From Orchard to Oven
I always make a lattice top for a peach pie. If not, it might get mistaken for apple or gooseberry. When you see the juicy, sweet fruit poking through the lattice, you know you’re in for a summertime treat.
Typically, a peach pie is flavored with a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon. But this much-touted recipe from cookbook writer and pastry chef Zoe Francois (zoebakes.com) gets its kick from a 1/4 cup of booze!
America’s Test Kitchen ranked PIllsbury’s roll out crust their favorite store-bought dough. We agree.
A Pie in the Baking
Easy ingredients
Sarah Carey, who ran Martha Stewart’s test kitchen called this peach pie “one of the best pies I’ve ever made!”
Lattice eat pie!
The Kitchen Trial
In the interest of full disclosure, I have not made this pie, but Cyndy did and she also took the photos. So I quizzed my “Home Kitchen Researcher:” The first time she made the pie I asked:
Me: Did the bourbon overwhelm the taste?
Cyndy: The pie had a deep, rich flavor, but it didn’t have a detectable bourbon taste at all.
Me: Hmm. . . you did put the bourbon in the pie? (Just kidding. Couldn’t resist a little kitchen humor). Did you make any changes in the recipe?
Cyndy: I distinctly remember putting the bourbon in the pie. I followed the recipe exactly, except for using brown sugar instead of raw.
Me: How did it compare with other peach pies you’ve made?
Cyndy: It was better than any peach pie I’ve made. No runny juices or soggy crust. Good flavor without being too sweet. And it sliced perfectly clean. You could pick up a piece by hand and eat it.
Me: Would you make it again?
Cyndy: This was a really, really good pie! Definitely, a keeper! And Joe agreed.
Testing Notes from Cyndy: “I used a Pillsbury roll out pie crust for the bottom and lattice. I marinated the peaches, sugar, whiskey, and salt for longer than the 30 minutes called for—closer to an hour.
“When thickening the juice and cornstarch, be sure to use a whisk rather than a spoon to avoid lumping. I used brow sugar rather than raw, but white would work, too.”
I was raised on BADER PEACHES from Campbell, MO, which is in the bootheel. My mother won best of show out of all foods entered with her Lattice Crust Peach Pie probably 40 years ago. I still use her recipe, although I am not against trying this recipe. I do have one request: PLEASE use the “ruffled” kitchen tool to cut the pieces of lattice crust. The knife cut ones are not particularly eye-appealing which is too bad. Please tell Jean hello for me as I used to be the legislative assistant to Jerry McBride when MEL was governor!!!
Of all the foods I miss with a no-sugar diet, pies are top of the list, and peach pies at the very tippy top. It’s both divine to see Cyndy’s photos and oh-so-appetizing to read your and Nancy Wilson’s descriptions. Truly the best of summer.
Sounds like you have some fond memories of great homemade pies. Can’t take that away.
Sounds like you have some fond memories of great homemade pies. Can’t take that away. Uh