The Top 5 Tips For a Perfect Pie (and 20+ recipes)

{Note from Jessica: Today’s post is shared by my sweet friend Jess Kuh. Jess is a fellow real food lover with a passion for natural living, herbs, and anything that keeps her family and home healthy.}

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Pie, the perfect dessert for every season! But it seems some people get intimidated by making a from scratch pie. Let me tell you, it’s not so bad. I once was afraid of it but now pie is one of my favorite desserts to make.

With a good crust and yummy filling, pie is a crowd pleaser. Let’s face it, a pie baking in the oven is one of the best smells of the holidays.

Each flour can be different to work with, but I have been pie-making for 10 years now and I’d like to share some of my favorites tips with you. There are enough things in the world to stress about, no need to stress over pie!

The Top 5 Tips For a Perfect Pie

Take your time! 

If you haven’t made a lot of pies before, give yourself enough time. Pie can be made ahead so you don’t have to stress. The crust can be made the week before and set in the refrigerator until ready.

When it comes time to rolling out the crust, do it when you aren’t crunched for time and have some quiet. Enjoy yourself, have a cup of coffee and start rolling it out. I like to do my pies after the hectic part of the day is over and my kids are in bed. Totally concentration time.

Don’t be afraid to start over

Yes, that’s right. If your crust doesn’t roll out the first time, ball it up and start over. Some times the gluten-free flours need a bit more work than those with gluten, so the extra rolling makes it easier for them to come out the second time.

Keep extra flour and cold water out while rolling

I learned the hard way, when my hands were covered with dough, that I sometimes need a bit of water or flour to help the process along. Having them out on the counter makes for less of a mess.

Have your filling ready

Again, being prepared takes the stress off of the pie-making. Get your filling ready so as soon as your pie is rolled out, you can fill it and you are set.

Chill your pre-baked pie

One of the tips I’ve been given by an expert pie-maker, chill your whole pie for 30 minutes before baking. This helps for a flaky crust.

If you are just doing a pie that involved a bottom crust, just chill the bottom of the crust before adding the filling and baking.

Now, if you need a little inspiration, here are over 20 pie recipes for you to practice with.

• Allergen Friendly Cranberry Apple Pie from Scratch Mommy
• Allergen Free Apple Pie from Scratch Mommy
• Deep Dish Gluten Free Apple Pie from Raia’s Recipes (pictured below)
• Rhubarb Apple Pie from Raia’s Recipes
• Honey Apple Pie from Raia’s Recipes
• Homemade No Bake Pumpkin Pie from Raia’s Recipes
• Award Winning Apple Pie from the Provision Room
• Maple Pecan and Pumpkin Pie from the Provision Room
• Healthy Pumpkin Pie from the Pistachio Project
• Gluten Free Cherry Pie from Raising Generation Nourished (pictured above)
• Apple Pie from Raising Generation Nourished
• Deep Dish Apple Pie with Fennel and Ginger from Delicious Obsessions
• Egg Free Pie Crust from Delicious Obsessions
• Easy Coconut Pie Crust from Delicious Obsessions
• French Silk Pie from Natural Fertility and Wellness
• Gluten Free Rhubarb Pie from Natural Fertility and Wellness
• Gluten Free Pie Crust from Natural Fertility and Wellness
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie from Natural Fertility and Wellness
• Blueberry Custard Pie from Intoxicated on Life
• Tomato Basil Pie from Intoxicated on Life

What an awesome collection!

I have to say that apple pie is my favorite. I know, it’s classic! What’s your favorite kind of pie?

Learn How to Make Perfect Ice Cream (and Other Frozen Treats) at Home

Ice cream is the quintessential dessert (and, ahem, it would probably go pretty darn great with any of these recipes!). I mean, I can’t think of a single person that I’ve ever met who doesn’t like ice cream. While not everyone is as passionate about the cold, creamy, sweet concoction as I am, I am betting that if you’re reading this, you probably enjoy a frozen treat of some sort every now and then.

If so, then I have the PERFECT resource for you today.

I am crazy for ice cream, but I find that there are very few commercial ice creams that I can eat. I can’t do dairy, so that scratches a good 75% of them off the list. And the non-dairy options either taste funny, have too much sugar, or have weird gums and additives that my poor gut just doesn’t tolerate.

So, what’s a gal to do?

Master the art of making her own ice cream at home, that’s what!

And create I did and The Splendid Scoop and Other Frozen Treats eBook was born! This is one of my best-selling eBooks because I arm you with everything you need to make your own perfect ice cream (or other frozen treats) at home any time you want. 

And I do it all with real food ingredients, no refined sweeteners, not gums, not stabilizers. No junk here.

Oh, and I also have made the recipes allergen-friendly and even adaptable for stricter healing diets (like the AIP).

So, if you are ready to master the art of making your own ice cream at home, this is the perfect book for you. Don’t let another special occasion or hot day in the summer pass you by watching everyone else enjoying cold treats while you sit on the sideline due to your dietary restrictions.

No more!

If you are ready to learn more about The Splendid Scoop and Other Frozen Treats and see how you can download your own copy today, click here (or just click on the image below!).