From Scratch Desserts: Homemade Pies, Cakes, and Crumbles

Since I was a kid I’ve loved baking From Scratch Desserts. From my grandma’s rhubarb pie to our chess cake recipe that Lisa adapted to her family’s liking. There’s something so satisfying about making a delicious dessert from scratch. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, these recipes are great to have in your repertoire. There’s a pie or crumble for every season, Canned Pie Filling can help you make the perfect pie even when the fruit is out of season. Explore them for yourself and save your favorites!

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The Most Classic From Scratch Dessert: PIE

America was built on pies. Pumpkin and apple and pecan, oh my! These are some of the most simple and oldest recipes that are still popular today. Pumpkin pies started as a hollowed-out pumpkin with honey, spices, and milk inside. It was roasted over the fire to perfection. Later it changed into how we usually enjoy it now, in a crust with milk, spices, and sweetener mixed into the pumpkin. Pies may have changed over time but we still enjoy them just the same.

Pies are so versatile and there is one for every holiday and season! Cold pies, warm pies, fruit pies, and custard pies. There’s something that everyone will like. I’ve been making pies since I was a kid and I think it’s my love language when someone requests one for a family holiday party or picnic. From scratch desserts always taste fresher than store-bought options. My husband knows that all he has to do is threaten to buy a pie at the store and I’ll have one homemade in the next hour. Check out some of my favorite pie recipes and tell me what pie is your favorite.

Pie Recipes

Cake & Bread Recipes

Perfecting from scratch cakes can take time and practice, but the results are totally worth it. Quick breads are a great place to start in your baking journey. Master quick breads and simple cakes, then step it up from there. The options are endless! Check out these cake and bread desserts for your next dessert choice.

Crumble Recipes

Crumbles are just pies with a twist! I love a sweet crumble crust to sandwich delicious fruit inside. They are effortless to make and can replace a pie if you want to change it up a little bit. My favorite hack for putting together crumbles quickly is to use canned pie filling!

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What Makes From Scratch Desserts so Special?

I love making from scratch desserts so much! Besides the pure joy it brings me there are a lot of benefits too. These homemade desserts are totally customizable to your tastes, allergies, and preferences. They are generally healthier than anything store bought because of all the preservative and fake ingredients we have to watch out for these days. Making from scratch desserts can become a family tradition with you and your kiddos or grandkids. Some of the best memories are made in the kitchen and who doesn’t love to lick the bowl when you’re whipping up something good? Homemade is just better! Grab some of these recipes and try them for yourself.

Tools Need to Make Perfect From Scratch Desserts

You don’t need a lot to get started with baking but there are some tools that make your like easier when you bake. I don’t know about you but I am trying to buy more nontoxic products when it comes to my life in general so this list is what I use with that in mind. If you’re on that train too, especially in the kitchen, you can read more about it in my 5 Essential Swaps for a More Nontoxic Home post.

Must-Haves

  • Pie Dish– I think everyone needs a minimum of 2-3 pie dishes in their kitchen 🤣 maybe that’s pushing it but I know I have 3 and every single of one of them has been in use at the same time before. I have these simple glass ones but definitely have my eyes on a nice ceramic one in the future.
  • Basic Glass Baking Dishes– I like using glass because I hate working with bakeware that could have toxic ingredients. This set of three rectangle dishes is a great place to start for cakes and bread.
  • Springboard Pans– I love these for some cakes and cheesecakes where you take the sides off when it’s done baking! Great for frosting cakes or displaying them.
  • Mixing Bowls– I ditched my plastic mixing bowls a looooong time ago and use glass or stainless steel bowls. I love a good nesting set of bowls and it’s a bonus if they have lids.
  • Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons & Cups– I swapped these guys out from plastic to stainless steel as well. I opted for stainless steel instead of some of the more decorative ceramic ones because my kiddos help me in the kitchen a lot of these are more easily droppable. I do have a holiday set of measuring tools that are ceramic though that I pull out during that season.

Convenient to Have

  • Pastry Blender– This is a cheap must have tool for incorporating cold butter into flour like for crumbles! It took me way too long to get one of these and it made my job so much easier when I finally did.
  • Rolling Pin– If you’re making your own pie crust a rolling pin is a must have! I was gifted one a few years ago that is marble and it helps keep the dough cool while I’m working with it.
  • Hand Mixer– While you can do most things without a hand mixer, they do make some things more convenient! They range in speed, power, and price so choose one that will fit your needs best.
  • Stand Mixer– Some recipes require a stand mixer because they are a little tougher to mix by hand or with a hand mixer. This is a bit of an investment but I use mine to make pizza dough, cakes, breads, and even homemade butter. It has been a lot of fun and really helpful in my kitchen shenanigans. These also range in size and price.
  • Cooling Rack– These are convenient to have when you need to pop muffins, cookies, or a cake out of the pan and let it cool for a bit before frosting or just eating! I love that they stack and store easily.

Want More Homemade From Scratch Desserts?

Send us an email at samandlisa@homelyhens.com if you want a specific from scratch dessert recipe and you can’t find it! We’d be happy to test out some new recipes for you. If you’re looking for Sourdough Dessert Recipes, Farmhouse on Boone has you covered!