The Ultimate Guide to Making Perfect Pies
Take your pies to the next level with these tips, tricks, and recipes from award-winning bakers around the country.
Take your pies to the next level with these baking tips, tricks, and recipes from award-winning bakers around the country.
1
Prize Pies
Which pies made the cut? Texas, Iowa, and North Carolina! These state fairs served up the best pie flavors of the nationwide batch we tested. Read on to get recipes for each.
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2
Cherry-Berry Jumble Pie
Indulge in this pie, inspired by Sarah Spaugh's winning pie at the 2006 North Carolina State Fair.
Recipe: Cherry-Berry Jumble Fruit Pie
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3
Orange-Buttermilk Chess Pie
Denise Saade's winning pie at the 2013 state fair of Texas inspired us to make this treat.
Recipe: Orange-Buttermilk Chess Pie
4
Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Pie
This pie is inspired by Anna Jones's winning pie at the 2013 state fair of Texas.
Recipe: Decadent Chocolate-Espresso Pie
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5
Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie
Try our take on Louise Piper's winning pie at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.
Recipe: Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie
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6
Pear Crumb Pie
Lana Ross's winning pie at the 2010 Iowa State Fair was the inspiration for this Pear-Crumb Pie.
Recipe: Pear-Crumb Pie
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7
Perfect Piecrust
We asked prize-winning bakers to share their secrets to a buttery, flaky crust. Here are their five best tips:
Recipe: Perfect Piecrust
1. Use both butter and shortening. The butter adds flavor, and the shortening adds flakiness.
2. Rolling out your dough on parchment paper eliminates the need for a lot of flour on the work surface, which can result in a tough crust.
3. For a truly tender crust, use unbleached flour. Bleaching tends to make the gluten tougher.
4. Many prize bakers swear by vodka for a super-tender crust, but after experimenting with several winning recipes, we found that the bubbles of 7UP give rise to the flakiest layers and the most delicate texture.
5. To create this pretty leaf border (center), all you need is a small leaf-shaped cookie cutter and a toothpick to freehand the vein detailing.
8
Easy Hacks for Leftover Crust
Savory Croutons: Brush dough scraps with olive oil and sprinkle with chop-ped fresh rosemary and coarse salt and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Add to soups and salads.
Dessert Dippers: Cut leftover dough into 3-inch strips, brush with beaten egg white, and sprinkle with white sparkling sugar. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Dip into melted chocolate or whisk together jarred lemon curd and sour cream for a creamy citrus dip.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Hand Pies: Cut leftover dough into 3½-inch circles. Sprinkle with chopped peanut butter-filled chocolate candy, such as Reese's Cups. Lightly brush edges with water and fold over to seal, crimping edges with a fork. Bake at 350°F on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes.
Mini Jam Tarts: Cut dough into 2¾-inch circles. Press into bottom and up the sides of a mini muffin tin. Fill each with 2 teaspoons cream cheese and 1 teaspoon jam. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand in muffin pan 10 minutes before removing.
9
The Ultimate Secret Weapon
After testing multiple methods for rolling out piecrust, Lyda Jones Burnette, our resident baking expert, discovered that an old-fashioned glass rolling pin filled with ice water is the perfect tool for keeping the dough cool and, as a result, achieving flaky layers. We scored this cobalt blue model for $20 at Missy's Collectibles and Gifts, but you can find other vintage options (hello, jadeite!) at flea markets.
10
The Winning Fillings
State fair season is in full swing! Join the upper crust by stepping up to the (pie) plate and entering one of these upcoming state fair competitions. Bakers, start your ovens…
NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR, ALBUQUERQUE, SEPTEMBER 10-21: Take your pick from 16 categories, including apple, cherry, and peach.
To enter: Register on September 16. Judging begins at 1:30 p.m; exponm.com for more information.
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS, DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 19: Go big or go home in seven categories, including chocolate and citrus.
To enter: No preregistry required; check-in begins at 9 a.m. on October 5; bigtex.com for more information.
TENNESSEE STATE FAIR, NASHVILLE, SEPTEMBER 5-14: The "Two-Crust Apple Pie Contest" pays homage to an all-American favorite. Last year's winner had a hint of whiskey, which may clue you in on how to win over the judges.
To enter: Register by September 9; tnstatefair.org for more information.
VIRGINIA STATE FAIR, DOSWELL, SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 5: Whip up a confection in one of the 10 categories, from pumpkin to pecan.
To enter: Deadline for entry is September 5; statefairva.org for more information.
WASHINGTON STATE FAIR, PUYALLUP, SEPTEMBER 5-21: The Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World would devote a contest to, you guessed it, rhubarb pie.
To enter: Register by September 13; thefair.com for more information.
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