With the holidays just around the corner and fresh fruit nearing the end of its peak ripe season, it's quickly becoming prime pie-time. It seems like every fruit pie follows its own rules regarding pre-baked crusts, canned vs. fresh, or blanched vs. non-blanched. The best way to make an apple pie varies slightly from the optimal method for delicate berry and berry-blend pies, but those small nuances make a world of difference in flavor, consistency, and storability.
If you're looking to keep your peaches straight from your plums, we've got you covered. Follow this simple guide to any and all fruit pies to make gorgeous, scrumptious fruit pies that people will be requesting for the next holiday get-together, and the next, and the next...
Now, to get more fruit-specific. The style of crust, whether to blind bake (pre-bake), and the method of cooking the filling are all dependent on the type of fruit you're planning on using.
What better place to start than with the classic?
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 6-8 C; 8 small, 6 medium, or 5 large apples
The crust:
Recipes to try:
A Southern staple just begging to be served with a huge scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 5-6 C; 10-12 small or 6-7 large peaches
The crust:
Recipes to try:
Deep ruby-red and pleasantly tart, this plum pie is a unique, delicious, and super easy dessert to make. (No exaggeration -- this pie is one of the easiest on the list to make.)
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 4 C; approx. 1-1/2 lb of plums
The crust:
Recipes to try:
An ultra-sweet, bright, and fresh classic that'll be devoured at any time of year.
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: approx. 6 C; 4 pint baskets of strawberries
The crust:
Recipes to try:
Channel your inner Special Agent Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks, anyone?), and eat this dang fine cherry pie with a cup of hot, fresh coffee.
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 6 C; approx. 1 lb of cherries
The crust:
Recipes to try:
Naturally sweet, jammy, and oh, so tempting, soft and dark berry pies are the perfect alternative to more traditional staples like apple and cherry.
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 6 C; 6 1/2-pint containers of raspberries or blackberries
The crust:
Recipes to try:
A flaky, butter crust complements the fresh, tart flavor of blueberries to create a mouthwatering pie perfect for any time of year.
The fruit:
How much fruit to buy: 6 C; 3 pint baskets of blueberries
The crust:
Recipes to try: