Have you ever tried to make a lemon meringue pie and ended up with a sort of sad, droopy meringue top? We all have! Luckily, once you master the meringue, it’s a super simple trick to have up your sleeve for pies, cookies, and even cakes! Whipping egg whites with […]
All-Butter Pie Crust
Makes two discs (enough for two, single-crust pies or one, double-crust pie) Rolling the Dough for Single- or Double-Crust Pies:
Alumni Spotlight: Erin McDowell
You may know her for her pies, or her helpful but relatable how-to videos, or maybe you just know her from Instagram, where you follow along for the occasional sighting of her little dog, Brimley! But here at the CIA, Erin McDowell is family, and like all of our alumni, […]
Erin McDowell’s Double-Crust Berry Galette
Makes one 10-by-5-inch galette This recipe comes from friend-of-the-CIA, Erin McDowell, a 2009 graduate of our Hyde Park, NY campus. Erin is now a food writer, recipe developer, and talented food stylist, especially well known for her beautiful pies! She has shared this amazing summer berry recipe from her first […]
Fresh Blueberry Pie
Makes one 9-inch pie If you have never had a fresh blueberry pie, this is the classic recipe to try. The top crust is formed with overlapping star cutouts, making it perfect for the Fourth of July—high season for fresh blueberries!
Fudgy Walnut Brownie Pie
Makes one 9-inch pie The filling for this pie is reminiscent of a fudgy, dense brownie studded with walnuts and bittersweet chocolate chunks. The crispy chocolate crumb crust is an added bonus in both flavor and texture. If you prefer a moister, denser texture to the filling, bake for 35 […]
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
Makes one pie, 8 servings Gluten-Free Pie Crust Pie Filling
Home School: Par-Baking Pie Dough
Many pie and tart shells require partial baking (par baking) or fully prebaking the empty crust prior to filling. This method is termed blind baking. A pie or tart shell can benefit from partially baking before filling if it will be filled with a fruit that produces a significant amount […]
Is Butter Better? Choosing the Right Fat for Pie Crust
Fats are an essential ingredient in baking, directly imparting flavor and influencing tenderness and flakiness in pie and tart crusts. Most pie and tart crusts need to be made with a solid fat in order to create their characteristic tender and flaky texture. The role of fats in creating crusts […]
Lemon-Glazed Blueberry Hand Pies
Pie Makes eight double-crust 4 1/2-inch round hand pies or sixteen single-crust 4 1/2-inch half-round hand pies Cream Cheese Dough Makes 2 discs
Making Chocolate Curls to Dress Up Dessert
Chocolate shavings and curls are the simplest way to finish a show-stopping cake or other special occasion dessert. To create chocolate shavings and curls, you need a good-sized block of chocolate at room temperature. You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate for your curls. Look for larger […]
Maple Pecan Pie
Makes one 9-inch pie The complementary flavors of maple and pecan combine in this pie to create an earthy, buttery, robust dessert. Be sure to purchase Grade B maple syrup as the darker amber color and deeper maple flavor are essential to this pie. In the variation that follows, adding […]
