A Handy Guide To Types of Pies, For The Novice Home Baker

Pies may seem pretty straightforward, and you may think there’s not much to them beyond the type of filling, and whether this falls into the sweet or savory category. But there’s a lot more to explore when it comes to pie varieties. Don’t just take our word for it; embark on this introductory tour!

VARIETIES BASED ON CRUST

1. Single Crust Pies: Single crust pies consist of one crust at the bottom that encases an array of ingredients resulting in deliciousness. Let’s take the pumpkin pie as an example – a must have on American Thanksgiving tables. Achieving excellence in a single crust pie entails mastering the technique known as 'blind baking,' where you partially bake the crust to avoid any sogginess.
2. Double Crust Pies: When we talk about pies, double crust varieties do come to mind. These pies feature both a bottom and top crust that lovingly embrace the filling like a hug. For instance, think about the apple pie – its tantalizing combination of cinnamon apples nestled within a buttery crust is simply irresistible. The main challenge lies in ensuring that both crusts are evenly cooked so as to avoid any instances of breaks.
3. Pre-Baked Crust: When it comes to custard or cream pies, like lemon meringue pie, a crucial step is blind baking the crust before adding the filling. This technique helps prevent shrinkage or puffing by using pie weights during the baking process.

VARIETIES BASED ON FILLINGS

1. Fruit Pies: Fruit pies celebrate the abundance of each season with the produce du jour — be it cherries or peaches — contributing to its flavor profile. Beyond apple, and the aforementioned examples, you may have also commonly encountered blueberry pie fillings. The secret lies in achieving a balance between fruit juices and thickeners to prevent a filling that’s runny in consistency.
2. Custard Pies: Custard pies offer a creamy experience. Made with ingredients like eggs, sugar and milk or cream they are baked until they set. Classic examples include pumpkin pie with its spiced custard filling. Careful baking is essential to avoid any curdling.
3. Cream Pies: Cream pies are all about indulgence and boast whipped cream-based fillings often infused with flavors such as chocolate, banana or coconut. Banana cream pie is a delight, with its layers of bananas, creamy custard and luscious whipped cream. It truly showcases the decadent side of pies. However, achieving and maintaining the consistency of the filling can be quite a challenge.
4. Nutty Pies: These pie fillings bring together nuts and a sweet syrup. Pecan pie is an example of this combination. These nutty pies offer a texture and flavor that becomes more heavenly when topped with fluffy whipped cream.

Do note that we’ve restricted ourselves to sweet/dessert focused pies, rather than savory alternatives that comprise meat, vegetables, cheese or herbs and so on. Pick up a spoon and get ready to dig in!