Pies are an integral part of the holiday tradition in fall and winter. Many, like pumpkin, only really require one bottom crust, but as good as they are it is hard to beat a perfectly made double crust fruit pie, like a classic apple. I know that I am not the only one who puts a few pies into the holiday baking schedule, and since that schedule can be a busy one, it’s nice to have a few tools to help things along. This Apples & Leaves Pie Top Cutter from Nordicware is just one of these tools. It is basically a big cookie cutter that lets your make a gorgeous design on your pie crust in seconds. It’s reversible, giving you an apple pattern on one side and a leaf pattern on the other. You’ll still have to crimp the edges of the crust yourself, but it really helps to make a pie get a bakery-quality look to it with virtually no effort (and no heartbreak from trying to hand-cut designs, as I have in the past).
This week, I’m giving away one of these Apples & Leaves Pie Top Cutters along with a copy of my book, The Baking Bites Cookbook! There are a couple of pie recipes in the book, as well as a very good pie crust recipe, so it’s a good place to start your pie baking if you don’t end up starting with one of the recipes already on my site.
To win, just leave a comment on this post telling me what you favorite type of pie is on this post by Friday, November 20th. There are no penalties for picking a pie that doesn’t need a double crust. If you want to increase your odds of winning, Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and you’ll get an extra entry! Leave a comment to let me know you Tweeted, or make sure to include @bakingbites so I see it! No matter how you enter, the winner will be selected randomly from all the entries. Don’t forget to include your e-mail on the form where you leave a comment (not in the comment itself) so I can contact you if you’re the winner!
The last giveaway I held, for the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Pan and another copy of my book, was won by Amy at Baking and Mistaking. I neglected to make the announcement on the site sooner (although I sent off the prizes). Congrats!
Update: This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone for participating – I’m inspired to bake some more pies! The winner will be announced shortly!
Jacqui
November 17, 2009So difficult to choose! Door County cherry …or pumpkin!
LadyWild
November 17, 2009My favorite pie is strawberry peach pie. I always follow the joy of cooking recipe for fruit pie. In the summer, this is really the best! Its sometimes a bit too juicy, but if you slop on some ice cream you can’t see the ugliness below.
amelia
November 17, 2009I love a nice slice of warm cherry pie served with vanilla ice cream or a little creme anglaise just to make it extra delicious!
Shelli
November 17, 2009Apple pie a la mode!
Celia
November 17, 2009Chocolate cream pie 🙂
Liz Brooks
November 17, 2009I really love chocolate meringue pie!
Hannah V.
November 17, 2009Blueberry may just squeek by as my favorite!
Sarah
November 17, 2009My favorite pie is simple blueberry 🙂 Nothing better than a nice juicy slice with ice cream on a summer night! These pie crust cutters are fabulous!
Liz Brooks
November 17, 2009I also tweeted about the giveaway- I am @beefamily 🙂 Thanks and good luck to all.
Susan
November 17, 2009Without a doubt lemon meringue pie is my favorite.
Kimberly
November 17, 2009I love apple cranberry pie with a crumb crust. Thank you for the chance to win!
Jenn
November 17, 2009I love a caramel apple pie w/double crust. I always paint a little melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon/sugar on the top of the crust for an extra crunch!
Christina
November 17, 2009Pumpkin or strawberry rhubarb, but deciding between the two is just not something I’m prepared to do!
sandhya
November 17, 2009my fav is apple pie….
Kristina
November 17, 2009I don’t know if I can pick just one! I love pecan, pumpkin, apple, strawberry, and cherry the most. I think my favorite pie in the world had strawberries, cream cheese, and chocolate. What a great combination!
megan
November 17, 2009Those are beautiful, My favorite is pumpkin, or pecan.
HB
November 17, 2009Homemade apple, with a side of vanilla bean ice cream.
Laura Sheard
November 17, 2009*Love* pumpkin pie. Lemon pies (with a double crust), come in at a very close second.
Hooray!
