Home »
News & Trends »
Featured Articles

Easy as Pie

Whether prepared from scratch or just assembled and baked, few things are as comforting as pie. Specialty foods offer an array of products that let home bakers choose just how much time and energy they want to commit—with delectable results whatever the effort.

Photography by Mark Ferri; Food styled by Leslie Orlandini; Props styled by Fran Matalon-Degni

by Eva Meszaros

Product Roundup: Pie Filling

Here are 10 products to consider:

Calhoun Bend Mill Dessert Mixes:

One of the best things about pie is its versatility; with the same ingredients, home bakers can make cobblers, crisps, crumbles or galettes. These Southern-style dessert mixes can be made into any variation—just add fresh, canned or frozen fruit. Choose from Peach Cobbler, Apple Crisp, Cherry Crunch, Pecan Pie and Strawberry Pie. They also make a great ice-cream or fruit-salad topper. calhounbendmill.com

Chukar Cherries Cherry Fruit Fillings:

Cherry-pie lovers can rejoice at this collection of fillings that spotlight the rich, deep-red fruit. Chukar Cherries carries a wide array of fruits, nuts and chocolates, but its humble beginnings were in a cherry orchard in the Pacific Northwest. These fillings—available in Triple Cherry, Cherry Blueberry, Cherry Peach, and summer favorite Sour Cherry—use a blend of whole, pitted Bing, Ranier and/or tart cherries. chukar.com

Clearbrook Farms Fruit Tart Kits:

For a variation on pie, it’s easy to impress guests with these quick-prep fruit tart kits. Each kit includes 48 mini tart shells and a jar of fruit filling in Caramelized Banana, Cherry, Key Lime, Lemon or Strawberry/Rhubarb, or Vanilla. The shells are pre-baked, so preparation is as simple as scooping filling into each shell and decorating with your own fresh-fruit topping. Also available in 96-shell packs with a pair of fillings (in Cherry & Lemon or Strawberry/Rhubarb & Vanilla). clearbrookfarms.com

Dundee Fruit Company Pie Filling:

Apple and pecan reign supreme in the fall and winter months, but for spring and summer flavors, turn to Dundee Fruit Company’s pie fillings. These all-natural products from Red Hills Fruit Company contain no preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup, and come in warm-weather varieties like Blueberry, Marionberry, Strawberry Rhubarb and Tart Cherry. Each jar fills a 9-inch pie crust and comes with recipes to guide wary home cooks. dundeefruit.com

Elizabeth Jean’s Apple Pie Kits:

For customers who want to show some effort, but just don’t have time to work from scratch, hunting down recipes and ingredients, Elizabeth Jean’s Pie Kits do all the tedious legwork. This DIY pie kit includes everything—from the pie tin to the fresh, sliced apples—with easy “assembly” to create a home-baked apple pie. The crusts, real butter, a cinnamon-blend spice pack and a pop-up pie timer round out this package, which comes in three mouthwatering flavors: Fresh Apple, Caramel Apple Pecan (with pecans and caramel topping) and Apple Crisp (with streusel-style topping mix). elizabethjeanspiekit.com

Fischer & Wieser Pie Fillings:

One of the greatest features of pie is the innumerable fillings that can be fit to please any palate. Fischer & Wieser offers a selection of gluten-free flavors made with simple, natural ingredients. Choose from Old Fashioned Cherry, Fredericksburg Golden Peach, and Harvest Apple & Brandy; the first ingredient is always pure fruit. Each jar contains enough filling for two 9-inch pies and includes a quick, easy recipe. These fillings also make great toppings for ice cream and other baked goods. jelly.com

Mary of Puddin Hill Mini Praline Pecan Pies:

Have a party to host but limited time to prepare? Mary of Puddin Hill has turned its famous pecan pie into bite-size treats. Each tender butter crust is brimming with fresh pecans, honey and caramel praline filling, just like the full-size version. Each package comes with 18 pieces and makes a perfect treat for snacking or dinner parties. The elegant box makes it a ready-to-give gift. puddinhill.com

San Saba River Pecan Company Pecan Pie in a Jar:

Promising a perfect pecan pie every time, San Saba River Pecan Company has jarred a rich concoction of sugary-sweet filling made with whole pecans, picked fresh from the company’s pecan orchard in San Saba, Texas. Just add eggs and butter to follow the classic recipe—or try out the included tips for richer or healthier variations, and even a recipe for a homemade crust. greatpecans.com

Village Mixes Pie Crust Mix in Pecan and Walnut:

Why should the filling get all the flavor? Village Mixes has whipped up a hearty pie crust mix in two flavors: Pecan and Walnut. Real walnuts or pecans are mixed in with enriched flour, light brown sugar and rolled oats, resulting in a slightly sweet and crunchy crust. Each package contains a perfect portion for pie, but you can use the mix in a variety of ways; make other baked goods like cookie bars, or sprinkle it on top of ice cream or yogurt. villagemixes.com

Wholly Wholesome Organic Pie Shells:

Because even delicious pie should be good to the earth, Wholly Wholesome has taken its classic pie crust recipe and given it an organic upgrade. The result is three delicious, ready-to-bake shells: Organic Whole Wheat, Organic Spelt and Organic Traditional. Each two-crust package includes suggested recipes and baking instructions; just fill them up and pop them in the oven. Organic Traditional is also available in a 6-inch shell—a 2011 sofi™ Silver Finalist for Outstanding USDA Certified Organic Product—and a 9-inch frozen rolled dough. whollywholesome.com |SFM|

Eva Meszaros is associate editor of Specialty Food Magazine.