While cake has an appropriate time and place... Pie all the way. It has much more textural complexity and there’s just something about flakey crust... it’s like a ship that carries the filling safely home (into your mouth). Also cake can’t do more than one thing- be sweet. Whereas with pie, it can be savory, like quiche or a galette. God, now I really wanna make a pie. The act of making pie is also much more soothing and ritualistic than cake in my opinion. For anyone out there who wants to make a perfect pie but has really screwed the pooch in the past buy one of Erin McDowell’s books. She’s the queen of pie!
However, if I have to choose just one particular one, it has to be pecan pie! I have an obscene sweet tooth and deep roots in the Deep South and you will pry my Kayro syrup pecan pie from my cold dead hands.
I am partial to this recipe (thanks to my uncle for sharing it with me).
Pie all day long. Especially if it is sugar cream, pecan, Dutch apple or sweet potato. Cake is good too, but I could eat pie every day for desert and never tire.
Coincidentally, the question of the day yesterday at my physical therapy gym asked with pancake is actually a cake. All but one of us said cake - it’s literally in the name. Any thoughts on that, Nancy?
I'm a rebel: cake. Always cake. I've tried some delightful pies over the years, but they never beat cake. I was raised on a Midwestern diet of anything that could be stuffed into a casserole dish or a crockpot (very far cry from foodie culture); however, when cake is involved, I'm a true from-scratch believer (frosting, too). It's the way. My grandmother used to make a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake (I know, sounds weird) with buttercream frosting. I've also heard it called a Depression-Era cake, likely originating from a "Ladies of First Presbyterian or Methodist Church" cookbook. It's very simple and straightforward, but the moistest chocolate cake you'll ever eat. In fairness, though, I don't really discriminate. Cake please.
Non-pie related request for Nancy ... would you mind spending a few minutes on an upcoming podcast talking about your friend Cathy Seipp? She was a significant part of my early blog / internet / general online experience and I think folks probably don't remember her, which is a shame.
Oh, I wish we could post pictures here, although the comments would probably quickly devolve into a collection of ridiculous memes and other nonsense.
Mrs Banatz has really upped her pie crust game in the last year or so... I have dozens of pie pictures, most recently a chicken pot pie this past weekend with a super flakey crisco/butter crust. In the last ten weeks she’s baked two tart cherry pies, one coconut custard, one lemon custard, and a sweet cherry pie.
Not to mention cream puffs she made with the pastry tube gun she wanted for her birthday. Filled with fortified whipped cream.
This is tough. Of course, I love them both, but they can both go very wrong. Cake - frosting too sweet and/or cake too dry and/or tasteless. Pie - so many terrible crusts out there, and filling texture & viscosity is both tough to nail & very idiosyncratic. I’m going to go a third way, much as I do for most executive branch elections & nominate... Galette. Half-assing it, but in a sexy French way 😘
Cake. Cake. Cake. For my kid’s birthday I love to make the chocolate cake recipe on the Hershey website. So easy and turns out beautifully every time. Does NOT make great cupcakes though.
Pie. There’s a place in San Diego that makes a pecan pie over a thin layer of cheesecake and it’s perfect. I have probably gained 20 pounds trying to reverse engineer the recipe to no success
Whatever the redheads having. OK, seriously, pie. Apricot pie like mom used to make. Gooey, sugar, crunchy top having a sugar rush now. Can’t go on (cherry pie will do in a pinch.)
I have to say cake, but I honestly think it's just because I haven't experienced pie in a meaningful way. My environment just doesn't have pie much I'm guessing... I need more pie! Eat more pie!
I don’t have anything bad to say about pie. But there’s only one food that compels me to just stick a fork in it for it’s duration on my counter, because I know when I walk by I’ll eat a bite and why dirty up so, so many forks? Team Cake.
The pie in this thread is STRONG.
While cake has an appropriate time and place... Pie all the way. It has much more textural complexity and there’s just something about flakey crust... it’s like a ship that carries the filling safely home (into your mouth). Also cake can’t do more than one thing- be sweet. Whereas with pie, it can be savory, like quiche or a galette. God, now I really wanna make a pie. The act of making pie is also much more soothing and ritualistic than cake in my opinion. For anyone out there who wants to make a perfect pie but has really screwed the pooch in the past buy one of Erin McDowell’s books. She’s the queen of pie!
My grandad used to say that he only liked 2 kinds of pie: hot and cold. I take after my grandad in this regard.
In season strawberry rhubarb pie with just enough orange zest to make it pop! That's a springtime pleasure!
I believe the correct answer is "cake AND pie".
Pie. I tend to romanticize foodstuffs I can’t make myself competently. Plus, if there’s anything better than pecan pie I haven’t seen it.
I refuse to choose! No, no, a thousand times no!
I have strong likes for both.
However, if I have to choose just one particular one, it has to be pecan pie! I have an obscene sweet tooth and deep roots in the Deep South and you will pry my Kayro syrup pecan pie from my cold dead hands.
