Wait…baking fruit pies in the microwave? I thought this was a stamping blog? Just stick with me. Today’s post is a bonus post for this week. I don’t normally blog about anything but stamping but each year around Thanksgiving, I get requests about a couple of videos I shared many years ago. I thought I would share it again because these videos might save your life this year and show you how to make the BEST Thanksgiving Pies EVER!
There’s so much pressure on us at Thanksgiving….
- Will the turkey thaw in time?
- Will your mother-in-law turn her nose up at you stuffing?
- Will your crazy uncle show up and make armpit noises at the table?
I can’t help you with the crazy uncle but I do hope this time saving tip will help you when it comes to making homemade pie.
I am NOT a cook…I hate to cook actually… but my Mom taught me this technique for making pies in the microwave. No, I’m serious! They are the BEST pies ever!!! We’ve been making pies this way since the 70′s when microwaves took up half your counter space. You do most of the baking in the microwave and then brown it in the oven for only 10 minutes. Perfect pies every time! I thought with Thanksgiving around the corner I would share these videos with you again.
The first video will show you how to make Make-ahead pie dough. Let’s face it, that’s the hardest part about making a pie. This no-measure method will knock you socks off! Keep the dough in your freezer and you can make pie in a flash!
Simply Simple MAKE AHEAD PIE DOUGH
makes enough for 9 double crust pies
5 lb. bag all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons salt
3 lb. tub of Crisco (butter flavored, if available)
3 cups ice-cold water
4 drops of yellow food coloring (makes your pies look prettier!)
Mix the flour and salt together. Add all the Crisco and cut in with a pastry blender. When it’s all mixed, add the food coloring to the ice water and pour in ALL AT ONCE. Mix with your hands and separate into approximately (9) 1 lb. pie dough. Flatten slightly and wrap in cling wrap. Place in freezer bags and freeze for up to 6 months.
Thaw when ready to use (about 10 minutes).
Now that you have your pie dough made, let’s MAKE A PIE!!! You can make any fruit pie in the microwave – apple, cherry, peach, raspberry, blackberry, snozzberry (who ever heard of a snozzberry?)
This video will teach you how to make a pie from beginning to end. Just think, you might actually impress your in-laws this holiday? Wahooo!
11 to 14 minutes in the microwave on high, 10 minutes in a 450°F oven! That’s it!
Q: If I use fresh fruit (ie. apples, cherries) do I need to change the cooking time?
A: Nope! Same cooking time and your apples will be crisp, not mush at all.
Q: I like raisins in my apple pie but they never come out juicy. Any tips?
A: YES!!!! Let me share a GREAT tip from my Mom. If you like raisins in your apple pie but want them to be plump and juicy, soak them in some imitation vanilla extract for about 10 minutes. Drain off the extract (pour it back into the jar), and you will have the most amazing sweet juicy raisins in your pie! I keep a bottle of extract in my cupboard just for raisins.
Q: Can you make pumpkin pie in the microwave?
A: YES! My favorite sister (and only sister), Sheila, loves pumpkin pie. I hate it. She decided to give it a try and here is what she said…
“I microwaved the pie on medium (Level 6 of 10) for 10 minutes. The sides cooked well, and about a third of the pie looked set. Then I transferred it to the oven and baked 20 minutes @ 325°. The pumpkin did pull away from the crust as it cooled, but whipped topping hid that nicely, and it set perfectly all the way through. So baking time was cut in half over the 1 hour oven method.”
I know that some of you may still be skeptical but I have received SO many emails and comments from viewers who tried baking fruit pies in the microwave and now think I am a Pie Making Goddess. It’s true, I am… but now THEY are too! I hope you’ll try it out. You can join us in the Pie Making Goddess Hall of Fame!
I wanted to post this early enough so that you could try it out before the Thanksgiving rush. I hope that you will. It’s truly a fabulous recipe!
