Perfect Peach Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thickener for peach pie? ›

We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies. Arrowroot, unlike cornstarch, is not broken down by the acid in the fruit you are using so it is a good choice for fruit with a higher content of acidity such as strawberries or blackberries.

For perfect pie filling, be sure to buy peaches at the peak of ripeness; the skin should easily bruise with the lightest amount of pressure. Many bakers prefer to remove the skins from peaches when using them for pie filling, as some find the skin's texture unpleasant and are put off by its slightly bitter flavor.

In order for the starch in your pie to set, whether you use flour, cornstarch, tapioca, or arrowroot, you need to let the pie cool completely before cutting it. If you slice it too soon, the starch won't gel and it will be runny.

Two popular varieties for pies are the Sun Haven Peach, since it resists browning and its wonderfully "peachy" flavor shines through even when cooked and Intrepid Peach, which has high marks in flavor and texture when baked – on top of coming from a hardy and disease-resistant tree.

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

Cornstarch makes for a shiny, glossy filling. A little goes a long way because it has twice the gelling power of flour. Flour thickens nicely but leaves more of a matte finish. You'll need to use twice as much as you would with cornstarch.

Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and nutmeg give warmth and gentle spice to peaches, while herbs like basil, tarragon, thyme and rosemary add earthy notes to peach desserts.

Though using one might work just fine for firm peaches, a ripe, juicy peach won't hold up to the peeler, and you'll likely lose a lot of the tasty flesh in the process. The best way to peel a peach is to actually place it in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then simply remove the loosened skin using your fingertips.

A just-baked fruit pie's filling will be very hot out of the oven, and quite messy to serve. The filling will set as it cools; be sure to let your pie cool completely before cutting and serving.

This is particularly problematic with both fruit pie and custard fillings because they have high moisture content. To prevent it, you need to either create a barrier between the wet filling and raw pie dough, or ensure the pie dough browns and sets before the filling has a chance to soak it.

How do you fix a runny peach pie? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches. About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach. About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches.

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature that your recipe recommends. Most fruit pies bake at a temperature between 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Some recipes call for baking the pie in a 450 degree F oven to begin with, then turning down the oven to about 350 degrees F.

Cobbler is sometimes described as a kind of fruit pie, but strictly speaking, the two are different. Pies are made from pastry, rather than biscuit batter, and they are fully encased, with a crust at the top and the bottom, while cobblers typically only have a topping.

Tapioca-it's not just for pudding! This old-school ingredient may be what your great grandmother used to thicken her pies, and it's still great for making a perfect fruit pie with a clear, stable filling. Tapioca is derived from cassava (also known as yuca or manioc), a starchy root native to South America.

Cornstarch has thickening power similar to Instant ClearJel. Like flour, it lends a cloudy, semi-transparent look to filling. It can also give filling a starchy taste. For full effectiveness, make sure the pie filling is bubbling up through the crust before removing your pie from the oven.

Uses: Tapioca “is flavorless and gives fruit and fruit juices a glossy shine,” Chattman says, making it a favorite alternative to cornstarch in pies. Or get the best of both worlds: “Juices thickened with both cornstarch and tapioca become satiny and smooth, an appealing combination,” she says.

The three most common starches used to thicken the fruit juices of a pie are flour, tapioca, and cornstarch. I prefer cornstarch because I find that it actually enhances the flavor of the fruit.