Berries, apples, cinnamon … oh pie! With the summer coming to a close, cozy pajamas, “Gilmore Girls,” and pumpkin are revving their engines. Whether you are Jeremy Allen White from The Bear in the kitchen or an amateur sous chef at best, these recipes will have you wanting the last slice. 

Classic Apple Pie

Ingredients:

• Pie crust
• 8 Granny Smith apples
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp salted butter 
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
2. Spray the pie pan with cooking spray and place the pie crust in the pan.
3. Peel and thinly slice the apples.
4. Put the apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice into a pan and cook on medium-low heat until the apples are slightly softened.
5. Pour the apple mixture into the pie pan.
6. Place the slices of butter on top of the apples.
7. Place the second pie crust on top and cut four slits in the top. 
8. Whisk an egg in a bowl and brush over the top of the pie. Crimp the edges of the pie crust together. 
9. Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

A Berry Easy Blueberry Pie 

Ingredients:

• Pie crust
• 6 cups of blueberries, fresh or frozen
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 5 tbsp cornstarch
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 
2. Spray the pie pan with cooking spray and place the pie crust in the pan.
3. Combine and fold the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, lemon juice and lemon zest together..
4. Pour the filling into the pie pan.
5. Place the second pie crust on top, and create a lattice or a fun design with the other pie crust. Keep your designs thin — they will be easier to bake.
6. Crimp the edges of the pie crust together. 
7. Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
8. Let the pie cool slightly before serving. 

More Spice Cinnamon Pie

Ingredients:

• Pie crust
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 
2. Spray the pie pan with cooking spray and place the pie crust in the pan.
3. In a mixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar.
4. Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time.
5. Add in the heavy cream, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and salt.
6. Mix until fully combined.
7. Pour the filling into the pie pan and bake for 40 minutes or until the edges are golden. 

Pie Crust

For all of these recipes, feel free to use store-bought crust, but if you are looking to up your pie game, here is a simple pie crust recipe.

Baking Tools:

• Food processor 
• Spatula 
• Rolling pin

Ingredients: 

• 1 stick of cold unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 4-6 tbsp ice water

Note: cold ingredients are very important. Don’t let them warm up.

Instructions: 

1. In the food processor, combine butter, flour and salt.
2. Pulse it until it forms a crumbly texture. 
3. Add one tbsp of water at a time and pulse until large dough balls begin to form.
4. Take out the dough and push it into a lump/disk. 
5. Wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
6. Note: double this recipe if you are making a top-crust

Before Use:

Roll out dough with a bit of flour on your surface and the rolling pin. The diameter should be slightly larger than the pie pan. For easy transfer, roll the dough onto a rolling pin and then transfer it to the pan.

victoria fondeur. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_charlotte deangelis.

This article was published in Distraction’s Fall 2024 print issue.

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