78 Comments

I learned pie baking as a child from my Aunt Joyce who passed away at age 99 this year. Haven't actually baked a pie myself in years but do enjoy most a strawberry rhubarb, peach, pecan or pumpkin.

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I learned to make pie from my mom and she from her mom etc. And I was also in 4H where the skill got perfected and blue ribbons were awarded! I would love to have pie with Abraham Lincoln ( I have recipe for Jeff Davis pie he might like). My favorite pie is Buttermilk, hands down, I could eat a whole one! It is packed with love ❤️ and memories of mom.

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I bake lots of pies, but probably apple and blackberry pies the most. Apple is my husbands favorite

My grandmother and my mother made wonderful apple pies with very specific combination of particular types of apples such as 2 Macintosh, 2 Granny Smith, etc). Today I use all kinds of apples but prefer crisp, tart types like honey crisp or cosmic crisps. We also grow several fruit trees, rhubarb and blue and raspberries. So I always have something to make into a pie.

I’ve taught my daughters to make pies and crusts so they now make pies and quiches.

I hope to teach my granddaughters one day as well.

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Keeping family traditions are wonderful! If a grandchild might come my way back one day, I will look forward to passing on the craft and Duncan’s Brio rolling pin that he used when he was two.

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We had apricot and plum trees growing up, and my mom would make pies from those (and so much jam!). Peach is my favorite pie, but I'm currently having a real savory pie moment and loving Kate's ratatouille pie and the giant broccoli-cheddar quiche in Smitten Kitchen Keepers.

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Broccoli-cheddar quiche sounds great. I'll have to get a copy of Deb's cookbook!

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My mom was a cake baker at home, however she worked in a small Bakery called “Bruce’s Cookie Jar” in Los Altos CA. She would bring home a pre made pie crust from the bakery and then always made a lemon pie 🥧 not meringue but whipped cream topping. I would ride my bike to the bakery after Elementary school and the Baker, Mr. Bruce who was from Scotland would let me assist him, one day he let me help him decorate a wedding cake, inserting silver and gold leaves and dragees too. I remember if I got tired, I would lay down on top of the huge sacks of flour for a nap until my mom was done working 🥰

I too am a cake maker like my mom but am determined to perfect a pie crust and not be intimidated any more. I am ordering your pie books today❣️

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What a great memory, Kristine! Thank you so much for sharing it. I’m honored you are ordering the books, too. 😁

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My father was the pie baker in our family and initially I learned from him. But mostly I loved to watch. Every year on my birthday we would pick wild blueberries and he would make me a birthday pie. He’s in assisted living now and quite unable to manage even eating let alone baking. I’d love to turn back the clock and share a pie. To this day my favorite might be a wild blueberry pie or blueberry and peach. 💙

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Laura, what a wonderful gift he gave to you and you have your memories of sharing both pie making and eating with him. xo

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My mother's mother baked the pies. When she passed, my mom took on the task of learning how to do it. She baked pies every week until she got the crust down pat and then the fillings. She mostly made apple pie as that was my dad's favorite. Her chocolate cream pie with walnuts was to die for, too.

I may have helped a time or two but after she passed, again, I had to make my way in the pie world. I didn't dedicate myself to it and from time to time would buy a store crust. I'll make my own crust now and I'll try all different kinds of crust. Still haven't found a favorite yet. Sounds like I need to try yours, Kate!

My favorite pie? Well, there isn't one. I love pie. I love how it smells, the texture, the luxury on my taste buds. I open myself up to pie, all pie. But... saying that, the one pie I make the most is mincemeat as my husband loves mince pie. He's a cake man, so when I found out there was a pie he loved, I stuck with that. Bring on the PIE!!!

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You know, if any of us were to show up at the door with a pie, no one will say "Oh, I'm sorry. That's a store bought crust so you can't come in." They most likely would say, "Oh, you brought pie!" Always do what works for you, Mel, and everyday that can be different.

I think mince pies are wonderful, too, and they aren't made often any more. Do you make full size pies or little ones?

And a chocolate pie with walnuts sounds sooooo good!

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Oh, I make BIG, double crust pies! But, I probably should make little ones. LOL! Hubs and I are a little, ahem... portly. (grin)

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Pie is a guilt free food...full of love.

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No matter what kind, pie is wonderful in so many ways. But if I were to narrow it down, I love an apple pie with cranberries added to it. And then there's fudge pie. And a summer favorite, a frozen lemon pie, which comes from a recipe of Bess Truman's that she would serve to her card club. Other family favorites - lemon meringue made by my mother, peach pie made by my maternal grandmother with peaches from her own orchard, and custard pie made by my paternal grandmother. I firmly believe that there is just no bad pie!

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I agree with you 100% Stevie! No Bad Pie!

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I love making pie! I practiced often to get the crust right, and now love experimenting with fillings. Family favorite is Haupia with an added chocolate layer.

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I had to look Haupia up! It sounds delicious. That's one I would LOVE to try. Do you have a family recipe? Possibly to share?

