The Book On Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies

by Erin Jeanne McDowell, Mark Weinberg (Photographer)

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  Look no further than The Book on Pie for the only book on pie you'll ever want or need. Erin Jeanne McDowell, New York Times contributing baker extraordinaire and top food stylist, wrote the book on pie, a comprehensive handbook that distills all you'll ever need to know for making perfect pies. The Book on Pie starts with the basics, including ways to mix pie dough for extra flaky crusts, storage and freezing, recipe size conversions, and expert tips for decorating and styling, before diving into the recipes for all the different kinds of fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, and mini. Find everything from classics like Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, to more inspired recipes like Birthday-Cake Pie and Caramel Pork Pie with Chile and Scallions. Erin also suggests recommended pie doughs and toppings with each recipe for infinitely customizable Mix and match Pumpkin Spice Pie Dough and Dark Chocolate Drippy Glaze with the Pumpkin Pie, or sub in the Chive Compound-Butter Crust for the Croque Madame Pielets . . . the possibilities are endless. With helpful tips, photographic guides, and inspirations—pie-deas—it's almost like having Erin in the kitchen baking pies with you.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Culinary, Cuisine

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Taylor Reid]

Whether you’re an expert on pies or have never made one before—this cookbook has all the tips and tricks you need for baking the most delicious ones. Filled with recipes for sweet and savory pies, it’s a staple you’ll want by your side this holiday season. The roasted strawberry pie is unreal.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to bake, you must buy this book! What an amazing instructional 5⭐read, describing everything you ever needed to know about baking every kind of pie from start to finish. A lot of the techniques she described were ones my Mom taught me but then there were so many others that I had never learned. At the start of each chapter, she introduces information about the types of pie you would be making and throughout these sections, I especially loved her text boxes like "Pie-deas", "The Why's of Pie" and "Pie Pep Talk" giving you some extra info that is consistently there chapter after chapter, answering questions and trouble shooting while also challenging you to try and experiment!

But really.. the pictures.. I can't even.. 🥧 All I want to do right now is bake and eat pies for days.. I know what I'll be making for dessert at Christmas! There were pies I had never imagined but I am thinking about them now.. I especially liked that this book covered every kind of pie from fruit to savoury and everything in between! It made me want to make dinner just as much as dessert!

I +++ recommend you check this one out, it is truly THE book on pie🥧

**Thank-you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the Advanced reader copy of this book that I was happy to review**

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS ★★★★★

This book is for you if… your obsession with pie is similar to that of the one and only Dean Winchester.

⤐ Overall.
If there's one thing you'll never hear me say no to it'll be a slice of fruity, delicious pie with a golden, flaky crust and a juicy filling. Seriously, I love this piece of heaven so much! Makes me believe there must be a goddess somewhere out there after all.


This book includes everything I could possibly have wanted from a book on my favourite sweet dish of all time - pie - and more! I'm really impressed with the in depth knowledge of the art itself. It is plainly obvious that Erin knows and loves what she's talking about. She's made it accessible to both beginners and advanced bakers and I daresay even my dad the baker might find one or two useful snippets in there.

The Book on Pie is especially useful for those of us who want or need to make their dishes glutenfree or vegan. There is detailed knowledge and information on how to adjust dough recipes to your needs and wishes as well as useful tips and tricks for improvising.

Recipe wise, Erin offers a wide range of classics and unusual creations alike. You're also very likely to find suggestions for variations to make it even more interesting and delicious. I cannot recommend this book more.


⤐ The book is structured as follows.
Recipes
Acknowledgements
Introductions

1 DOUHGS & CRUSTS
2 DECOR & TOPPINGS
3 FRUIT PIES
4 CUSTARD PIES
5 CREAM, CHIFFON & COLD SET PIES
6 SAVORY PIES

Index
_____________________
5 STARS. Absolutely loved it. Memorable read that I'm likely to return to. Takes up space in my mind long after I've finished it. Oftentimes a particularly insightful read. Will recommend it with my last breath.
_____________________
Many thanks to Erin McDowell, NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with this free eBook in exchange for an honest review.

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ A Mouthwatering Baking Book....
A Pie Lovers Must Read!

Oh wow oh wow is this one Tummy Rumbling Book! A Pie Lovers Idea of Heaven.

There is so, so many pies, variations,  Fillings, Crusts, Designs, it was a complete eye opener to me. Some I have never even heard of but I can't wait to try them!


