5 Beginner-Friendly Pie Recipes with an Indian Twist

Written by Hanna Thomas | October 28, 2023

Baking a pie is a meditative process. So is eating it! Their flaky crusts and delicious fillings oozing out of every crumb make them a classic comfort food for many. They’re so well-loved that pies make for a great starting point for one’s baking. For anyone trying to make a pie at home, these pie baking for beginners, simple recipes that utilize familiar Indian flavors can prove to be a treat, especially with the addition of naturally incorporated Cadbury products to give it a rich chocolate flavor. While cracking the perfect consistency and texture is largely dependent on how much practice one has, baking a pie from scratch is often easier than one would think.

5 Easy Pie Recipes For Beginners

What makes a pie unique is the filling that goes in between the two layers of dough. There’s a multitude of recipes one can experiment with, but here are 5 easy pie recipes for beginners:

1. The Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

For the crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks cold unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons coarse sugar

For the filling:

• 1 1/4 pounds rhubarb
• 2 pints strawberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Juice of 1/2 lemon

2. The Lemon Meringue Pie

For the crust:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 to 6 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

• 1 cup sugar
• 5 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 cup lemon juice and lemon zest
• 4 large egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the meringue:

• 5 large egg whites
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Pinch fine salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3. The Vegan Apple Pie

For the dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons vegan granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• Fine salt
• 1 cup unrefined virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil
• 8 to 10 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

• 8 or 9 mixed apples
• 2/3 cup vegan granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons unrefined virgin or extra-virgin coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond or soy milk

4. The Macadamia Pie

For the crust:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening

For the filling:

• 1 3/4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup salted macadamia nuts
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons white chocolate, finely chopped

For the topping:

• 3/4 cup cold heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup salted macadamia nuts
• 2 tablespoons sweetened shredded coconut

5. The Oreo Pie

Ingredients:

• 15 Oreos
• One 9-inch prepared chocolate cookie crust
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

For the filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 12 Oreo cookies, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons white chocolate, finely chopped

For the topping:

• 3/4 cup cold heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
• 6 Oreo cookies, roughly crushed
• 2 tablespoons chocolate shavings

Introduction to Indian Fusion Pies

The addition of Indian flavors can make ordinary homemade pies extraordinary, providing them with a unique taste. For example, a filling of cardamom, coconut, jaggery, and saffron is full of Indian flavors. Moreover, this combination of flavor for pie baking for beginners, is a great option to try their hand at without being overwhelmed by complicated steps. On the other hand, Indian flavors can be combined with more conventional additions, such as, for example, Cadbury chocolate, which will give the pie a rich and velvety filling.

Key Ingredients & Flavor Combinations

Traditional Indian Spices

Indian spices can add a spicy and familiar flavor to the traditional pies, keeping the recipes surprisingly simple. Cardamom, saffron, and cinnamon are particularly effective in sweet pies filled with fruits, nuts, chocolate, and custard. These spices can be an excellent addition to a pie recipe for beginners.

Cadbury Product Integration

Cadbury chocolate could be useful in making Indian pies. For example, Dairy Milk works well in creamy fillings or melted chocolate layers, while Bournville can bring a deeper cocoa flavor. They can also be added as a crust or topping.

How to Make Your Pie

Here’s a basic breakdown of how to bake a pie:

Preparing the Dough

Make a dough using flour, salt, and butter. Knead it together with water until it’s nice and stable. For pie baking for beginners, avoid over-working the dough, as it makes the crust tough. Divide it into two pieces, covering both in plastic and placing them in the refrigerator. Letting the dough rest and chill also makes it easier to roll and shape.

In the meantime, combine the other ingredients—like the fruit or your hero ingredient, cinnamon, and other flavors and baking essentials like vanilla essence and sugar—to make the filling. Prepare any other elements if required.

Filling with Indian Flavors

Indian inspired elements such as cardamom, coconut, or jaggery can also be incorporated into the filling in order to give it a familiar twist, while using Cadbury chocolate can add a rich flavor to certain variations. For a pie recipe for beginners, start with familiar combinations such as cardamom and chocolate or coconut and chocolate, adding the ingredients gradually to balance the flavors.

At this point, you want to start preheating the oven. On a flat surface, sprinkle some flour and then roll out the dough. Place it carefully on a pie plate, trimming any excess edges or folding the dough down. Add the filling to the crust, then bring out the second piece of dough that’s been resting on the side. Roll it out and cut roughly 1-inch long strips from it. Place a few strips in one direction, and then add other strips in a perpendicular direction to essentially weave them together. You can also place the top covering in a variety of different shapes and styles—perhaps just a few circles of dough placed artistically on the pie, or in some other design.

Bake the pie for approximately 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Bring it out and let it cool before slicing. Letting the pie cool before cutting allows the filling to set so it is easier to slice.

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Pies

• Keep the dough cold: Keeping it chilled allows for a flaky yet tender texture to the pie crust, which is crucial for pie baking for beginners.
• Don’t overwork the dough: To keep your crust flaky, only mix until the dough comes together.
• Use Indian flavors sparingly: A pinch of cardamom, saffron, or cinnamon goes a long way in balancing the richness of the filling.
• Enhance with Indian ingredients: The sweetness of jaggery, the crunchiness of coconut, and the nuttiness of nuts can elevate your fusion pie filling to new heights.
• Leverage the power of Cadbury: The creaminess and sweetness of Dairy Milk or the intense flavor of Bournville can be an excellent addition to your pie filling.
• Let it cool down: Allow the pie to cool down to room temperature before slicing into it, letting the filling settle and the flavors come together.