Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means the text messages, emails and phone calls from my family with their pie requests are flooding in! I love trying out new recipes for them – cheddar apple, chocolate pecan, you name it and I’ll make it! But this year I decided to keep the fillings traditional and focus on making show-stopping crusts. Here are a few of the designs I’m trying out. For each option, start by rolling out pie crust and pressing it into your pie pan.
1. Ribbon Edge
We’ll start with my new favorite way to decorate pie crust! To make this ribbon effect, you’ll need enough dough for a top and bottom crust. Trim the edges of the bottom crust to the exact size of the pan. Roll out the second piece of dough and cut into ½-inch wide strips. Place the first strip on the pie and start weaving the piece back and forth to create a ribbon effect. Pinch the next piece of dough to the end of the first and repeat. Do this with the remaining dough until it circles the entire pie.
2. Forked Edge
This one is simple and reliable. Cut the edges of your pie crust to the exact size of the pan. Then use a fork to gently press into dough leaving an imprint all the way around the pan. Viola – that was easy!
3. Crimped Edge
This one is a classic, but I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not as easy as it looks! To achieve this crimped edge look, leave about an inch of dough hanging over the edge of the pan all the way around. Lift the dough and fold the excess under until it’s flush with the edge of the pan. Then pinch the dough between your thumb and index finger. Use your index finger from the other hand to press the dough between your two fingers to create a wave. Repeat all the way around the pie.
4. Cut-out Edge
This is one of my favorites because it looks amazing and doesn’t take too much time. You’ll need enough dough for a top and bottom crust for this method. Start the same way you would with the fork method above – cut the pie crust edges to the exact size of the pan. Roll out the remaining dough and use a small leaf cookie cutter to cut the dough. Lay the leaves around the pie, overlapping them slightly.
5. Lattice Top
No Pie crust round-up is complete without a classic lattice top! Check out our video on how to easily use this effect to top your apple pie this Thanksgiving!
How are you decorating your pies this year?