I LEARNED HOW TO THIS MANY YEARS AGO FROM A LADY MY DAD KNEW. BEST PIES EVER!
Right? People think I’m crazy when I tell them I bake my pies in the microwave but they are delish!
Your video makes me want to try making a pie again. Thanks for sharing your secret.
Thanks Connie!
The recipe sounds great! Hope to try this season!
Sue
My mom and I have been baking pies like this for years and years. I hope you try it!
I used to love cooking. Now not so much. But I do have a husband who likes to eat and I have to eat so I cook quick and very easy meals for the two of us. As for Thanksgiving day Wayne and I make a reservation to a restaurant . All of our children are grown and go to other family members homes that day. 🙂 I enjoyed your videos. Thank you very much Connie for sharing them.
My husband loves to cook but doesn’t like to bake. I hate to cook but love to bake. We were meant to be together. I think Thanksgiving without the fuss sounds amazing! Enjoy!!!
Great idea! Love the microwave quick pie. Don’t know if I’d ever need to make nine pies in six months. Lol
Oh you could come up with a reason you need 9 pies! lol This might be a good recipe to do with a friend and split them up.
This is just genius. When I first saw microwave a pie I thought what? If nine pies are too many, we could make them as gifts. ‘‘Tis The Season.” Thank you for the great video; you are so organized.
Loretta, I agree, 9 pies is a lot. Another tip would be to get together with a friend and split the pie dough. My Mom and I do this.
Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for reposting this for the Fall Retreat 2020 participators!
OMG! This is the same recipe my mom taught my sister and me. Well, not the column but for sure the ingredients. 2 c. Flour, 3/4 c of Driscoll, 1/2 c ice water, and if you’re very clever with a rolling pin you get two double crust pies. You are really the only other person that I’ve known to use this recipe.
I believe this recipe is from an OLD Make-a-Mix cookbook my Mom had when I was a kid.
why couldn’t you make a chicken pot pie or two as well?
Absolutely you could! Use the same times as I shared for pies. I’ve done it many times before.
Thanks sharing the pie baking. I love to make and eat pies.. I have a recipe that makes 3 pie crusts, So I make them ahead and freeze them.
Also, with the left over pie crust, put it all together, roll it out, spread butter over it, and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Roll it up and cut into “cinnamon roll shapes” Bake. Great treat.
Mary, I do that too. That’s the best part of pie making day, right? SO good!!
Hi! Thanks for the recipes and tips! I’m with you about the Pumpkin pies,Ugh
Nice big dough recipes to freeze!
Thanks again, and for all you do for us!
Intrigued and wanting to give it try, but only make pies w/fresh fruit. Have you tried any fresh fruit options?
Liz, yes. In fact, if you check out the Q & A, I talk about using fresh fruit.
Thanks for showing everyone how to do this. Sounds great. Due to several disability problems, I might get pre-made pie crusts however. But – I will share this with some friends that are more able bodied for them to try.
Dee, I will say, it is an arm workout for sure.
Connie, someone told me that if you cut 3 pieces and take out the middle one it comes out perfectly!!!
I will most definitely try that! Thank you Jewel!
Could I make a mincemeat pie this way?
I’ve never had mincemeat pie but I can’t see why you couldn’t, as long as the meat is cooked.
Connie, I tried your recipe for pie crust which is basically the same as my tried-and-true recipe that I’ve used for years, except mine is for only 3 pies. I LOVE the nine-pie recipe. My motto is, “If you’re going to make a mess, you might as well make a big mess.” I’ve always made the crusts and frozen them, too, which I think helps the flakiness. Yum!
I also tried, for the first time, the microwave method…for my husband’s birthday mince (yuck) pie…..and it came out greeeeaaaatttt!!!!! He didn’t know the difference!
I follow you and your card making and love it! You are one of my favs.
Thx, thx, thx!
What recipe is next?
I love hearing reviews like this! Some people are hesitant to try the microwave method but it really does work. Saves so much time since it browns in the over for only 10 minutes.