The Chapters are made up of :-
- Doughs and Crusts
- Decor and Toppings
- Fruit Pies
- Custard Pies
- Cream, Chiffon & Cold Set Pies
- Savoury Pies

The measurements are converted already into grams and cups, these are American Recipes so some ingredients you might have to search for equivalents but it will be worth it when you discover how delicious the pies are!


Oh and I am over the moon to say there is photographs! Admitted there isn't anywhere near as many as I would of liked but there is a fair amount.

This book literally has everything.
The Author is super talented, every little detail explained and thought about. Even down to pairing up pie crusts, with fillings and decorations.
The Author even has detailed explanations of the utensils needed, the difference between pie dishes, how to freeze pies and store them.
No stone has been left unturned with this book. Whether you are a novice Baker or an advanced there is something for everyone.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for those with at least some experience.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a wanna-be baker, I am always consuming cookbooks for baking. This book is perfect for pie making. With sections on crusts, fillings and toppings, it's perfect for mixing and matching. There is also a section on savory pies, one even has a pretzel crust. YUM

In addition to solid recipes and beautiful photos, the book is filled with tips and tricks to make you successful. I feel more capable just by reading it!

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for bakers!

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who enjoys baking or who wants to start to bake pies this is the book for you. The opening begins with the tools you need then the different types of materials, sugar, flour, butter, lard, water, and all of the ingredients. Also, the types of pie plates and the different sizes of each and why each one is made the way they are.
She takes you through the reason why your dough may have come out wrong. You are shown pictures of good dough and then the different kind if it is too wet, to dry, and whatever else could be wrong with it. You are walked through the different tops, edges, and just anything else you can think of. She also shows what you can do with the scraps that are leftover. One idea was making littles doughnuts.
There is so much to this book that my words do not give it justice but this book is worthy of cooks, bakers shelf. The pictures are great but the recipes and all of her little secrets are what make this book. She also has gluten-free and vegan recopies as well. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to review two different huge pie cookbooks that premiering this fall, this one and Pie Academy. I was curious to see which one I'd recommend over the other but ended up feeling that they are both five star cookbooks with their own strengths. The other has far more recipes and is more old-fashioned advice. This one is more modern and boasts gorgeous color photos of every single pie recipe, plus has features like recommended crusts and finishes for each.

The photos are all over-the-top styled and beautiful. In some cases, it's hard to tell how to get the effect from the photo since the recipe is for the basic pie and not necessarily for how she did hers. For instance, the blueberry pie had me confused because it shows fresh blueberries and white "berries" on top, along with shaved lemon peel. It doesn't call for anything white (or shaved lemon peel) and the suggested finishes don't mention it, so I couldn't figure out if she somehow iced blueberries or if they were something else. Later in the book I saw that she used some decorative white balls (like those edible cake pearls) on another pie and realized that she must have scattered those on the blueberry pie for effect.

Gluten free and vegan crust recipes are provided, and many of the filling recipes are gluten free and/or vegan. Savory pie recipes are also included. No nutritional information is provided.

This book will give you lots of tools to make different crusts, fillings and finishes. There are quite a few recipes that I'm looking forward to trying.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains all the whys and hows of pie crust. What flours and fats to use and how they vary the texture and taste of the crust. Helpful tips for having a successful pie base. It has troubleshooting tips for what to do, pros and cons to food processor versus hand mixing, and pictures of how to roll out.

This book also provides vegan and gluten free options. I cannot believe all the pie crust options in this book. The title is perfect. This book taught me I know NOTHING about pie. NOTHING. So many ideas and options. Not just fruit pies and sweet pies but savory options too for pot pie crust, etc. Ideas for what to do with the scraps. How to season it different ways. I was just amazed with it. I loved seeing all the pictures of different ways to crimp the crust and decorate. Soooo many tips. This would be a great addition to any pie lover or baker's cookbook collection.

Thanks netgalley for the arc, these thoughts and opinions on the book are totally my own.

[Anastasia Solomakha · Rating 5 out of 5]

найцікавіша кулінарна книжка, яку мені доводилось читати (як художню 😁)
тут найдетальніші пояснення, з чого ж почати - коли мова йде про пироги: як правильно замісити тісто, як вибрати начинку і як класно задекорувати пиріг.
більше 150-ти сторінок теорії, море рецептів солодких і солених пирогів на будь-який смак.

[Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

The Book on Pie by Erin Jeanne McDowell is a cookbook that any pie baking connoisseur will want to have on their shelves. It is the ultimate pie reference book with many gorgeous photos and interesting new twists. Even the most seasoned pie baker will find something useful in this one.