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Cookscountry.com’s recipe with 1 1/2 times the filling to better fill the crust, plus lots of billow whipped cream.

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Not really any pie makers in my family when I was growing up except my Grandma in Calgary and I only saw her once a year. I’ve always enjoyed making pies but struggled with my crust, UNTIL I took Kate’s 1st 3 day Zoom pie class. Now I love making delicious pies using Kate’s recipes and the knowledge she shares. Thank you. I’d love to make a pie with my Dad, my Grandma and my Aunt Mary. I do get to share the love of pie-making with my daughter and daughter-in-law, even got to do this with Kate last summer ❤️My favorites are Peach and Lemon Meringue. Have a nice day everyone!

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I never thought it would be possible to make community virtually, and that first Pie Camp on Zoom proved to me that it is more than possible! And, I'm finding that to also be so as our little community grows here on Substack!

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Banana cream pie.

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Comfort food!

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It was also the first pie I had ever made. I used Joanne Chang’s recipe from Pastry Love and made it for my dad’s birthday. Watching him enjoy it so much is a great memory.

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Food + Family = Memories!

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There weren’t any pie makers in my family when I was growing up, however I had two friends in my early adult life that were fabulous pie bakers. I never felt I would be able to match their skills until I found Kate and the Art of the Pie. I’m still don’t think I am at their level ( getting better with every pie!) and would love to meet up with them and have tea and pie and talk recipes and techniques. My favorite pie is lemon meringue, with blackberry a close second.

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Keep making pies and then teach someone else the craft to keep it alive!

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My sweet husband bought me your Art of the Pie for Valentine’s Day in 2017. At the time I thought this is more of a gift for him than me!

However, I have come to love pies having baked at least a third of your recipes in the cookbook.

I loved them all but my personal favorite is your Chess Pie. Comfort food for my soul.

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I LOVE that pie! When we were doing the photo shoot for Art of the Pie there were lots of pies being handed off at the end of the day. Chess pie was one and the person who got it came back the next day and said, "I could eat this pie every darn day. It's so good!"

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I used to think that I didn't like pie. My mom was a terrible cook and she made pies occasionally. but there was nothing about those pies that seemed good to me. (Though I loved jam tarts and butter tarts.) As an adult, if I ever wanted to make a pie, I'd get the store-bought crusts and, naturally, the pies were disappointing. It's not until I met you, Kate, online that I decided to learn to make a good crust. The taste and texture of the crust was unbelievably delicious. I couldn't wrap my head around how much better it was, which has pleased my hubby as well.

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Julie, make my day! Once you know, it's so easy, and I'm darn happy that your hubby is pleased, too.

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Marionberry! It's the best. Unfortunately, I don't believe marionberries grow here in CA (at least, I've never been able to find them) so blackberries are a good substitute.

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Oh that's a good pie, too! Marionberries were cultivated in Marion County, OR. I wonder if they might grow in northern CA? They have quite the pedigree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marionberry

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In Auburn, CA, on the way to Lake Tahoe, there’s a resto/store called Ikeda’s that has every imaginable type of fresh fruit pie and crumble. That’s where I first tried marionberry pie. So you’re right, they might grow in the northeastern part of CA….but not here in the Bay Area!

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Can’t decide! cherry, blueberry, apple, peach 🥧

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How about ALL of the above, Jolene!

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🥧🥧🥧🥧👍

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Mom taught us to make pies from the bodacious fruit harvest from her suburban 1/4 acre lot, and I now make a better crust using Kate's fabulous directions. Any fresh fruit pie is tops, with peach-blueberry the best. Sharing pie with Camille Dungy, author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden, and Gladys Kalema-Zikosuka, first wildlife veterinarian in Uganda, would be interesting.

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Your mom's " bodacious fruit harvest" sounds incredible! I would have loved to have met her and seen her garden and orchard. What a wonderful gathering your table would have, Barb!

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I'm looking for an opportunity to share a piece of pie with my neighbor down the lane who I don't particularly like to be around.

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Love this, too.

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My daughter has a gift for making pies. My pie-making is more of a skill. We have an unspoken agreement that I will fullfill my fatherly duties by giving her pie-making advice. She pretends to listen intently, then goes about her usual pie-making methods.

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I love this, Bruce!

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My mother was a pie maker. She always had a crock with a constant supply of a lard and flour mixture handy on the counter. Her speciality was lemon meringue and it is my second favorite. My first favorite is peach!

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We'll have to share a peach pie this summer, Laura!

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Oh, yeah…

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Your cherry pie recipe is my favorite but strawberry rhubarb is a close second. No one baked in my life growing up. We ate cake and other baked good which we got from many wonderful bakeries in our area. I never loved pie till I had yours and then have learned to bake many things from you!

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Oh, thanks so much Vicki! That cherry pie seems to always be a hit.