I am partial to this recipe (thanks to my uncle for sharing it with me).
https://12tomatoes.com/grandmas-pecan-pie/
And I like to make this delicious (and easy to work with) crust.
https://littlespoonfarm.com/sourdough-pie-crust-recipe/
Worth having sourdough on had to make it for all kinds or pie, quiche, etc.
Both- forever and ever!
Ahhhh! Cheesecake! And if you’re in the nyc/bk area, go to Martha’s Country Bakery in Williamsburg (Bedford & N1 location) 🤤 https://instagram.com/marthascountrybakery
First of all, where is that photo from?!?
I was a cake person growing up, definitely now a pie person. (I'll happily make an exception for carrot cake; just something about that frosting).
Pie all day long. Especially if it is sugar cream, pecan, Dutch apple or sweet potato. Cake is good too, but I could eat pie every day for desert and never tire.
Coincidentally, the question of the day yesterday at my physical therapy gym asked with pancake is actually a cake. All but one of us said cake - it’s literally in the name. Any thoughts on that, Nancy?
Pie. All kinds. I love to make them and I love to eat them.
Pie for me. In particular Key Lime pie & Pecan pie.
Reading through the thread the pancake question brought another question to mind.
Is cheesecake more pie or more cake? I lean pie.
I'm a rebel: cake. Always cake. I've tried some delightful pies over the years, but they never beat cake. I was raised on a Midwestern diet of anything that could be stuffed into a casserole dish or a crockpot (very far cry from foodie culture); however, when cake is involved, I'm a true from-scratch believer (frosting, too). It's the way. My grandmother used to make a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake (I know, sounds weird) with buttercream frosting. I've also heard it called a Depression-Era cake, likely originating from a "Ladies of First Presbyterian or Methodist Church" cookbook. It's very simple and straightforward, but the moistest chocolate cake you'll ever eat. In fairness, though, I don't really discriminate. Cake please.
Questions about pie crust: Do you add a smidgeon of vodka to it? Can you make the crust ahead of time and freeze it? Thanks.
Non-pie related request for Nancy ... would you mind spending a few minutes on an upcoming podcast talking about your friend Cathy Seipp? She was a significant part of my early blog / internet / general online experience and I think folks probably don't remember her, which is a shame.
Pie! Buttermilk or pecan but I’ll eat any of them with Bluebell homemade vanilla ice cream on top!
I prefer baking cakes, but this summer my husband made me a cherry pie that almost brought me to tears, so, honestly, I’ll eat whatever.
Oh, I wish we could post pictures here, although the comments would probably quickly devolve into a collection of ridiculous memes and other nonsense.
Mrs Banatz has really upped her pie crust game in the last year or so... I have dozens of pie pictures, most recently a chicken pot pie this past weekend with a super flakey crisco/butter crust. In the last ten weeks she’s baked two tart cherry pies, one coconut custard, one lemon custard, and a sweet cherry pie.
Not to mention cream puffs she made with the pastry tube gun she wanted for her birthday. Filled with fortified whipped cream.
Both! I'm an equal opportunity dessert eater. But if you put the world's best cake up against the world's best pie- the PIE would win...
Pie please! :)
Anyone else remember hyperbole and a half? CAAAKE. CAKE CAKE CAKE.
Pie for sure, homemade apple especially.
My brother in law makes it every Thanksgiving… I think about it all year
I'm a pie guy. They're edgy. Love the crust!!! Cakes are all lathered up like when I shave my face. They have no edge.
This is tough. Of course, I love them both, but they can both go very wrong. Cake - frosting too sweet and/or cake too dry and/or tasteless. Pie - so many terrible crusts out there, and filling texture & viscosity is both tough to nail & very idiosyncratic. I’m going to go a third way, much as I do for most executive branch elections & nominate... Galette. Half-assing it, but in a sexy French way 😘
...But hands down, I'd take a homemade apple pie from someone who kills at making pie crust! (I'm not a big baker )
Cookies!
Made these yesterday and sent them
today with my husband visiting our son at college: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/brown-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Was Nancy's prior offer of crack pie for real??
Pie y'all.
Cake. Cake. Cake. For my kid’s birthday I love to make the chocolate cake recipe on the Hershey website. So easy and turns out beautifully every time. Does NOT make great cupcakes though.
https://www.hersheyland.com/recipes/hersheys-perfectly-chocolate-chocolate-cake.html
Pie. There’s a place in San Diego that makes a pecan pie over a thin layer of cheesecake and it’s perfect. I have probably gained 20 pounds trying to reverse engineer the recipe to no success
Whatever the redheads having. OK, seriously, pie. Apricot pie like mom used to make. Gooey, sugar, crunchy top having a sugar rush now. Can’t go on (cherry pie will do in a pinch.)
Pie seems lighter fare and that’s what I go for. Key lime or tart or Lemon meringue. Also (sorry gals): NO chocolate.
I have to say cake, but I honestly think it's just because I haven't experienced pie in a meaningful way. My environment just doesn't have pie much I'm guessing... I need more pie! Eat more pie!
I don’t have anything bad to say about pie. But there’s only one food that compels me to just stick a fork in it for it’s duration on my counter, because I know when I walk by I’ll eat a bite and why dirty up so, so many forks? Team Cake.