Showstopping Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
We think dessert is just as important as the turkey at Thanksgiving, and a showstopping pie (or two or three!) is the ultimate finale to a memorable meal. Pie may seem fussy, time-consuming or intimidating, but these showstopping pie recipes from all-around pie goddess Erin Jeanne McDowell are easy and effortless – especially when you make them in the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish which is designed for both performance and beauty, and creates brilliantly baked sweet and savory pies, quiches, potpies, casseroles and more.
As the author of The Book on Pie, Savory Baking and more, as well as the host of the Food52 video series “Bake it Up a Notch”, Erin knows a few things about pie and baking. She shared her expert tips and techniques with us so that every pie you create is baked to perfection and effortless to serve. Be sure to check out her video for three ways to make the prettiest pies with the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish.
All Buttah Pie Crust
Every good pie recipe starts with an amazing crust. And Erin not only gave us her recipe for this all butter pie crust (in her words, it’s ‘buttah’!), but tons of expert tips and techniques on how to create the perfect crust for any recipe. One of her favorite tips is to par-bake the crust so it passes the “sturdy pie challenge”, and since the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish is crafted from premium stoneware for exceptionally even heat distribution, the crust will be uniform, flaky and golden-brown. Also, the virtually non-stick glazed finish ensures that the crust will pop right out, which is something that Erin always aims for.
Cinnamon Roasted Pecan Pie
Erin calls this recipe “pecan pie leveled up.” It’s inspired by the candied nut carts on the streets of New York City, and combines that classic sweet nutty flavor with a custard pie that is all wrapped up in her buttery pie crust. The lovely, scalloped edge of the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish creates an elegant oven to table presentation for this pie. She noted “it makes for less work while also creating a naturally prettier pie! Using my technique of folding excess dough around the outside edge, you don’t even need to crimp the edge - it already looks like a million bucks!”
Spiced Creamy Apple Pie
This luscious layered pie is like pie a la mode in reverse, and in Erin’s words “it’s a show-stopper of a pie, all with no top crust required.” But it’s still remarkably easy to make, and you can even prepare the apple pie filling up to two days ahead of time to save time. Another timesaver is that the Heritage Fluted Pie Dish is super easy to clean when the last dish is cleared from the table. Erin remarked “it’s almost impossible to make a pie without some drips and bubbling over, so I always love when it’s not a chore to scrub the pan after. I felt like the pan was almost non-stick it was so easy to clean!”
Ultimate Turkey Pot Pie
As the author of Savory Baking, Erin enjoys baking savory treats as well as sweet ones. She says that “the ultimate way to dress up leftovers is by turning it into a turkey pot pie.” But you can bake this pie year-round as well, just sub chicken for the turkey. And be sure to use a Pie Bird when baking this double-crust pie, this time-honored tool vents steam from the filling as it cooks (preventing the contents from boiling over) while arches on the bottom redirect excess moisture to keep the bottom crust from becoming soggy.