The Perfect Pie: Your Ultimate Guide to Classic and Modern Pies, Tarts, Galettes, and More

The editors of America’s Test Kitchen turn their eye to sweet pies and tarts in this satisfying outing. Recipes range from tried-and-true deep-dish apple pie to a fanciful crème brûlée option whose filling is infused with lavender and torched for crackle. The book opens with a rundown of eight basic pie types—tarts are “an elegant subcategory”; chiffon pie has “old-fashioned charm”—and a chapter titled “Pies Big and Small” includes charming “pie pops” and a sheet-pan galette. Sidebars cover such aspects as crimping or braiding a decorative edge, and firm guidance makes it all seem doable, even a stunning herringbone lattice. However, some photos don’t quite match instructions: an intriguing butternut squash and sage pie is depicted with leaf cutouts on top, though readers are directed to make a double-crust dough, not the single-crust dough in the instructions. Clever ideas abound, from decorative shards of sesame brittle on a chocolate-tahini tart to a Hawaiian dessert made with haupia, a coconut pudding so thick it can be sliced. A chapter on crusts meets every possible need with vegan and gluten-free options. Fear of pastry is real for many home cooks, and this book is poised to help readers vanquish it. (Sept.)