While this recipe book is geared towards all skill levels, it is definitely one for those who have some pie baking experience. The instructions are easy to follow, but most of the recipes are a bit more advanced than your typical beginner cookbook. What is most notable about this collection is the multitude of crust and filling options that can be combined.

❀ THE CONTENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Doughs & Crusts
Decor & Toppings
Fruit Pies
Custard Pies
Cream, Chiffon & Cold Set Pies
Savory Pies

❀ A FANTASTIC REFERENCE BOOK

There are lots of traditional ideas in the book, however there are many interesting updates. For those looking for pie recipes that are gluten-free or vegan, there are many tips on how to create these options. Along with the beautiful images, this is one fantastic reference book for anyone who loves to bake pies

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you need to know to bake perfect pies? Everything? Really?

Amazingly, I think the title claim is true. There is literally everything you need to know about baking perfect pies in this book. It may be the best single book about pie baking that I have ever read. And I have read a lot of books.

What are some of the things I learned?

Pies bake well in cast-iron skillets.
Cream cheese in pie crust adds tanginess.
Don’t add sugar to the dough. Instead, add to the top in sweet pies, and add salt to the top in savory ones.
Flaky doughs like high temperatures.
Colder is always better when pie dough is involved.

I copied down the book’s “All Buttah Pie Dough” which I fully intend to try soon. I also couldn’t resist writing down the nut crust, the crumb crust, and a roll-out cookie crust...I made drawings for myself of various ways to crimp a pie crust...and listed some of the intriguing pies (How about a Birthday Cake Pie? A Rosé Peach Pie? What about a Cardamom Crème Brûlée Pie?) And on and on…

Face it. I just need to buy a copy of this wonderful book.

[Rachel Grundvig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her pie crust recipe and found her writing to be very endearing. My main complaint is that she wants the book to be so adaptable to the reader that I felt like I was constantly having to scour through the book and patch together various sections in order to pull together a recipe.

[Chessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this cookbook! So much, in fact, that I bought myself a finished copy, in addition to asking my library to purchase it for our collection.

A beautiful book full of great tips and tricks to demystify pie baking. If pie crust is your nightmare (it’s mine!) do yourself a favor and buy this book. McDowell shows you how to do it step by step. I love how many variations she provides for each recipe (ie. try this crust instead, etc) - you’re sure to have ingredients in the house for one of them!

Be happy. Buy this book. Bake pies.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I miss this book when it came out in 2020? Pies are my favorite dessert and I've been baking them since I was a child. All I can say is, better late than never.

This is the perfect pie book. The basics are described so that a novice can get started with confidence. Plus, even an old pie baker like me learned a few things.

The recipes are wonderful and original. Not only that, the riffs and adaptations the author provides pretty much make this a cookbook with limitless possibilities. I checked a copy out from the library, but I'm going to buy one and ditch most of my other pie cookbooks.

If you love pie -- eat, baking, or both - grab this book.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like pie even a little, you need to check this out. There is SO much detail, so many ideas. I don't feel I got the best out of it having the ebook - it really feels like the kind of cookbook that works best when you can see the pictures properly and flip back and forward

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book is released towards the end of the year, it will undoubtedly become THE Book on Pie - the definitive collection of the delicious pastry treat. Nothing even comes close. The recipes are comprehensive, and I like that the author gives options for pairing various crusts with the different fillings, providing an almost infinite number of possibilities. She also helpfully marks each as to degree of difficulty, so novice cooks don't get in over their heads. Mark Weinberg's color photography of almost every single pie offered made me gain 10 pounds just drooling over them. A must have collection.

My sincere thanks to Netgalley and Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly is THE definitive handbook to making what looks to be delicious and beautiful pies. It is a pie baker’s dream! There are detailed directions, weights/measurements, mix-and-match suggestions for crusts and flavors, and stunning photos that make you want to drop everything and go bake (and eat) a pie. I will be gifting this to all of my friends and family who love to bake and look forward to creating my own combinations as I bake my way through this book. I can’t say enough good things about this gorgeous cookbook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for this ARC in exchange for my opinion.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim and I ended up not being able to put it down. The voice is friendly and down-to-earth, which makes every recipe approachable. I’m not very good at pies but after reading this, I am full of eagerness to master what so many call “easy as pie.” My first recipe may be the cranberry-orange pie if I can find fresh cranberries!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tutorials and writing. Excited to make lots of pie in 2021!

