There is nothing that tops off a piece of pie better than a scoop of delicious ice cream. Just about every family in America has feasted on this yummy concoction. So, how did pies sneak onto the sweets scene? Here is a look at their history.
History of Pies
Pies came to America with the first English settlers. Pies were first cooked in long, narrow pans the early colonists called “coffins”. The early American pie crusts were usually not eaten, but designed to hold the pie filling during baking. The term “crust” replaced “coffins” during the American Revolution.
Pies are known today as “the most traditional American dessert”. In fact, we now commonly use the phrase, “as American as apple pie” in our culture.
The desserts were around well before they appeared on tables in America. In medieval England, they were called pyes and were filled with meat, spiced with pepper, currants or dates. The Greeks are credited with concocting the pastry shell, which they made by mixing flour and water. Pilgrims baked meat pies to preserve food for the winter months. They seasoned the meat with dried fruit, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg.
Most Popular Pies
Americans bought more than 3.6 million pies through Instacart in 2021. The grocery platform reports more than 27% of online pie sales were for Apple pie, making it the traditional favorite in America. Rounding out the top pie sales were blueberry, pecan, pumpkin and cherry.
New England states prefer blueberry while southern states love pecan pie. Apple is the most popular in the mid-Atlantic, while pumpkin is favored by states in the west and midwest. Cherry pie topped sales in the central United States.
Key Lime is the most popular pie in Florida and is also loved by folks in South Carolina and Alabama. Chocolate pie satisfies many sweet tooths in Arkansas, Vermont and Virginia.
Best Pie and Ice Cream Pairings
Vanilla pairs well with apple pie, but salted caramel ice cream truly brings out the apple flavor. Pecan pie comes to life with rich, chocolate ice cream. Cherry pie is said to be truly yummy with salted almond ice cream. Blueberry pie is best paired with vanilla ice cream. Pumpkin pie is savory with vanilla bean, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie flavored ice creams.
Pie on Pi Day
This day honoring math enthusiasts is celebrated annually on March 14th. In 2009, congress marked this date as a holiday to encourage math and science education. Teachers began the tradition of using a PIE to explain Pi to their students. The holiday is celebrated by baking, throwing and eating a lot of pies. Some also choose to honor this date with a pie eating contest.
So, now that you are no doubt hungry for a slice of pie, go ahead and find a recipe for your favorite flavor! After you bake it, enjoy it with a scoop of ice cream that pairs well with your treat.
Hungry for an Ice Cream Treat?
If you are celebrating a special occasion, or have a sweet tooth, treat yourself to some delicious homemade ice cream. Norwood Ice Cream & Candy Company is located in Eldersburg, Maryland. Each unique flavor is handcrafted in the store in small batches, offering customers exciting new choices every time they come in. Give us a call at 410-875-7238 for more information.
Sources/Links:
https://time.com/3958057/history-of-pie/
https://www.natalieparamore.com/the-best-pie-and-ice-cream-pairings/
https://www.thekitchn.com/homemade-pie-ice-cream-5-fresh-153903