MelisaK
November 17, 2009Peach pies are my favorite.
marykate
November 17, 2009ah there’s no way i can choose! pecan, cherry, or homemade pumpkin. my nana makes THE BEST chocolate pie you will ever eat, but i don’t like any other chocolate pies. storebought, eww
Kit
November 17, 2009Apple pie.
Kelley
November 17, 2009Strawberry rhubarb pie! but apple is a near second. They are both so good.
annette
November 17, 2009Favorite pie is a pumpkin pie. Apple pie is no. 2.
psn
November 17, 2009maple pecan pie is my favorite. i might try it with chocolate chunks this year…mmmmmm
Laura
November 17, 2009Apple pie!
Scarlett
November 17, 2009Hot Rhubarb with cold vanilla ice cream.
jaime
November 17, 2009there’s a little known secret in my city. It’s a school for mentally challenged adults and the students there learn culinary skills by working in a bakery. Every strawberry season they make these fabulous strawberry-rhubarb pies and freeze them so that they are available throughout the year for sale to the public. Yes, that’s right, my favorite pie isn’t a freshly baked one..it’s a freshly thawed strawberry-rhubarb pie! I’ve gotten a lot of outsiders hooked on these. They are that good!
Scarlett
November 17, 2009Rhubarb (hot) with ice cream (cold).
Brittany
November 17, 2009Apple cranberry pie! I made it at least 5 times last fall and winter for various events. Time to get started baking again, I think!
Erika Melman
November 17, 2009Strawberry rhubarb, hands down.
Alex
November 17, 2009Apple, definitely. Or strawberry cream!
Eleanore
November 17, 2009Any pie my sister makes is wonderful. Against all advice to the contrary, she makes an all-butter crust, and it turns out both flavourful and flaky. We love apples, pumpkin, peaches, strawberries, rhubarb, and especially Nova Scotia blueberries inside! This is the first time I’ve commented on your site, but I check it every day and use your recipes and advice often. Thank you very much for all your help and tasty ideas.
Xiaolu
November 17, 2009I have to go with strawberry rhubarb, which I’ve only recently tried. I haven’t tried or made many though because of my problems with pastry. I bet both your book and cutter would be very helpful though! Great giveaway.
JoVonn
November 17, 2009Sweet potato pie! I can’t wait until next Thursday.
carmen
November 17, 2009My favorite pie is pumpkin!
Rachel
November 17, 2009I don’t have one favorite…it depends a lot on my mood and the weather! But this time of year, I’m most likely to be craving pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream.
carmen
November 17, 2009i also tweeted about this giveaway for my extra entry. 🙂
http://twitter.com/carmencooksblog/status/5801996766
Jen
November 17, 2009I’m a big chocolate pecan pie fan. Bittersweet chocolate seems to cut the sweetness of regular pecan pie just right.
Jen
November 17, 2009Tweet! http://twitter.com/vaughanjc/status/5802113084
Jessica
November 17, 2009Pumpkin, please!
Amanda
November 17, 2009Pecan pie!
Katy
November 17, 2009I took a Low Country cooking class in Savannah a couple of years ago and pecan pie was on the agenda. It was the first time I learned how to make a pie crust from scratch and has been my favorite ever since.
Emily
November 17, 2009Pear and cranberry pie with a double crust. Mmm, mmm, delicious!
SG
November 17, 2009my mom’s sweet potato pie!! YUM!!! now I need to call her and ask her to make me one!
Nanna
November 17, 2009Oh I would love this pie top cutter!! My favorite pie is German Chocolate…ummmmm.
Mkerwin
November 17, 2009Apple =D
Amy
November 17, 2009Lemon meringue, no contest.
Pushpa
November 17, 2009Pecan Pie for me too! they are the best – warm pecan pie with some vanilla icecream 🙂
Nancy Mc
November 17, 2009Apple Pie, my apple pie. My Mom says I got my pie making genes from my Grandmas on both sides. Thank you. I take no credit myself, it’s in the genes!
Liz J in Central Illinois
November 17, 2009I love chocolate and peanut butter pie. But, the Snickerdoodle pie you posted about recently looks SO yummy, I will be trying it over the Holidays! 🙂