[Glasty]

Yes to pie

[Aline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking pies for Thanksgiving!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The title of this book is so perfect! It is a huge cookbook not just with recipies for pies but all the different types of pie crusts (and believe me there are a lot!), the best fats to use, how to achieve different types of crusts, the pros and cons of using equipment (such as a mixer) instead of making by hand and recipes even include gluten free!

This book is a fantastic addition to any cookbook collection and with so many different recipes, you'll never run out of ideas for pies for meals, desert and many more types of meals and dishes!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just the book on pie, it's THE book on pie, the Encyclopedia of Pie, the ultimate everything about pie that you never thought you needed to know. If you love pie, you need this book. I don't think you'll ever need another one.

I've been making pies since I was very young, and while pie is not my favorite dessert to eat, I love the challenge of making them. Pies require so much more finesse and skill than cake, and mistakes can't be easily covered up. Over the years I've read every single pie cookbook I could get my hands on, and none of them even comes close to being as good as this book. Just the crust section alone could have been its own book, it's so wide-ranging. I've followed Erin on Instagram for quite a while, as she was a consultant for Food52 and her creativity is incredible, so I was very excited for this book. Erin's instructions are written clearly and concisely, there's nothing confusing here, she knows how to walk you through something that seems intimidating. The pictures are gorgeous (of course, she is an award-winning food stylist as well as a recipe developer) but while the book isn't flooded with photos, she has cleverly photographed the finished products in some chapters in groups, which also offers you the benefit of comparison.

Toppings! There's every flavored meringue you could dream of, plus marshmallow toppings, flavored whipped cream (this is important because it's not as simple as it sounds to fold a flavoring into whipped cream), streusels, coulis and fruit curds, and glazes. Even how to make your own "cold snap" topping (aka "magic shell" that you use on ice cream).

There are fruit pies upon fruit pies here, and she teaches you everything you need to know about the filling, from freezing fruit perfectly to use later, to roasting or even grilling it. There are dumplings and hand pies and crostata and crumble toppings. The custard pie section has it all, every regional variation from Chess to Clafoutis to Sugar. Cream and chiffon pies (this section was probably my favorite) are gorgeously creative. And then the savory pie section: WOW. Croque Monsieur pielets, savory tart tatins, pork pie, quiche, even taco! I've never come across such an amazing savory pie chapter, most pie books offer only a scant handful of recipes like these, and many of Erin's are ones that you never would have thought of, but you'll want to taste them for sure.

The equipment list is very thorough, and she has text boxes throughout of explanations, such as "what is a deep-dish pie" and "different fats for crust". Oh, and the index is done well. Nothing irritates me more than an index that doesn't include every possible ingredient used, in addition to recipes.

[Sara Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Pie by Erin Jeanne McDowell was a very extensive book on pie baking.

There is so much information at the beginning that is beneficial for both beginners and more seasoned bakers. The second half of the book contained recipes that were very traditional, some that had fun twists on old favourites, and then there were some that had really unique, delicious flavours.

While the directions and ingredients were super clear, as a new pie baker, I found most of these pies overwhelming. I found this book was more geared towards intermediate pie bakers and above. I think once I tackle and succeed at a few basic pies, I will move onto this book.

I often find most cookbooks are geared towards people brand new to that particular type of cooking. Whether it is pie baking, bread making, Asian cuisine, etc. I like that there is a book geared to someone more advanced. Often, we can get bored with the same old beginner recipes. So, this book was a welcome change that I look forward to utilizing in the future.

I received an eARC from Rux Martin and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own quite a few Pie books and must say that this one easily blows them all out of the water. It is very comprehensive while also being easy to read and follow. The recipes are amazing, no endless lists of impossible to find ingredients, and the illustrations are fantastic, I could stare at those pies all the live long day 😍.

This book is definitely a keeper, in fact I intend to go a step further and also purchase copies for my friends in the hope that they will ask me to try their pies. Sneaky huh!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. From the detailed instructions to the sweet and savory recipes. I can't wait to bake more pies. I love the author's notes and beautiful illustrations. The pie and crust variations are interesting and customizable. This is fast becoming one of my favorite cookbooks, and believe me I have many. I should also say that I have been baking for many years and really think that anyone with any level of experience can utilize this as a reference. This one is a keeper.

I purchased the spiral bound and I love when I can do that. The book lies flat and doesn't close on you.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible! Soooo many recipes, and every recipe comes with suggested variations, and multiples options for different types of pie crust and finishing touches that would complement the flavors of the pie. The photographs are stunning, as is to be expected when you have Mark Weinberg on the job. This is a must have for the home baker who loves pie, or who loves someone who loves pie.