The Pie Journal

08/06/2025

Super Paleo Banana Bread: The Caveman’s Loaf

07/06/2025

Ham and Cheese Butter Swim Biscuits

24/03/2025

https://thepiejournal.com/black-forest-gateau-a-chocolatey-legend-that-refuses-to-retire/
There’s something about Black Forest gâteau that makes it the showstopper of the dessert world. Maybe it’s the scandalous mix of boozy cherries, chocolate sponge, and clouds of whipped cream. Or perhaps it’s that faintly 1970s vibe, reminiscent of kitsch dinner parties where it reigned supreme as the height of sophistication. Either way, this German classic refuses to be forgotten, and quite frankly, we should all be grateful.

There’s something about Black Forest gâteau that makes it the showstopper of the dessert world. Maybe it’s the scandalous mix...

23/03/2025

https://thepiejournal.com/coulibiac-from-peasant-pie-to-palace-showstopper/
If you’ve never encountered a coulibiac before, prepare to be charmed by the unapologetic decadence of this Russian-born showstopper. A sort of pastry-clad matryoshka doll, salmon and rice coulibiac is what happens when comfort food gets dressed up for a czarist banquet. It’s luxurious, elaborate, and frankly, a bit over the top—which is exactly why it’s brilliant.

If you've never encountered a coulibiac before, prepare to be charmed by the unapologetic decadence of this Russian-born showstopper.

21/02/2025

Tamale pie is an all-American invention with a misleading name. There’s no real pie involved, and it’s not an actual tamale either. Instead, it’s a baked dish with a cornbread crust and a filling that nods to the flavours of tamales—think spiced meat, tomatoes, chillies, and cheese. The earliest records of tamale pie date back to the early 1900s, when American home cooks were getting adventurous with Mexican-inspired flavours. It was a favourite in community cookbooks and quickly became a staple of potlucks and family dinners.

Tamale pie is an all-American invention with a misleading name. There’s no real pie involved, and it's not an actual tamale either.

19/02/2025

A Pocket-Sized Italian Masterpiece
Somewhere in the grand, cheese-laden landscape of Italian cuisine, nestled between a crispy pizza and a golden pastry, lives the panzerotto. It’s the kind of food that makes you question everything you thought you knew about fried dough. Why? Because it takes the best bits of pizza—oozing mozzarella, rich tomato sauce, and whatever other toppings make your heart sing—tucks them neatly into a soft, pillowy dough, and deep-fries them to golden perfection. It’s pizza, but portable, and somehow even more indulgent.

Panzerotti hail from the southern region of Apulia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the sun blazes and olive groves stretch endlessly.

17/02/2025

A Pastry with a Past as Rich as Its Filling
Ah, sfogliatella. If there were ever a pastry that embodied the phrase “too pretty to eat but too delicious not to,” this is it. With its crisp, flaky layers and rich, creamy centre, sfogliatella is a Neapolitan delight that has captivated pastry lovers for centuries. Born in a convent, perfected in Naples, and now found in bakeries around the world, this pastry is a testament to Italian craftsmanship and culinary passion.

Ah, sfogliatella. If there were ever a pastry that embodied the phrase "too pretty to eat but too delicious not to," this is it.

15/02/2025

If South Africa had to pick a national sweet treat, the koeksisters would be a serious contender. These deep-fried, syrup-drenched plaits of dough are a sticky, crunchy, impossibly sweet delight that has been a staple of South African culture for centuries. Whether bought from a street vendor, enjoyed at a family gathering, or served with a side of nostalgia, koeksisters are much more than just a snack—they are a taste of home.

If South Africa had to pick a national sweet treat, the koeksisters would be a serious contender. These deep-fried, syrup-drenched plaits...

13/02/2025

A Bite of Nostalgia from Indonesia
Kue lumpur… There’s something almost poetic about Indonesian desserts. They’re humble yet indulgent, simple yet bursting with flavour. And among them, kue lumpur stands out as a bite-sized masterpiece. This little cake, soft and fragrant, has been a staple of Indonesian street food for generations. It’s the kind of treat that brings people back to their childhoods, where every bite feels like a warm hug from the past.

Kue lumpur is believed to have been influenced by Portuguese and Dutch colonial culinary traditions, where European-style custard tarts...

11/02/2025

Tarte au Citron: The French Dessert That Knows How to Pucker Up
There are few things in life more satisfying than a dessert that smacks you in the taste buds before wrapping you in a buttery, sugary embrace. That, dear reader, is the magic of Tarte au Citron—a French pastry with just the right amount of sass. It’s elegant yet simple, indulgent but refreshingly sharp. It doesn’t try too hard, yet it’s effortlessly chic. Much like the French themselves, really.

Tarte au Citron is not one of those desserts you lazily drown in a heavy, sweet wine. No, this one demands balance. You want something...