The Most Difficult Pie to Make, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the pie you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:25

Bakers often debate which pie presents the greatest challenge in the kitchen. The answer isn't straightforward as it varies widely based on personal experience, skill level, and even the availability of ingredients. A system where bakers can vote on which pies they find hardest can provide a crowd-sourced insight into the complexities of pie-making. Having a dynamic ranking based on the votes of experienced and novice bakers alike allows everyone to see which pies consistently pose a challenge. This not only helps in setting the right expectations for those attempting to bake these pies but also offers a community-driven guide to mastering the art of pie-making.

What Is the Most Difficult Pie to Make?

1

46
votes
Baked Alaska Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a delicate balance of ice cream and meringue that needs to be baked quickly in a very hot oven. The meringue can easily overcook, causing the delicate ice cream to melt.
Baked Alaska Pie is a unique and challenging dessert that combines elements of cake, ice cream, and meringue. The dessert is composed of a layer of sponge cake or pound cake as the base, topped with a layer of ice cream, and covered in a thick layer of fluffy meringue. The entire dessert is then briefly baked in a very hot oven, just long enough to brown the meringue without melting the ice cream inside. The result is a visually stunning dessert with contrasting textures and flavors.

Difficulty Level: High

Preparation Time: 2-3 hours

Baking Time: 2-3 minutes

Ingredients: Sponge cake/pound cake, ice cream, meringue

Assembly: Layering cake and ice cream, covering with meringue
2

34
votes
Croquembouche Pie

This pie is made up of cream puffs filled with pastry cream and stacked into a cone shape, then drizzled with caramel. It is difficult to make because it requires precise timing and skill to get the pastry cream and caramel just right.
Croquembouche Pie is a French dessert that combines elements of a traditional croquembouche and a pie. It is a stunning and elaborate creation that requires advanced pastry skills to construct. The pie is made by layering delicate, crispy choux pastry rounds on top of each other to form a tall cone shape, which is then filled with a luscious pastry cream and adorned with spun sugar and caramel. The finished dessert is a beautiful centerpiece, often served at special occasions and weddings.

Difficulty Level: Expert

Preparation Time: 4-6 hours

Skill Required: Advanced pastry skills

Ingredients: Choux pastry, pastry cream, sugar, caramel

Construction Method: Layering choux pastry rounds to form a cone shape
3

28
votes
Souffle Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a light and fluffy egg mixture that needs to rise perfectly in the oven. A souffle can easily deflate if it is not cooked at the right temperature or for the right amount of time.
The Souffle Pie is a delicate and challenging dessert known for its light, airy texture and impressive rise. It is a type of pie that requires precise technique and careful handling to achieve the desired result. The pie consists of a rich, creamy base made from ingredients like eggs, milk, sugar, and flavored with various fillings such as chocolate, fruit, or cheese. What sets the Souffle Pie apart is the addition of beaten egg whites, which gives it its characteristic height and fluffiness. The pie is baked at a high temperature, causing the air trapped in the egg whites to expand, resulting in a puffed-up and golden crust.

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Preparation Time: 1-2 hours

Baking Time: 20-30 minutes

Rise: Impressive and substantial

Texture: Light and airy
4

7
votes
Tarte Tatin Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a delicate balance of sugar and butter to caramelize the apples without burning them. The crust also needs to be perfectly cooked and not too soggy.
Tarte Tatin is a famous French pastry that features caramelized apples baked in a buttery, flaky crust. It is an upside-down tart, where the apples are caramelized before the tart is baked, resulting in a beautifully golden and sticky topping. The tart is then inverted once cooked, so the caramelized apples are on top.

Main Ingredient: Apples

Crust: Buttery and flaky

Caramelization Technique: Apples are caramelized before baking

Topping: Caramelized apples on top

Serving: Usually served warm, often with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream
5

13
votes
Joe Hakim · CC BY 2.0

Pecan Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a gooey filling that is not too runny or too hard. The pecans also need to be perfectly toasted and evenly distributed throughout the pie.
Pecan pie is a rich, indulgent dessert made with a sweet, gooey filling that is primarily composed of pecans. The filling is typically made with a mixture of eggs, sugar, butter, and corn syrup, creating a luscious and caramel-like consistency. It is then poured into a flaky, buttery pastry crust and baked until the filling sets and the crust becomes golden brown.

Main Ingredient: Pecans

Filling: Sweet, gooey mixture of eggs, sugar, butter, and corn syrup

Crust: Flaky, buttery pastry crust

Baking Time: Approximately 50-60 minutes

Serving Temperature: Best served at room temperature or slightly warmed
Pecan Pie in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular pie at Marie Callender's
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular Christmas pie
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular dessert in Iowa
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular pie in South Africa
6

16
votes
Renee Comet (photographer) · Public domain

Lemon Meringue Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a delicate balance of tart lemon filling and fluffy meringue topping. The meringue can easily overcook or weep if not made properly.
Lemon Meringue Pie is a classic dessert known for its tangy and refreshing flavors. It consists of a zesty lemon custard filling topped with a light and fluffy meringue, all contained within a buttery pie crust.

Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

Preparation Time: Approximately 2 hours

Baking Time: Around 25-30 minutes

Crust Type: Buttery Pie Crust

Filling Flavor: Tangy Lemon Custard
Lemon Meringue Pie in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular pie at Marie Callender's
7

13
votes
Cherry Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors in the filling, and a flaky crust that is not too dry or too soggy. The cherries also need to be perfectly pitted and not too mushy.
Cherry pie is a classic dessert that features a filling made primarily of sweet cherries encased in a flaky pastry crust. It is commonly enjoyed warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cherry filling has a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, making it a popular choice among pie lovers.

