Pie in the Sky Bake Shop: What You Need to Know

This is a blog post that I should have written long ago. But when you’re blogging for fun, “shoulds” don’t happen as often as they… should. Would you like to know how my pie business works? I can tell you! Here is a list of frequently asked questions that I have answers to. If you have another question that I don’t answer here, send me an email.

What is a pie kit?

It’s an all inclusive box of goodies that contains everything you need to make a pie – two crusts, a jar of dry ingredients for the filling, a pie tin and a recipe. All you need to do is add the perishable ingredients to the jar of dry ingredients, roll out the crust, line the tin and bake. Each kit costs $15 (plus shipping and handling, if needed) and you can email me to place an order.

How do I order a pie kit?

Send an email to pieintheskybakeshop@gmail.com with your pie order and the date you need it to arrive. Please give me one week of notice. :) You can pay me via PayPal by searching for my email address.

What kinds of pie kits do you sell?

I currently have three kinds of pies that you can choose from – apple, peach and French silk. I hope to add a wider selection soon; is anyone besides me craving berry pie these days?

What do I need in order to bake one of your pies?

You will need the perishable ingredients listed on your recipe card, a rolling pin, a large flat surface for rolling out your pie crust, and either wax paper or a lot of flour to keep the crust from sticking to that surface. It’s also good to have some foil you can crunch around the edges of the pie if they’re browning too quickly in the oven.

Can you ship your pies?

I certainly can! I ship my pies via the US Postal Service’s Priority Mail, which has a 2-3 day delivery window. You are responsible for the cost of shipping, and the price will depend on your location.

What ingredients are in your pie crust?

Considering this is my family’s secret recipe, that’s a very personal question! But in case you’re allergic to something, I’ll tell you what’s included. Every crust contains flour, sugar, salt, butter, shortening, and vinegar.

What is in your dry ingredients?

It changes depending upon the pie, but you can generally expect to find sugar, salt, flour, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Chocolate pies will (of course) have cocoa power.

What if I want to customize a pie? For example, what if I want a crumble top instead of a double pie crust?

That’s completely fine! Just make sure you tell me what you want when you order so we can figure out how to make it happen. Crumble tops are absolutely delicious and I’m putting one on my pie this weekend. :)

Do I need to keep my pie crust refrigerated until I use it?

You should keep it in the freezer and then put it in the fridge a couple of days before you plan to bake your pie. Make sure that your dough is still a little cold when you roll it out to keep it from sticking too badly.

Any helpful tips for rolling out the pie dough?
Yes! First, make sure your pie dough is chilled when you roll it out. I like to roll my crust out on wax paper and then flip it upside down over my pie tin once it's rolled out. While you're rolling, be generous with flour - both on your rolling pin and on your pie crust; it will keep it from sticking. Use your rolling pin from the middle of the crust towards the edges to keep it at a consistent thickness. To make your crust shiny, beat an egg and brush it onto the top crust before you bake.

Most importantly - don't be afraid of ugly pie crust. You're baking for fun and it will taste exactly the same whether you have to piece the crust together or not!

What do your pie kits look like?

They’re cute! The pictures below show the packaging as well as how the contents look inside the box.