Category Archives: Pies & Pie Bars

Nutella Cream Pie

I suppose this is a year of unconventional Thanksgiving pies here on E2 Bakes.I usually go for traditional pastry crust pies this time of year (and there’s at least one coming your way), but then there was vegan pumpkin pie with toasted pecan crust. And now there’s Nutella Cream Pie.Made with a graham cracker and hazelnut crust, a Nutella pudding filling, and topped with whipped cream and candied hazelnuts, this pie is basically the dessert of my dreams.This beauty has hazelnut flavor all over the place. We’re talking 2/3 cup toasted and blitzed into a buttery graham cracker crust… Nutella Cream Pie another 1/3 cup that are lightly candied and scattered on top…and a creamy pudding filling that tastes like pure Nutella, but somehow even better.Don’t ask me to explain how it’s possible to improve the flavor of Nutella—I can’t quite find the words.You’ll just have to make a Nutella Cream Pie and see for yourself.
Looking for more Thanksgiving Pies? Check out my light & fluffy Pumpkin Pie, Black Bottom Pear & Almond Pie, and Chocolate Buttermilk Pie!

Nutella Cream Pie
makes one 9-inch pie

Crust:
2/3 cup raw whole hazelnuts
6 full-sheets graham crackers
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
pinch of Kosher or sea salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

Nutella Filling:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
2 cups whole milk
3 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup Nutella
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Candied Hazelnuts:
1/3 cup raw whole hazelnuts
3 teaspoons granulated sugar

Whipped Cream:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Make the crust. Scatter hazelnuts on a dry rimmed baking sheet. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until fragrant and toasted. Do not burn. Let cool 10 minutes.

Combine toasted hazelnuts, graham crackers, light brown sugar, salt and melted butter in the bowl of a food processor. Process until hazelnuts and grahams are broken down and the mixture is the consistency of wet sand. Press on the bottom and up the sides of a deep pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes to set. Let cool on a rack while you prepare the filling.

Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy-bottomed medium-large saucepan. Slowly whisk in milk. Place pan over medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking continuously. Boil one minute. Remove from heat. Slowly whisk 1/3 of the mixture into the egg yolks. Return egg yolk mixture to pan. Place pan over medium heat and whisk constantly until mixture boils for one minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla, followed by Nutella and butter.

Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Push filling through the sieve and discard any solids. Transfer filling to prepared crust. Press plastic wrap to the surface. Chill at least six hours.

Make the candied hazelnuts. Line a plate with parchment and set aside. Place hazelnuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and shiny. Add sugar by the teaspoon, stirring until it dissolves (it may smoke up a bit). When all sugar has dissolved, remove hazelnuts to prepared plate and let cool completely. They will be clumped together. Once cooled, place them on a cutting board and give them a rough chop with a large, sharp chef’s knife.

Make the whipped cream. In a medium-large mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla. Use an electric mixer to whip cream until stiff peaks form. Remove pie from refrigerator and top with whipped cream. Scatter candied hazelnuts over the top, as desired. Slice and serve pie.

Leftover pie will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutella Cream Pie

Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free}

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Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free} Let me start by saying that I hope you all had a lovely Halloween, and that I’m so glad it’s over so we can talk about Thanksgiving food.I got a little head start with Wednesday’s Rosemary-Parmesan Cheese Straws, but now I’m going all-in: (more) appetizers and sides and, most importantly, PIES are coming your way, just in time for the biggest food holiday of the year!

This first pie of the season is a little of what you’d expect and a little…not. It’s Pumpkin Pie, but where that usually entails eggs, cream, and loads of sugar, this one is vegan, gluten-free, and contains less than 1/2 cup of sweetener (mostly maple syrup).

…are you still there? Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free} If you haven’t clicked away, never to return…well, good. More pie for us.You see, for all the things that this pie is not, it is very much one thing: delicious. Like so good I’m not totally sure why we would eat any other pumpkin pie.The filling is soft and sweet and perfectly spiced and the crust is mostly made of ground toasted pecans. GROUND TOASTED PECANS. And it’s a press-in crust—no rolling required. Does it get better than that?