Filling: Sweet cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and sometimes spices like cinnamon or almond extract.

Pastry Crust: Flour, butter, salt, and water, mixed to a dough consistency.

Pie Size: Cherry pies are typically made in a 9-inch (23 cm) pie dish.

Baking Time: Cherry pies usually require around 45-60 minutes of baking time.

Topping: Cherry pies can be served plain or with a lattice or crumb topping.
Cherry Pie in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular dessert in Iowa
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular food in Nebraska
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular Christmas pie
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular food in Wyoming
8

6
votes
Peter Veldhuizen · Public domain

Key Lime Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a tangy and creamy filling that is not too sour or too sweet. The crust also needs to be perfectly cooked and not too thick.
Key Lime Pie is a classic dessert that originated in the Florida Keys. It is made with a delicate graham cracker crust filled with a creamy and tangy lime custard, topped with whipped cream. The pie is known for its vibrant green color and refreshing citrus flavor.

Crust: Graham cracker crust

Filling: Creamy and tangy lime custard

Lime: Made with the juice and zest of key limes

Color: Vibrant green

Texture: Smooth and creamy
Key Lime Pie in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular food in Miami, Florida
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular pie at Marie Callender's
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular Christmas pie
9

0
votes
Dan Parsons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Apple Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors in the filling, and a flaky crust that is not too dry or too soggy. The apples also need to be perfectly sliced and cooked to the right texture.
Apple pie is a classic dessert in America, loved for its warm and comforting flavors. It typically consists of a flaky pie crust filled with a sweet and tart apple filling. The filling is made by combining sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes other spices or flavorings. The pie is typically baked until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender. It is often served warm and can be enjoyed plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Crust: Flaky pie crust

Filling: Sweet and tart apple filling

Ingredients: Apples, sugar, cinnamon, spices/flavorings

Baking: Baked until golden brown crust and tender apples

Serving: Often served warm
Apple Pie in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most beloved dessert in America
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular pie at Marie Callender's
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular Christmas pie
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular dessert in Iowa
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular pie in South Africa
- Position 10 of 10 in Most beloved Thanksgiving food
10

11
votes
Glen MacLarty from Sydney, Australia. · CC BY 2.0

Banoffee Pie

This pie is difficult to make because it requires a delicate balance of sweet caramel, bananas, and whipped cream. The crust also needs to be perfectly cooked and not too soggy.
Banoffee pie is a delicious dessert known for its creamy and indulgent layers. It typically consists of a buttery biscuit base, followed by a layer of dulce de leche or caramel, topped with slices of fresh bananas, and finally finished off with a generous amount of whipped cream. The combination of the sweet caramel, ripe bananas, and creamy textures make it a truly irresistible treat.

Biscuit Base: Buttery and crumbly biscuit base

Caramel Layer: Sweet and sticky layer of dulce de leche or caramel

Bananas: Slices of ripe and fresh bananas

Whipped Cream: Generous amount of light and fluffy whipped cream

Indulgent: Rich and indulgent dessert

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Discussion

Ranking factors for difficult pie

Complexity of the recipe

A pie with many steps, multiple components, or intricate techniques will be more difficult to make than a simple one.
Skill level required

Some pies may necessitate advanced baking skills, such as tempering eggs or preparing a meringue, while others may be more beginner-friendly.
Availability and handling of ingredients

Some pies may require hard-to-find or delicate ingredients, which may affect the ease of making the pie.
Amount of time and effort involved

Some pies may take longer to prepare or require multiple stages of baking, chilling, or assembly. The more time and effort a pie requires, the more difficult it may be to make.
Consistency and stability

Some pies may be difficult to achieve the right texture or may be more prone to falling apart or becoming soggy. Achieving the desired consistency and keeping the pie stable can factor into its difficulty level.
Strain on equipment

Some pies may be harder on your kitchen equipment, requiring powerful mixers, constant whisking, or careful temperature control. This can make them more challenging to make properly.
Presentation and decoration

The final look of the pie may be important, so intricate designs and elaborate decorations can add to the challenge of creating the perfect pie.
Versatility and room for error

Some pies may be more forgiving and easy to modify if something goes wrong, while others may be more delicate or sensitive to changes. A more flexible pie with a higher margin for error may be easier to make.
Personal experience and comfort

Your own experience and comfort level with baking and pie-making can play a vital role in determining the difficulty of making a specific pie.
Taste preferences

If you are making a pie with flavors or ingredients that you are not familiar with or don't enjoy, it may be more challenging to gauge the success of your pie.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult pie to make. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or pie is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

3152 views
171 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each pie once every 24 hours. The rank of each pie is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult pie to make

Pie-making can be a deceptively challenging task, requiring a balance of technical skill and creative flair. There are countless varieties of pies, each with their own unique set of challenges, but some pies are notoriously difficult to perfect. From the flaky crust to the filling, everything must come together just right to create a delicious and visually appealing pie. In this article, we'll explore some of the most difficult pies to make and the skills required to master them. Whether you're an experienced baker or a novice in the kitchen, this guide will provide insights into the world of pie-making and help you tackle even the most challenging recipes with confidence.