Pie

I look forward to peach season like some people look forward to Christmas. Just thinking about fresh, sliced peaches, seasoned perfectly and accompanied by a perfect crust, is enough to make my mouth water. The options for peach pie are virtually never ending. Not only is it equally tasty with a flaky traditional or sweet crumbly topping, but peaches also blend beautifully with other fruits, including blueberries, raspberries, dried cranberries, and strawberries. While we use blueberries here, try substituting a cup of your own favorite fruit (the fresher, the better). Be sure to also try this with Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping (page 12).

Peaches are at their best mid-July through September. When selecting peaches, look for those that do not have a green undertone—the sweetest peaches will come in warmer color shades and will omit a sweet odor. The most daunting part of this recipe is—surprise—actually peeling the peaches, but I have a great, simplified method for this process (see page 44). You can also make this pie with a Traditional Pastry double crust (page 5).

Since the majority of sour cherry patches are in Michigan, Utah, and Washington State, depending on where you live, you may be unaware of these ruby-red delicacies. It’s worth hunting them down—just be aware that they are very perishable and should be frozen immediately or put straight to use in this scrumptious pie. For a little bit of added texture, I like to use this walnut crunch topping, infused with a bit of orange zest for that extra zing.

Our customers look forward to this pie just as much as they look forward to fireworks on the Fourth of July—the perfect holiday for indulging in this pie because late June to early August is when cherries tend to be at their most flavorful. Although this recipe calls for Bing cherries, which are easiest to find, you can substitute whatever is available in your area. A little more prep time is required here than for other fruit pies because of the pitting process, but it’s well worth the effort. This recipe uses a lattice-style top crust, but you can also use a traditionally placed top crust if you prefer. You can also try this pie with Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping (page 12).

As if the bold, tart flavor weren’t appealing enough, this pie is absolutely beautiful to behold. A mound of fluffy white meringue, toasted on top and offset by the rich yellow of the lemon curd, makes for a picture-perfect slice of pie. Best served the same day it is made, you can make the lemon curd in advance and refrigerate it in the pie shell for up to two days prior to serving, but the meringue is best made and eaten the same day.

This pie was one of my very first entries in the National Pie Championships. It ended up winning the 2008 Championships in the berry category. The most important element when it comes to a successful result with this pie is to use just picked firm berries. I recommend making Blueberry-Blackberry Pie with a crumb topping; however, if you prefer a less sweet fruit pie, go with the Traditional Pastry double-crust option (page 5), which is just as good. This pie shines with a dollop of Whipped Cream (page 193) or vanilla ice cream.

This pie allows for indulgence in a sweet treat. Blueberries pack enough flavor that you’ll never even know that traditional sugar is missing.

My dad and I have spent a lifetime bonding over our love of blueberry pie. I knew I had mastered this recipe when I got his stamp of approval. When selecting blueberries, remember that they don’t sweeten after being picked. Generally, the bigger a blueberry is, the sweeter it is. Try to use big, round berries, without cracked skin, and be sure to pick the stems off the blueberries before using. Summertime is the best time for this pie because the berries are at their prime between June and early September. You can also try Blueberry Pie with the Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping (page 12) which won the 2011 National Pie Championships in its category. For extra indulgence add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

My business partner and husband, Kelly, loves reminiscing about picking plump, juicy wild blackberries as a child with his grandma at their camp in the Adirondacks. Although Kelly loved eating the blackberries almost as quickly as he could pick them, he knew that if he managed to leave enough, his grandma would make his favorite summer treat—Blackberry Pie. Check out local farms or farmers’ markets for access to the sweetest blackberries available in your area. June is usually peak blackberry season in the southern states, while they peak in July up north. You can also try this pie with the Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping (page 12).

Unlike fresh cranberries, which can be tart, dried cranberries provide an extra layer of sweetness to the classic apple pie. This dessert is a great finale to a pork roast dinner. Try it with the Traditional Pastry double crust (page 5) as an alternative.

Around here, National Pie Day (January 23) is like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Thanksgiving rolled up into one! Every year on this holy pie day, I like to do something special. In 2009 I decided National Pie Day would be the perfect opportunity to roll out a line of sugar-free pies. Incorporating Splenda into the sugarfree pies allows you to undulge in a sweet treat while limiting your sugar intake. Sugarfree apple pies have been flying off the shelves ever since—a great way to savor apple pie minus the guilt.

Apple pie seems like the perfect place to begin, since it was the first pie I ever made. Despite all of the practice I had making this pie as a kid with my grandma, it took me a very long time to commit this recipe to paper; but, after many tries, I was finally able to get her recipe down! Select your apples based on your own taste preferences. At the shop, we use Cortland apples for their sweetness (Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp or McIntosh are also sweet). You can also get creative and use a combination of both sweet and tart apples, such as Fuji and Granny Smith apples (Jonathan and Rome Beauties are tart as well). You can also try this pie with the Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping (page 12) and drizzled with Caramel Sauce (page 189); it earned us two National Pie Championships Award.

A staff favorite, this pie was inspired by the large selection of apples available throughout the autumn months at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City. Using many varieties produces the best flavor.

Martha grows gooseberries, which inspired this pie, in her garden in Bedford, New York. Although their season is short (early summer), gooseberries are worth seeking out for their unique flavor. They can be very tart, so increase the sugar if you prefer your pie on the sweet side.

If you are fortunate enough to find wild blueberries while they are in season, by all means use them in this recipe; they are smaller than cultivated berries, so you may need an extra cup or two to make up the volume necessary for the pie.

We like this pie a little on the tart side; if you prefer a sweeter taste, increase the granulated sugar to 3/4 cup. To keep the dough from getting soggy, fill the pie shell just before you’re ready to cover with top crust.

The almond crumb crust is mixed by hand and doesn’t require any rolling, which makes this a great pie for beginning bakers.

This pie can be made with any berry or stone fruit, although we prefer sour cherries, peaches, or blueberries. If you can’t find fresh sour cherries, use two pounds of frozen pitted cherries instead; defrost and drain well before using.

This pie can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for up to three days. Applying a thin coating of melted chocolate to the baked pie shell before filling seals the crust and helps it stay crisp.

Almost every region in Italy has a variation of “grandmother’s cake,” but this one was created after tasting a version at an Italian restaurant in New York City. Durum wheat, included here, is most commonly used to make semolina for pasta. This pie is best eaten the same day it is baked.