Um, yes. Yes it does. Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free} Both elements come together in the food processor.And the whole pie requires exactly nine ingredients.And it’s actually best if it’s made ahead, so you won’t have to give up valuable Thanksgiving Day oven space.And, again, it’s vegan, gluten-free, and contains just enough sweetener to make it taste like dessert. And make no mistake, it does taste like dessert. I am not the sort of person who is going to get behind a recipe just because it’s “better for you.” Nope. It’s big flavor or go home here at E2 Bakes. If it happens to be somewhat nutritious, that’s just a bonus. Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free} Have a great weekend, y’all ❤

Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free}
makes 1 9-inch pie

Toasted Pecan Crust:
8 ounces (2 cups) raw pecan halves
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted or solid)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
pinch of Kosher or sea salt

Pumpkin Pie Filling:
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin purée (I like Libby’s)
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons coconut sugar (or light brown sugar)
1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted or solid)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
pinch Kosher or sea salt

For serving (optional):
whipped cream (regular or vegan)

Place an oven rack in the bottom position, leaving about 8 inches of space above it. Preheat oven to 350F.

Scatter pecan halves on a dry rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until fragrant. Do not burn. Let pecans cool for a few minutes, or until you can handle them.

Place toasted pecan halves, cornstarch, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt in the bowl of a food processor (or high-powered blender). Process until no large chunks remain, scraping down the sides as necessary. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch pie plate. Press it into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Wipe out the bowl of the food processor.

Make the filling. Combine pumpkin purée, almond milk, maple syrup, coconut oil, cornstarch, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in the food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer to prepared crust and smooth the top.

Place full pan on a rimmed sheet pan. Loosely wrap a 4-5 foot piece of aluminum foil around the pie, securing the ends by crumpling them together (more on that here). Bake pie on the bottom rack of the oven for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes, or until turning brown at the edges and firm-looking in the center.

Turn off oven and open door slightly. Let pie remain in the oven for 30 minutes. Do not skip this step.

Remove pie from oven and let cool completely on a rack. Refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours before slicing and serving. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Leftover pie will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days. Pumpkin Pie with Toasted Pecan Crust {Vegan, Gluten-Free}

Friday Favorites: Pie

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I have a few questions for you.

Have you watched Salt Fat Acid Heat yet? If not, get on it. Samin Nosrat is a freaking queen—a great chef, a delight to watch, and a woman who eats unapologetically and asks for seconds. If you are into food and feminism (and I hope you are!), you’re going to love this show.
Do you love or hate Chris Kimball? I’ve been listening to the Milk Street podcast all week and I can’t decide how I feel about him. I mean, it’s not going to keep me from watching his show or making his recipes. He seems a little too…let’s say persnickety…these days.
Have you started planning your Thanksgiving menu yet? The big day is only 27 days away! I’ve got a few new recipes coming your way (appetizers and sides included!), but aside from the turkey, we all know pie is the most important part 🙂 Here are a few holiday favorites from my archives to get you inspired before the biggest food holiday of the year.

Cream Cheese Pie Dough

I started making this Cream Cheese Pie Dough in the spring of 2015 and haven’t looked back since. It’s made with two cold fats, cream cheese and butter, and has a little buttermilk for tenderness. This combination makes for an extra flaky crust—I’ve had friends compare this crust to having a pie wrapped in croissant dough. YUM. Friday Favorites: Pie
Pumpkin Pie

It’s just not Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie! My spin on this warmly-spiced classic involves folding whipped egg whites into the usual pumpkin custard. The resulting pie is lighter than most, but every bit as delicious. Friday Favorites: Pie
Chocolate Buttermilk Pie

If you are into soft, rich, dense chocolate things (and who isn’t?!), this is the pie for you. It’s super easy to put together and bakes up like a dream, and it’s so damn chocolaty it’s ridiculous. Put this one on the menu for sure. And vanilla ice cream. You’re going to want vanilla ice cream. Friday Favorites: Pie
Silky Smooth Sweet Potato Pie

This is a pie I didn’t know I wanted. I’ve always been pretty strict about only eating sweet potatoes in savory applications, but I am here to tell you that I was wrong. So, so wrong.

