Whether it’s a savoury feast or a fruity dessert, nothing quite beats a good, British pie with perfect pastry and a delicious filling. But what about the decoration? Here are five incredibly easy ways to turn a standard dish into a masterpiece.
1. Crimping
Crimping the edges of a pie crust is a great way to keep filling inside the pie casing as it cooks.
And it doesn’t just have to be done with a fork – using your fingers to create scallops is a welcome alternative.
Follow the video below to to see exactly how to do it.
2. Lattice pattern
Lattice-topped pies look phenomenal, but don’t be intimadated but what is actually a really easy design. Although complicated at first, once you get the hang of it, it’s like riding a bike!
See our full video below for how to create lattice pies like a pro!
MORE: 5 MINUTE SHORTCRUST PASTRY RECIPE
3. Plaited crust
If you want to be a little fancier, a braided pie crust can be a great addition to either a lidded pie or a lattice design. A three-stranded braid is incredibly easy to do, just see our quick video below for the full tutorial.
4. Heart design
Sometimes, all a pie needs is a shortcrust pastry lid with a little embellishment. It doesn’t have to be hearts – any biscuit cutters you have in your house can add a wonderfully simple design to a pie. We particularly like using one shape in three different sizes to create an overlay.
See below for the full tutorial.
MORE: BEST PASTRY IDEAS INSPIRED BY GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF
5. Swirly crust
If you want to show off the brightness of a filling, use the pastry on top to expose the pie’s insides. This simple swirl effect will look impressive on the table with a dollop of whipped cream in the centre.
And we promise, it’s incredibly easy to do – just take a look at the video below.
Book a course at our Cookery School for beginner and advanced pastry classes to perfect and refine your culinary skills.
MORE: 10 OF OUR BEST PIE RECIPES
(Filming and editing by Vicky Chandler, pie art by Cher Loh)
Vicky is our Food & Drink Director, where she oversees strategy and content across all of Hearst's brands, from recipe development to fun video franchises and everything in between.
With almost a decade's experience, Vicky was previously Editor of Delish UK, and Digital Food Editor of Good Housekeeping and she lives and breathes food content creation.
Outside of work, Vicky loves learning about wine, eating her way around the world, and hanging out with her dog Pickle.
