sort of pie that speaks to the food and the people of that region. What gives pie its universal appeal is that it can be made with what is available fresh, such as meat, produce, grains, and dairy, but it can also be made with preserved ingredients. In fact, pies are a great way to perk up preserved, dried, or frozen fruits, meats, and vegetables.

The term pie comes from medieval England where pastry cases, or coffyns as they were called, were used to house fillings. The crusts were very tough, being used primarily as the cooking vessel. Among the wealthy the filling was the only thing eaten and the crusts were given to the less fortunate or the servants. Pies traveled across the sea to America with the Pilgrims, who created new recipes to use what was locally available. Fruit pies, as they are known today, were most likely perfected by the Pennsylvania Dutch. As Americans settled the West, pies became a staple of most meals, with pioneer cooks making as many as twenty-one pies in a week!

Pie is a comfort food, bringing back memories of home, love, and tradition. Pies have a bad reputation for being difficult to make, and this is simply not true! These fifty recipes are a start to your new journey into pie making, so roll up your sleeves and have fun!

Flaky Crust

This recipe is best for pies where the crust is blind-baked, such as cream pies, or used as the top crust for fruit pies. This also works beautifully for a lattice top.

Yields 1 9-inch crust

Ingredients

1¹⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

¹⁄2 teaspoons salt

6 tablespoons butter, cubed and chilled

2 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening, chilled

2-4 tablespoons ice water

In a large bowl sift together the flour, sugar, and salt.

Add the chilled fats and rub them into the flour mixture with your fingers until 30% of the fat is between pea and hazelnut sized, while the rest is blended in well.

Add 2 tablespoons of water and mix until the dough forms a rough ball. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time, if needed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least