MomSkoop
When we think about pie, apple often steals the spotlight. But there’s a whole world of amazing pies waiting to be discovered beyond this classic favorite. From tangy citrus creations to rich chocolate indulgences, these alternatives offer exciting new flavors for your dessert table. Ready to expand your pie horizons? Here are 12 delicious pies that might just become your new favorites.
1. Blueberry Pie: Summer’s Sweet Treasure
Bursting with tiny blue gems, blueberry pie captures summer’s essence in every bite. The deep purple filling bubbles through golden lattice crust, promising a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Fresh blueberries work best, but frozen berries make this treat possible year-round. A touch of lemon zest brightens the filling, while cinnamon adds warmth and complexity.
For the ultimate experience, serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream melting alongside. The contrast between cool cream and warm pie creates dessert magic that’s hard to beat!
2. Coconut Cream Pie: Tropical Bliss on a Plate
Imagine taking a vacation to a tropical island with each forkful. Coconut cream pie delivers exactly that feeling! Velvety coconut custard sits atop a flaky crust, crowned with clouds of whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes.
The secret to greatness lies in using both coconut milk and shredded coconut for maximum flavor impact. Some bakers add a hint of rum extract for an authentic tropical twist.
This pie stores beautifully in the refrigerator, actually improving after a day as flavors meld together. Perfect for make-ahead entertaining when you need a showstopper dessert!
3. S’mores Pie: Campfire Memories in Dessert Form
Who needs a campfire when you can enjoy all those nostalgic flavors in pie form? S’mores pie transforms the classic trio of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows into a sophisticated dessert that pleases both kids and adults.
A buttery graham cracker crust cradles velvety chocolate filling that’s somehow both light and rich. The crowning glory comes from a layer of marshmallows, toasted to golden perfection.
Serving this at a dinner party guarantees smiles and conversation. Everyone connects with childhood memories while enjoying a grown-up version of a beloved treat!
4. Chocolate Macaroon Pie: Where Cookies Meet Pie
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! This ingenious creation combines the chewy delight of coconut macaroons with the satisfaction of chocolate pie. A traditional pie crust holds intense chocolate filling, topped with a coconut macaroon layer that bakes to crispy-chewy perfection.
The textural contrast makes this dessert truly special – silky chocolate against toasty coconut creates an experience your taste buds won’t forget. Some versions include a middle layer of chocolate ganache for triple chocolate impact.
Refrigerate before serving to allow the chocolate to set properly. A small slice satisfies even the most demanding sweet tooth thanks to its richness!
5. Peanut Butter Pie: Creamy Comfort in Every Slice
Remember licking peanut butter off the spoon as a kid? This pie captures that simple joy in dessert form. Silky-smooth peanut butter filling rests in a chocolate cookie crust, creating the perfect sweet-salty combination that’s impossible to resist.
Most recipes require no baking beyond the crust, making this an excellent choice for summer. Chocolate drizzle or crushed peanut butter cups add decoration and extra flavor dimensions to the finished pie.
The filling whips up in minutes using a hand mixer. This crowd-pleaser travels well to potlucks and remains stable at room temperature for several hours!
6. Triple Berry Hand Pies: Portable Fruit Perfection
Tiny treasures of flaky pastry wrapped around jammy berry filling – hand pies solve the eternal problem of wanting pie without needing plates or forks! These portable delights combine raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a perfect balance of sweet and tart.
The beauty lies in their versatility. Serve warm for breakfast, pack in lunch boxes, or dress up with ice cream for dessert. The crimped edges seal in all that glorious purple filling, preventing messy leaks.
Make a big batch and freeze unbaked pies for future treats. Just pop them in the oven whenever a pie craving strikes – no thawing necessary!
7. Strawberry Cream Pie: Spring’s Perfect Dessert
Fresh strawberries gleam like jewels atop this cloud-like creation. The contrast between bright red berries and pillowy white filling creates a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
A graham cracker or shortbread crust provides the perfect foundation for layers of sweetened cream cheese filling and sliced berries. Some versions incorporate strawberry gelatin for a more structured slice, while others keep it loose and creamy.
This pie celebrates strawberry season perfectly. For maximum flavor, choose the ripest, most fragrant berries you can find – those smaller, deeply red ones often pack the most intense strawberry punch!
8. Grasshopper Pie: Mint Chocolate Magic
Named after the famous cocktail, this retro dessert delivers cool mint flavor in the most delightful way. The striking pale green filling catches everyone’s eye before they even taste its refreshing flavor.
Chocolate cookie crust provides the perfect foundation for the minty cream filling, usually colored naturally with crème de menthe liqueur or mint extract. The filling’s light texture comes from folding whipped cream into the base, creating an almost mousse-like consistency.
Garnish with chocolate curls or crushed chocolate cookies for extra flair. This pie tastes even better after overnight refrigeration, making it perfect for planning ahead!
9. Lemon Cake Pie: The Magical Two-in-One Dessert
Kitchen magic happens as this batter separates during baking! The bottom transforms into custard while the top becomes cake, creating two distinct layers from one simple mixture.
Bright lemon flavor shines in both layers, with the bottom offering pudding-like richness and the top providing light, spongy contrast. The science behind this self-separation involves egg whites and flour distribution during baking.
Dust with powdered sugar rather than covering with frosting – this allows the unique dual texture to take center stage. Serve slightly warm or chilled depending on whether you prefer to emphasize the cake or custard qualities!
10. Key Lime Pie: Sunshine State’s Tangy Treasure
Florida’s famous dessert delivers sunshine in every tangy bite! Authentic key lime pie uses tiny key limes, more aromatic and flavorful than their larger cousins. Their distinctive tartness cuts through sweetened condensed milk, creating perfect balance.
The filling requires minimal ingredients – just lime juice, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk. This simplicity lets the citrus shine. Traditional versions feature pale yellow filling, not green (artificial coloring is a tourist trap giveaway).
Debate rages about proper topping: whipped cream or meringue? Either way, the contrast between creamy filling and crisp graham cracker crust creates textural paradise that’s refreshing after any meal!
11. Grape Pie: The Unexpected Fruit Pie Star
Concord grapes transform from juice and jelly staples into pie perfection in this underappreciated dessert. The unique flavor – somewhere between wine and berry – creates a truly distinctive experience unlike any other fruit pie.
Making grape pie requires some effort, as seeds and skins need separation before cooking. The reward is a deep purple filling with complex flavor that hints at both familiar grape jelly and something entirely new.
This pie shines brightest in early fall when Concord grapes reach peak ripeness. Found primarily in farmers’ markets and roadside stands, these special grapes make this pie a seasonal treasure worth seeking out!
12. Sugar Cream Pie: Hoosier Hospitality at Its Sweetest
Indiana’s state pie dates back to pioneer days when resourceful farm wives created dessert from pantry staples. Also called “desperation pie,” this humble creation turns basic ingredients into something magical.
The filling combines sugar, cream, flour, and vanilla into a smooth custard that’s simultaneously simple and luxurious. Traditional recipes call for topping with dots of butter and a sprinkle of nutmeg before baking until the surface develops a delicate caramelized finish.
Best served at room temperature, this pie’s unassuming appearance hides its remarkable comfort-food qualities. One taste explains why it’s endured for generations as a beloved Midwestern classic!