This pie, made with fresh sweet potatoes and just a hint of spice, is a new favorite of mine. I can’t wait to make it again this year. Friday Favorites: Pie
Black Bottom Pear & Almond Pie

This is one of my very favorite recipes on this site 🙂 Made by layering poached pears and homemade almond pastry cream over a puddle of dark chocolate ganache (AKA a “black bottom”), it’s absolutely delicious. This pie takes a little more work than the others on this list, but it is a guaranteed Thanksgiving Day showstopper.

Have you made any of these or any of my other Thanksgiving recipes? Let me know in the comments or on social media! And don’t forget to check back for a few new pies before November 22nd 🙂

Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette

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Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette This is the 300th post on this site. Three hundredth! That was fast.

May 2015.

June 2018.

It doesn’t seem like it was all that long ago that I purchased this domain and posted a picture of my hand nudging a miniature Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette across my now-familiar Carrara marble pie board. The post just said “Making a few adjustments…stay tuned.” It remained the only thing on this site until I posted my inaugural Cocoa Brownies five months later, followed by 298 more things.

The fact that post #300 is a recipe for that same Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette is pure coincidence—I didn’t even know this was a milestone post until last night. I’ve sworn for the last two summers that I’d post the actual recipe, but two years ago I waited too long into cherry season, and I had a super difficult time finding rhubarb last year. This summer though, I’ve got plenty of both. Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette

You may be wondering why I chose to pair rhubarb with sweet cherries in the first place, instead of the usual strawberries. The answers are:

Been there, done that.
Because sweet cherries and tart rhubarb are MFEO. (Name that movie.)
I like to live on the edge.
It was an accident.

Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette Back when I made my first-ever batch of Cream Cheese Pie Dough, I had a fridge full of rhubarb and not one measly strawberry, or even a box of blueberries. What I did have though was a big bag of cherries and a hankering for pie…er, freeform pie. I stirred together a simple filling and folded a circle of pie dough up around it before baking it for the better part of an hour.
The resulting galette was divine: sweet, tart, jammy fruit filling and the butteriest, flakiest crust ever to come out of my kitchen. Three years later, you’ve heard me wax on and on about that pie dough, but I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned that a Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette was the first thing I ever made with it.
After 300 posts, you’d think I wouldn’t have left out any details, but I guess I still have a few things left to tell you. Chief among them, that you should go buy some cherries and rhubarb (and maybe some ice cream) and make yourself a galette. Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette

Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette
makes 1 galette, about 8 servings

1 1/2 cups sweet red cherries, pitted and halved
1 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb (1/2-inch dice)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons cornstarch
pinch of Kosher or sea salt
juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 recipe Cream Cheese Pie Dough, or other good pie dough
1 large egg
1 teaspoon water
coarse sugar, for sprinkling
vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Arrange oven racks in the upper and lower positions. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Combine cherry halves and chopped rhubarb in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, nutmeg, cornstarch, salt, and lime juice. Stir together with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon and let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Flour a surface and a rolling pin. Roll pie dough out until it is 1/8-inch thick. Trim edges so that you have a 12-inch circle. Transfer to prepared pan. Use a slotted spoon to remove cherry rhubarb filling from the bowl, leaving behind excess liquid. Mound filling in the middle of the dough, leaving at least 2 inches of excess on all sides. Fold dough over the sides of the filling, to contain it. Do not trim crust further as it will shrink while baking.

In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water. Brush mixture on exposed pie dough. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake galette on the upper rack for 25 minutes. Tent galette with aluminum foil and move to the lower rack. Bake for 20-25 more minutes. Crust will firm up as the galette cools.

Let galette cool completely in the pan on a rack. Remove to a cutting board. Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Pie will keep covered at room temperature for three days, or in the refrigerator for up to four. Sweet Cherry Rhubarb Galette