[1] Pecan pie with whipped cream and caramel corn (photo courtesy Edwards Desserts).
[2] Chocolate tart à la mode with chocolate sauce and a salted peanut counterpoint (at Le Colonial | New York City).
Pumpkin pie with an easy garnish: caramel sauce and walnuts (photo courtesy King Arthur Flour).
[4] Pumpkin pie with a bit more effort: torched meringue, plus pepitas and finely-crushed shortbread crumbs (photo courtesy Bien Cuit | Brooklyn).
[5] Key lime pie with whipped cream and fresh lemon zest (here’s the recipe from Mom On Time Out).
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The two popular pie garnishes are ice cream and whipped cream. Sometimes, a dessert sauce is swirled on the plate. Maybe a mint leaf.
But we’ve been inspired to add an extra layer of flavor.
Our inspiration was this simple idea from Edwards Desserts.
For photo #1, their contributor, Kate Arends of Wit & Delight, topped the pie with whipped cream—normal procedure—plus the unexpected additional garnish of caramel corn.
The recipe follows, as well as our 25 ideas for “double garnishes” for pies and tarts, below.
RECIPE: EDWARDS GEORGIA PECAN PIE
WITH A DOUBLE GARNISH
Ingredients
Pecan pie (Edwards frozen pie or your own homemade)
Homemade whipped cream
Pinch of sea salt
Caramel corn
While Kate also adds caramel sauce to the pie—a triple garnish—we think adding a very sweet topping to a very sweet pie scores too high on the cloying meter.
Preparation
1. THAW the frozen pie. Drizzle pie with optional caramel sauce.
2. TOP with homemade whipped cream, caramel corn and a pinch of sea salt.
Editor’s note: If you have a red or pink sea salt, like alaea red volcanic salt, kala namak, Peruvian pink sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, it makes a great color contrast.)
25 “DOUBLE GARNISHES” TO ADD TO YOUR PIE
In addition to the ice cream or whipped cream, add another flavor with one or more of the garnishes below.
As you peruse the list, match up your flavors. For example, crystallized ginger may go well with chocolate pie but not with grasshopper pie, which is a chocolate-mint combination.
You don’t want your garnishes to be too sweet. Thus, no caramel sauce or crushed toffee on the pecan pie.
You can use triple garnishes and even quadruple garnishes, if they’re simple and don’t overwhelm. Go for different textures and colors.
It’s not gilding the lily; it’s food fun!
Baking chips: butterscotch, chocolate, mint, etc.
Candied citrus peel: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit (recipe)
Candy: Hershey’s kiss, mini M&Ms, mini PB cups, chocolate-covered coffee beans
Cereal: Granola or Chocolate Frosted Flakes
Chocolate: curls, shavings, grated chocolate
Chocolate covered: nuts, strawberry
Chocolate novelties: coin, leaf, solid round ball (with or without the foil wrap), seasonal (e.g. flower, leaf, Christmas tree)
Coconut: plain or toasted
Crunch: chocolate covered or regular mini pretzel, chocolate covered potato chips
Crystallized ginger: chopped
Crown garnish: a whole cookie or sliced star fruit (carambola), inserted into the ice cream or whipped cream
Crumbs: cookie or pie crust
Dessert sauce: butterscotch, caramel, chocolate, crème anglaise, dulce de leche, fruit purée, etc.
Dried fruit: raisins, dried cherries or cranberries
Fresh fruit: raspberry or small strawberry…and O.K., a mint leaf
Frosted grapes (recipe)
Fruit chips: apple, banana, pear
Marron glacées: whole, halved, diced
Nuts: sliced, crushed, candied (recipe)
Pomegranate arils
Popcorn: caramel, chocolate or other sweet flavor
Salty: a salted caramel (whole or half), peanuts, mini pretzel, potato chip
Seasonal candy: candy corn, cinnamon candy, crushed peppermints, Easter egg malt ball, seasonal-wrapped Kisses, etc.
Tang: crème fraîche (recipe), slightly sweetened sour cream
Toffee bits
Zest: lemon, lime, orange
Have we left your favorite off the list? Let us know!
WHIPPED CREAM SUBSTITUTES
Crème fraîche
Flavored yogurt
Marshmallow cream
Mascarpone
Sour cream, plain or lightly sweetened
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