Cover Image: The Book On Pie

The Book On Pie

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Member Reviews

The book on pie is exactly the book for anyone who wants to go past using pre-made pie crust! With an excellent variety and instructions, this is a great addition to any baker's collection.

The flavors of the pies were good and, honestly, you can adjust to what you enjoy/like in a pie.

Definitely highly recommend this cook book.

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This is a truly beautiful and informative Pie Cookbook for bakers! I loved that there were sections dedicated to lattice tops and different ways to beautify your pie! The recipes are easy to understand and detailed and the photos are amazing!

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to review a digital ARC of this gorgeous cookbook by Erin Jeanne McDowell! 5 stars!

I love to bake pies as well as eat them and felt like I knew my stuff. Until I saw this book. Wow - so much info and fabulous recipes combined with gorgeous pictures! I now want to explore so many of these recipes - just wait until you see how many variations of pie crusts she has, plus tips on crimping, lattices, toppings. The recipes themselves are easy to follow, give measurements both in weights and sizes for precision, and just have so many unique ideas. I can't wait to try so many of them!

Normally, I like cookbooks to give nutritional stats, but of course, it's pie so who's counting? I'm definitely buying a hard copy of this book because I will need to refer to this book often!

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Erin McDowell is a pie ARTIST! Her recipes all sound delicious and her pies look picture-perfect. This cookbook is amazing for people who want to test their pie abilities. Each pie is given a level (easy-hard) so you know what you are getting yourself into before you start baking. In addition to great recipes, Erin gives a whole chapter on how to make your pie look great. From variations on crimping, lattices, and pie edge decorations, she also gives tips on what to do with those pesky pie dough scraps. She shares the tricks of the trade about dough recipes, including puff pastry! Her book is filled with great things and is soothing to look at. I only wish it was able to hold more pictures, so I could compare my results to hers.

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I love that the whole book is dedicated to pies. Very specific and useful information in one place. Recipes have not been tried personally but I look forward to trying many of them

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There is so much information in this book! Tons of background info on tools and equipment, nice offset "Pie Pep Talk" info throughout (lots are troubleshooting), and color photos showing different situations with dough and techniques. Chapters are doughs & crusts, decor & toppings, fruit pies, custard pies, cream/chiffon/cold set pies, and savory pies. It seems like there is a recipe in here for nearly any type of crust and answers for all the pie questions you could come up with. There's a page explaining what fruits can be subbed in what kinds of pie recipes. There are gorgeous pictures for each recipe. The recipes also include make-ahead and storage info, and in many cases list alternative crust ideas and other variations. With the exception of the savory pie chapter (which includes lots of ideas I am not familiar with), the other chapters seemed fairly standard but with beautifully executed and elevated recipes. The dessert pies may not be totally novel, but this is a wonderful book for those looking to learn more and become better and more comfortable with pie baking.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I have tried a number of ways to access this title as a PDF however all have been unsuccessful. I would have loved to get a good look at this recipe book. Perhaps a number of different modes of access can be possible in future.

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The title says it all. This is the definitive book on all things pie. McDowell is an excellent teacher, and this book would be an asset to bakers of all skill levels.

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It’s pie season y’all! Get ready to drool!⁣

Big thanks to @netgalley for the copy of The Book on Pie by Erin Jeanne McDowell. Y’all know I love to bake so when I saw this up on NetGalley I had to get my hands on it. This book is filled with so many tips, notes, variations, and a detailed supplies list with alternatives which I really appreciated. Erin even talks about storing and reviving the pies as well as what to do with your scraps of dough!⁣

I don’t know why but I honestly did not realize all the ways one could make pie crusts and fillings. I need to get more creative y’all! Thankfully I now have this book to help me out. There are whole chapters on doughs/crusts & decor/toppings before it even gets to whole pie recipes🤯 I was so overwhelmed over my choices I didn’t know what I wanted to make first. ⁣

Obviously to truly review this I had to make at least one pie from each category: fruit pies, custard pies, cream/chiffon&coldset, and savory pies. They were all pretty time consuming but easy to follow and totally worth the outcome. I loved the options to make different sized pies. I love me some minis! I did find I ended up needing more liquid than called for in all the recipes. This could be due to not utilizing a scale though. ⁣

The book does start with sharing different equipment to use like a scale, stone slab, pie weights, etc but I didn’t have any of that and it worked out just fine. Thankfully the book had measurements in both grams and cups. ⁣

I’m just a bit obsessed over here and need to buy my own physical copy.

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Love pie? Read this book with different ideas and inspiration for making pie and everything related to pie. Do recommend it if you love pie. Like pie? Also a good read!

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This fabulous book is your one stop shop for all things pie. From sweet to savory, readers are taken on a journey through making the best pies. The introduction sets up the perfect atmosphere for the book – from the author’s nostalgic memories to her interesting stories, I was ready to whip out my rolling pin, put on my apron, and bake some pie! An inspiring baker, I learned so much about the technical side of a great bake. I found the crust designs fascinating and I will be trying them out in my own kitchen. There are delicious recipes for pies of all kinds too – Carrot Cake Custard Pie is sure to be a hit with my family! My mom adores carrot cake – as do I!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley, for the electronic advanced reader copy of The Book of Pie. I will surely be adding it to my kitchen’s cookbook shelf when it arrives in bookstores on November 10, 2020.

