National Peach Pie Day

Pie is one of America’s most enduring desserts, and peach pie is arguably its summer queen. Peaches, with their fragrant flesh and rosy skins, reached North America via Spanish settlers and quickly took to southern orchards. Early American cooks prized pies for their ability to preserve fruit and provide portable meals. By the 19th century peach pie recipes appeared in cookbooks across the country. Filling slices of golden crust with juicy fruit allowed bakers to savour harvest flavours long after picking. National Peach Pie Day falls when peach season is at its peak, inviting us to roll out dough and breathe in the aroma of pastry and spice. For a classic pie, toss slices of ripe peaches with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and a bit of flour to thicken the juices. Pile the fruit high into a bottom crust, dot with butter and top with a lattice of pastry strips. Bake until the juices bubble and the crust browns. Let the pie cool so the filling sets, then serve warm with a scoop of ice cream. You might also try variations: add raspberries for tartness, streusel for crunch or bourbon for warmth. However you slice it, peach pie captures summer in a dish and brings people together around the table.