Warm caramel, salt: 12 easy ways to make store bought pie taste, look homemade, according to bakers, chefs
A shortcut for pie occasions
Not everyone has the time to bake a pie from scratch, and some store-bought versions can already taste good. A few adjustments may help a ready-made pie feel more suited to a neighborhood potluck or holiday dinner.
Business Insider spoke with chefs, bakers and other culinary professionals about ways to elevate premade pies. Their suggestions include serving a flavored sauce and using salt to counter sweetness in certain varieties.
Herbs in warm caramel
Dana Herbert, a professional baker and winner of TLC’s “Cake Boss: Next Great Baker,” recommends pairing ready-made pies with herbed caramel sauce. He suggests adding cinnamon, rosemary, thyme, ginger or cardamom to warm caramel.
Herbert said even herbs usually associated with savory food can work alongside sweet desserts. If unsure about a particular herb or spice, he suggests smelling it with your eyes closed and considering whether its scent has a sweet quality.
Balancing a pie’s sweetness
Salt is another option for certain pie varieties, according to the article. It can help balance their sweetness. The article does not specify which pies to use salt with or describe how much to add. Its advice is limited to the general suggestion that salt can temper sweetness in some varieties.
Key points
- Herbed caramel is one way Dana Herbert suggests dressing up a ready-made pie.
- Herbert names cinnamon, rosemary, thyme, ginger and cardamom as possible additions to warm caramel.
- Herbert says savory herbs can complement sweet desserts.
- Salt can help balance the sweetness of certain pie varieties.