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Cookbooks. I LOVE cookbooks. But in these last few years I tend to spend less money on them because there is so much online. That is not true of this book. It has everything that’s perfect in a cookbook. Beautiful pictures, an excellent Index, clear recipes, all kinds of tips, and yet it is also very readable. Written in a sort of conversational way that I felt kept my interest so well.

It’s full of pies our mothers use to make, pumpkin, apple, and cherry but it is equally full of new ideas. All kinds of savory pies, gluten-free crust, vegan crust, cornmeal crust, more crusts than you can imagine.
Well, you can probably see I am in love with this cookbook. This is a book to purchase and put on your shelf not only for recipes but as a reference source. I intend to do just that. I bet this is the first hard-cover book I have bought in a year. I probably don’t give more than seven 5-star ratings a year. Lots of books are good books but 5-star books, well, they are special.

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Excellent!!! I think I most enjoy the part about making Pielets. I have those size Pie Tarts, but it is hard to find recipes for them. They are so wonderful b/c I can make them beforehand and freeze them and use them for family treats or holiday parties. Love, fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, too. Making a really good Custard is essential to me as that is delicious. It takes a little practice to get it perfect. I really appreciate the advice the author offers.

Thank you so much NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. You have made my holiday brighter.

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I have been a fan of Erin for a long time. The newest book in her library of pie making technique does not disappoint. Thoughtful and just the right amount of flair it gives the reader boundless possibilities. It is concise in its measurements . It is heartfelt in that you seem to be there with her as she opens up about the pitfall of pie making. It is an offer to perfection without the punishment of failure. Regardless of your skill level , here is a gift any baker would cherish among her favorites. Happy baking

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Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of The Book on Pie

This is a very in depth informational book on pies covering flours, fats, toppings, fillings and various techniques. This is jam packed full of useful tips and interesting recipes circling the globe. There are easy to follow recipes and enticing photographs to go along. It has a lot of detailed information for the new baker beginning their pie journey as well as helpful tips to the experienced pie maker.

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My mom was notorious for making pies with crusts that melted in your mouth, and fillings that were perfect: not too sweet, not too tart. So when I saw this book, I knew I wanted to review it.

I devoured each word as I started reading. McDonald provided information on containers, ingredients, rolling pins, and much more. This is a pie book that covers almost everything.

Each Chapter includes many subheadings.

Chapter 1 – Doughs & Crusts
Chapter 2 – Decor & Toppings
Chapter 3 – Fruit Pies
Chapter 4 – Custard Pies
Chapter 5 – Cream, Chiffon, & Cold Set Pies
Chapter 6 – Savory Pies
= 352 pages of learning and fun!

This book is filled with wonderful pictures and easy instructions that benefit all levels of those who enjoy baking. It’s not one of those cookbooks that necessitate visiting a specialty store for ingredients before attempting a recipe.

I savored all the information and even discovered a section regarding freezing pies. Yes! This book seems to cover “almost” everything. And if you are reading carefully, you might notice this is the second time I’ve used the word “almost.”

For me, the book was missing one section.

<b>What Concerned Me</b>
Though these recipes called out to me, I kept looking for a section that used less fat and sugar. I know, I know. Many tasty deserts do use butter and sugar.

But I would love to have seen perhaps a Less Tasty Section. Even if it was a teeny tiny section. One that didn’t call for heavy cream, half and half, butter, and so much sugar.

<b>What I Liked</b>
Even though I listed something under What Concerned Me, without hesitation I would still purchase this as a gift for myself, or a friend. I can, after all, modify these recipes. And I love, love love that this book covers so many other helpful things.

My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. My opinion has not been influenced by this opportunity.

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These are hands down the most beautiful pies I've ever seen. If you're looking to up your pie game, this cookbook is for you. Not only does it have recipes for mouthwatering and unique pies but also for dozens of crusts and toppings and fillings that you can mix and match. On top of that, there is page after page of gorgeous step-by-step instructions on how to make the most show-stopping crusts around. A must have for anyone who enjoys baking pies..

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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.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC of this wonderful cookbook! I am always trying to improve the quality of my pie baking and this book has provided me with some wonderful tips and a lot of inspiration! The addition of the science behind the ingredients and technique is always a bonus. For me a great cookbook has to include high quality illustrations and this book does not disappoint in that area. Now that cooler weather is here I am anxious to get into the kitchen to bake some of these wonderful pies, I suggest you do the same!

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As an avid pie maker, I felt lucky to have the chance to preview this title and have put it on my "to purchase" list. The front matter had a lot of good tips and I enjoyed trying a few recipes while my preview period was open. I look forward to making room for this book on my shelf and baking from it for years to come.

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