My first love was math. I went to a math and science boarding school, studied systems engineering and finance in college and graduate school, and even worked on Wall Street for a couple of years before jumping into the world of food. All that to say — I have a long relationship with pi.
For the math-averse, pi is an irrational number (as in can’t be represented by a fraction) used in geometry formulas, such as the area of a circle. This means when written in decimal form it continues on to infinity, but it is often shortened to just two decimal places: 3.14. Hence, Pi Day is celebrated on March 14.
Taking into account the mathematical constant’s relation to circles and it being a hom*onym to pie — one of my other loves — baking and eating them is a great way to honor the holiday. Should you like to celebrate, here are 14 recipes to get your sweet or savory pie fix, or you can search our database for even more options.
7 pie crust tips for tender, flaky results every time
Coconut Cream Pie With Plantains and Dulce de Leche
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This layered pie is a mashup between a coconut cream pie and a banana cream pie with fried ripe plantains in a dulce de leche sauce filing in for the bananas. Get the recipe.
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Spaghetti Pie
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Spaghetti forms the crust of this pie filled with sausage, vegetables, tomato sauce and cheese. Get the recipe.
Limoncello Pie With Candied Lemons
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This recipe from food writer Eitan Bernath features a salted shortbread cookie crust with a smooth, tangy lemon custard filling. Get the recipe.
Peanut Butter Brownie Pie With a Pretzel Crust
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The name alone sold me on this recipe. A peanut butter brownie baked inside a pretzel crust — what’s not to love? Get the recipe.
Swirled brownies make a simple dessert even better
Roasted Tomato Pie With Cheddar-Parmesan Crust
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While I generally wouldn’t recommend making a tomato dish out of season, I’ll make an exception for this one. That’s because the first step is to roast the tomatoes, which helps to intensify their flavor. On top of that, the cheddar-parmesan pie crust, plus the cheese filling, pack this recipe with tons of flavor, no matter the time of year. Get the recipe.
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Banana Split Sundae Pie
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This no-bake pie channels the flavors of the beloved classic sundae. You can make your own caramel sauce or save time by using store-bought. Get the recipe.
How to make a better ice cream sundae, with recipes and tips
Chicken Pot Pie With Phyllo
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This recipe relies on phyllo dough to save you from the hassle of making a traditional pie crust. If you don’t plan to serve all the pies at once, refrigerate the remaining filling and then assemble and bake the pot pies the second or third day for the best texture. Get the recipe.
Mile High Apple Pie
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With 6 1/2 pounds of apples, this pie has a bountiful amount of spiced fruit filling. Get the recipe.
The best apples for making apple pie
Spanakopita Pie
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Store-bought phyllo dough forms the crust for this pie, making it great for those who don’t want to worry about a traditional pie crust. This open-faced pie is filled with spinach, herbs and tangy feta cheese. Get the recipe.
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Brown Butter Pecan Pie
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Extra nutty, thanks to brown butter, and with just the right amount of sweetness, this is the pecan pie of my dreams. One taste, and you’ll be dreaming about it, too. Get the recipe.
How to brown butter and use it in sweet and savory dishes
Vegetable Pot Pie
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This vegan pot pie recipe relies on miso to amp up the umami of the filling, and includes beans for extra protein. You can make your own vegan pie crust using vegan butter in the related recipe for Flaky Pie Dough, or save time with a store-bought one. Get the recipe.
Sweet Potato Pie With Macaroon Crust
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This sweet potato pie recipe features a press-in crust starring almond and shredded coconut. If you like, top the pie with flaked coconut and crystallized ginger for an extra punch of flavor (and to cover any cracks that may develop on the surface). Get the recipe.
How to freeze pie and pie crust
Chocolate Cream Pie
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To me, chocolate cream pie is the epitome of the diner dessert case of yesteryear. Though simple, bad versions abound, so food writer Allison Robicelli set out to make a great one. Get the recipe.
Cornish Pasties
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For a portable snack or meal, turn to these hand pies that have been made for centuries in Cornwall, England. This recipe features beef, potatoes, onions and rutabaga in a sturdy crust. Get the recipe.
