The Art of Pie Baking in the Fall

Fall Flavors, Fresh from New England

Crisp mornings, colorful leaves, and a kitchen filled with the scent of cinnamon and apples—it can only mean one thing: pie season has arrived. At Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill, we know that nothing brings family and friends together quite like a homemade pie. From heirloom apple recipes to pumpkin spice classics, fall is the perfect time to master your baking craft.

Essential Pies for the Season

• Apple Pie: A New England staple, best made with a mix of tart and sweet apples for balance.
• Pumpkin Pie: Creamy, spiced perfection that brings warmth to any holiday table.
• Pecan Pie: Sweet, nutty, and indulgent—ideal for a cozy evening by the fire.
• Cranberry-Apple Pie: A festive twist that combines local flavors and adds a bright tang to your dessert spread.

Open faced Apple Pie made by our team member Arielle. Recipe coming soon.

Tips for Perfect Fall Pies

• Chill Your Dough Keep Butter Chunky: Keep butter and water cold for a flaky crust.
• Mix Apples: Blend tart (Granny Smith) with sweet (Honeycrisp) for depth of flavor.
• Don’t Overwork It: Handle dough gently to avoid toughness.
• Spice It Up: Freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves bring out your pie’s flavors.
• Let It Rest: Allow pies to cool before slicing so the filling sets beautifully.
• Give Steam Somewhere to Go: Use mini cookie cutters to cut shapes into the top crust of your pie.

Tools to Make Baking a Success

The right tools make all the difference:

• Pie Dishes: 
• Ceramic or glass pans bake evenly and look beautiful on the table.
• NordicWare metal pans are light weight and because metal retains heat, it is great crisp pie crusts.
• Ceramic Pie Weights: help provide consistent, even heat distribution, preventing a pie crust from shrinking, bubbling, or slumping during blind baking, and ensuring a firm, stable crust ready to hold a filling. 
• King Arthur Silicone Pastry Matwon't scootch or slide on your countertop and makes cleanup a breeze. The concentric circles make it easy to roll the right-sized crust to whatever size you need. It can also double as a nonstick baking mat because it is oven-safe to 500°F.
• Mrs. Anderson’s Double Dough Rolleris specially designed for rolling out dough right in the pan. The larger 4-inch roller spreads dough out in larger areas quickly, while the smaller 2.5-inch roller smooths the sides and edges for an all-over equal thickness that looks great and cooks evenly.
• Rolling Pins: A smooth, heavy rolling pin ensures even dough while the weight and shape of a dowel rolling pin shape are also helpful to crush candies, cookies or graham crackers for all your favorite dessert recipes.
• Pie Shields: Prevent over-browning on crust edges.
• Whisks & Mixing Bowls: Essential for whipping together fillings with ease.
• Pastry Brushesare useful for applying egg washes and butter and provide an even coating. 

Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill offers a curated selection of quality bakeware and kitchen tools to help you create pies that are as stunning as they are delicious.

A Tradition Worth Sharing

Baking pies in the fall isn’t just about dessert—it’s about tradition, comfort, and community. Whether you’re preparing a pie for Thanksgiving, bringing one to a neighborhood gathering, or baking with little ones on a Sunday afternoon, each pie tells a story of connection.

This fall, stop by Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill to explore our seasonal kitchenware and discover how the right tools can help you perfect your pie-making tradition.

From our Beacon Hill shop to your kitchen table, may your fall be filled with flaky crusts, sweet fillings, and warm memories.