Pie Day, err…um…Pie Week!

A couple of weeks ago some of my favorite bakers started talking about #pieday on Twitter, a day when we would all share a pie we had baked on Twitter, Facebook, on our blogs.  Shauna of Gluten-Free Girl wrote a beautiful post about Pie Day, set for July 5th.  It was exciting to see so many people talking about pie.  You know I love a good pie!

As I tried to decide what pie I would make for Pie Day, I shared my enthusiasm for the day with friends, inviting several to join the Facebook Pie Day event.  Several times (ok, not just several, MANY times) friends said to me, “Oh, I can’t make pie crust.”  Or, “My grandma made the best pie crust. I don’t even try.” And the comment that really gets me fired up, “Oh, there’s no way to make a gluten-free pie crust.”

Oh, but there is!  Not only can you make a gluten-free pie crust, you can make one that is delicious and easier to work with than gluten-full dough. Or you can make it with gluten-free store bought cookies or graham crackers or nuts and dates.  I decided the best way for me to approach Pie Day was to make more than one pie, bake with more than one person and share the little that I know about gluten-free pie making with my pie crust-phobic friends.

The first pie I made for Pie Day was a Mochaccino Pie with a Chocolate Cookie Crust.  It’s rich with chocolate and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.  It’s also gluten-free and vegan.

The second pie I made for Pie Day is a Chocolate Kumquat Icebox Pie with a Sour Cream Crust.  It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and is packed with the unique flavor of kumquat marmalade.

Next up, I made Raspberry Button Pies with my friend Deanne.  She did so well with pie crust, even though she said it was not her forte.  I actually think it may be–she worked with my basic pie crust like a pro! She made the pie filling, a microwave jam made with fresh raspberries. 

My final Pie Day adventure, Apple and Cherry Pies, was a shared afternoon of baking with  6 and 9 year-old aspiring bakers, the children of my friend Renee.  To all those who fear making pie crust, you have to check this out.  These kids had never made pie before and made gluten-free, lattice-topped apple pies.  If they can do it, so can you!

The little cuties went on two make a second pie, Cherry Pocket Pies.  Homemade filling and crust made for the perfect treat for the 6 year-old A to take to a sleepover, because even 6 year-old kiddos love pie and want to tell their friends all about Pie Day.  

Pie Day, or Pie Week as it turned out, was great fun.  I really enjoyed the time spent with friends in my kitchen, baking one of my favorite treats.  Thanks to all of the amazing bakers who came up with this fun idea. I vote to make this an annual holiday!