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One favorite pie? Nearly impossible. I am true to all fruit pies with peach, blueberry, blackberry or Marionberry, and a really good cherry (or some combination) among my favorites. I’m also a sucker for a rhubarb pie. My mom was the pie maker in my life. Even though she was a good cook, she rarely made the pie crust, buying pre-made. I’ve never mastered the crust! Whenever I think of pie, I get that song from the movie Michael stuck in my head. (My, my, me oh my, I love pie ...) So, I’d love to eat pie with Andie MacDowell, my sister, Sara, and you, Kate! Maybe we’d all take your pie class first so I can finally make a successful crust.

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I would love to be at that table and it would be great to make pie with you, Mary!

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My mother was an amazing cook and baker who passed down her love of food to us. When we were together, she always included everyone who was interested in learning. Her huckleberry peach pie was my all-time favorite. I would love to share a slice with her, Julia Child, my grandmothers, and Jimmy Stewart. (I know, an odd combination, but it would be quite entertaining.) I've been a little pie obsessed the last couple of years working on finding my own perfect crust. As my nieces would say "Pie is Yum!"

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Having Jimmy Stewart at the table, too, sounds great. My grandmother told me that she was very distantly related to him...a fourth cousin I think.

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I'll have to try. I do make mixed berries pie.

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My grandmother and mother were pie bakers so I’m proud to carry on the tradition! There’s something very therapeutic about making a pie. Fruit pies are definitely my favorite and, if I had to choose, a triple berry pie would top the list, (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries). As much as I love making a double crust pie, I also love eating a fruit pie with streusel topping, (a la mode, if you insist 😉). The variety of textures is a winning combination!

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"There’s something very therapeutic about making a pie." Indeed there is! Streusel tops are wonderful. That texture!

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My grandma made pies, I wish I had taken the time to learn more from her! I would love to share a piece of pie with her and talk “baking and life.” As far as a favorite....maybe cherry but I haven’t met a pie I didn’t like.

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So many things I wish I had done too with those gone. I'm grateful I was able to share pie making with my grandma. And, "I haven’t met a pie I didn’t like." So well, said!

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I love fresh fruit pies. My absolute favorite for summer is a Peach Apricot Cherry Pie with a lattice crust. It is not only delicious, but beautiful to look at with all the vibrant colors. I also like blackberry pie, lemon, meringue, Key Lime with a graham cracker crust and a good chocolate cream pie. In the cooler months, I like Lemon Chess Pie, and in the Fall, I make a ton of apple pies for my husband & family. They especially like the Dutch Apple Sack Pie baked in Paper grocery bag. I didn’t learn to make homemade pie crust until my mid 50s but once I did, I never looked back because I find it so therapeutic and rewarding. I just researched it on my own, and read a ton of cookbooks, and finally just delved in and taught myself how to do it. People are just blown away when I give them a homemade pie.

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I do agree totally that baking is a form of therapy and I love that the results are shared. I love that Peach Apricot Cherry combo too.

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My favorite to make and eat is a classic apple, though the crust needs to be perfectly flaky and shatter in your mouth, the apples not over-sweet, with a touch of cinnamon. When it comes to summer, a fresh berry pie can’t be beat. Perhaps the best I ever had was an olallieberry pie at Linn’s in Cambria, CA.

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So true, Ruth! I like to use a mix of apples. Some for sweet and some for tart. I haven’t been to Cambria for decades.

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It's a toss up between apple & blueberry though I love most fruit pies.

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Have you ever mixed them together, Susan? I’ve made apple-blackberry which was really good. I think I’ll try apple-blueberry, too.

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My mom taught me how to make my first pie at age eight. Peach with lattice crust. I’m not the best pie maker but do believe it all starts with the crust--coming soon to a future issue of my Cook & Tell foodletter!

I wish she were still around; I’d make that lattice peach pie again for my mum. But I’ll settle for a virtual pie party with you all!

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I’m looking forward to reading that issue, Amie!

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I do love a banana cream pie and shaker lemon but double-crust fruit filled pies are hard to beat. I really love apricot and raspberry. My adoptive grandfather ate pie every day of his life, usually apple.

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I think the filling of apricot-raspberry or peach-raspberry is one of the most beautiful ever. It looks like a sunrise or sunset.

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It really does.

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I love all fruit pies, but my favorites are lemon ice box and key lime. I am a sucker for the tart citrus.

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Oh I love those...especially on hot summer days.

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Blackberry is the greatest pie to me

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Nothing like picking them and making pie when they are at their peak sweetness.

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My great aunts Rhubarb pie - not Strawberry Rhubarb, but just Rhubarb. So hard to find these days.

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I love straight rhubarb pie too and have a wonderful plant with big stalks to make them.

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Apple is my favorite but I like all pies. I did have a British friend show me how to make a crust. She somehow took the stress out of it. I have not had to scrape a failed crust off the counter since she helped me -- many years ago.

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My Grandma and my Dad introduced me to pie making.

Nobody in particular, as long as I can make someone feel good.

Blueberry, Apple, Peach. I don’t have one favorite.

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Pie really has that feel good ability. I love the family line passing on the craft. All pies are good!

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