OOver the weekend, I purchased myself a pumpkin spice candle. And though the temps are nonetheless pushing 90 right here in Austin, after I’m sitting at my desk with these heat, spicy scents retaining me firm, I’m totally in a fall frame of mind. Which is why it felt like the right time to share one among my favourite seasonal rituals: the pie-baking occasion.
Since my mother occurs to be an knowledgeable pie baker, I known as her over a number of years in the past to get all her finest Thanksgiving pie suggestions so I’d be prepared for baking success. With Phoebe by my facet, our first annual pie occasion—and a brand new household custom—was born.
This idea is such a enjoyable excuse to assemble a number of members of the family earlier than the vacations—or rally your lady gang for a comfy afternoon within the kitchen. All you want is a few nice household recipes (my mother’s well-known buttermilk pie and maple pecan are linked under), a number of easy components, and a superb playlist. Oh, and perhaps some mulled wine.
Scroll on for our favourite suggestions for baking success, plus a number of methods to make your pie occasion additional particular.
1. Set the Scene
Consider your pie baking occasion as a fall gathering that’s as a lot in regards to the ambiance because the baking itself. The aim? Create an area the place everybody feels relaxed, impressed, and able to make a (little) mess collectively.
Begin by setting a heat tone the second company stroll in: gentle a number of candles, cue up a jazz or acoustic playlist, and let the scent of cinnamon or apple simmer on the range. Clear your counters so there’s loads of workspace, and when you’ve got an island or eating desk, flip it right into a shared prep zone with mixing bowls, rolling pins, and floured surfaces.
For a fantastic however low-effort contact, drape a linen tablecloth and set out aprons in coordinating tones—earthy neutrals or deep autumn hues really feel immediately inviting. Add small bowls of pre-measured spices, and perhaps a number of jars of dried flowers or branches for a easy fall centerpiece.
Mild candles or simmer a pot of cider with cinnamon sticks.
Queue up a mellow playlist (jazz, acoustic, or traditional fall tunes).
Set out aprons, rolling pins, and prepped crusts at every station so everybody can dive in.
Tip: I really like serving mulled wine or spiced tea—it retains the vibe festive with out feeling fussy.
2. Select a Mixture of Recipes
One of the best pie-baking events strike a steadiness between nostalgic favorites and new discoveries. Consider your menu as a mixture of classics and artistic twists, so there’s one thing for each baker’s ability stage.
Begin with one signature pie that everybody can bake collectively—pumpkin, apple, or pecan are all good fall choices. Then, invite company to deliver a household recipe or a private favourite to share. It sparks storytelling (“this one’s from my grandmother’s handwritten cookbook”) and lets every particular person shine.
Should you’re internet hosting a bigger group, divide pies by kind so there’s selection—fruit-based, custard, nut, and even a savory choice like butternut squash galette or tomato tart. Print or handwrite recipe playing cards for every pie so company can comply with alongside and take one dwelling.
And don’t neglect to plan for downtime: whereas pies bake, set out small bites like nuts, cheese, or spiced popcorn, and create a comfy spot to assemble with drinks and chat.
Select one signature pie (like gingersnap pumpkin or maple pecan) for everybody to make collectively.
Invite every visitor to deliver one household recipe to share—it sparks dialog and nostalgia.
Print or handwrite recipe playing cards so everybody can take one dwelling.
My mother’s buttermilk pie is all the time on our record—it’s foolproof and tastes like dwelling.
3. Simplify the Crust
My mother’s secret is… simply use store-bought! After many makes an attempt, we’ve realized that store-bought crust could be simply pretty much as good as home made. It’s completely scrumptious and a lot simpler. Simply make sure that to thaw the crust within the fridge earlier than you’re prepared to make use of it, then preserve it chilled.
4. Inventory Up on Baking Necessities
Earlier than you invite pals to bake collectively, seize your flour, sugar, and extra butter than you assume you’ll want—plus no matter filling (hey, 100% pure canned pumpkin) and frozen crusts you’re planning to make use of.
Tip: Make the day clean and stress-free by organising your kitchen in stations.
Ingredient bar: flour, sugar, spices, eggs, butter, pie fillings.
Rolling station: reducing boards, rolling pins, pastry brushes.
Topping zone: cookie cutters, stencils, and zesters for garnish.
Some fundamentals could be surprisingly arduous to seek out proper earlier than the vacations, so shopping for them early ensures you’re ready for spontaneous pie-baking classes all season lengthy.
5. Grasp the Blind Bake
Should you’re making a custard-based pie (like pumpkin or buttermilk), blind baking the crust first helps preserve it flaky and crisp. It sounds fancy, however “blind baking” simply means baking the crust earlier than including the filling.
Right here’s find out how to do it:
Suit your unbaked pie crust into your pie dish.
Line it with parchment or foil.
Fill it with one thing heavy to weigh it down—like dried beans.
Bake till the perimeters begin to flip golden, then take away the beans and bake for a number of extra minutes so the underside browns barely.
In about quarter-hour, you’ll have a superbly prepped crust prepared for filling.
Blind baking prevents soggy bottoms and ensures your pie appears to be like (and slices) completely.
6. Make It Lovely
My mother all the time retains recent nutmeg readily available and provides a positive dusting of it to her pies utilizing a microplane grater. Ditto for orange zest on a pumpkin pie or lemon zest tossed with apples earlier than baking—it’s that contact of brightness that makes the nice and cozy flavors of fall actually sing.
Use small cookie cutters to make ornamental leaves or hearts for topping your pie. Brush with egg wash and bake individually till golden.
You may also use cookie cutters to create seasonal shapes from additional dough—assume leaves, pumpkins, or stars. Brush them with just a little egg wash, bake till golden, and use them to embellish your pies. It’s a easy option to make your dessert really feel festive (and so they make nice snacks when you bake).
Create Fall Recollections That Final
Reminiscence-making is actually the entire level of a pie-baking occasion. Spending a day yearly with my mother and my daughter is a kind of multigenerational moments that made me so grateful for household—and a reminder that it’s as much as me to create traditions for my youngsters.
There’s one thing particular about being within the kitchen collectively: making one thing scrumptious to share, swapping pie suggestions, telling tales. Go forward and bust out the matching aprons, discover your grandmother’s outdated cookbook, and lean into each custom you’ll be able to keep in mind—or create new ones. And don’t neglect to take a number of images. It’s a easy ritual that simply may turn into a household custom for you, too.
This submit was final up to date on October 29, 2025, to incorporate new insights.
