A Slice of Maine: 4 Essential Pies For Every Season

Recently, I started thinking about the changing seasons and everything that comes along with them.

Have you ever noticed how the pies we eat often reflect the time of year?

I honestly can’t decide which pie or which season is my favorite, but here are the pies that come to mind for each one.

Autumn: Apple Pie
It’s fall in Maine, and the air is getting cooler while the leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow. Peak foliage is absolutely gorgeous, and everyone is spending their weekends at local apple orchards and pumpkin patches.

Freshly picked apples from the orchard are so good, they are the perfect addition to apple crisp, apple-spiced muffins, and especially apple pies.

I think most of our core childhood memories involve making apple pies with our families. As we get older, we try to make them on our own, but somehow we still need our moms’ help.

And of course, you can’t forget the vanilla ice cream to top that warm, delicious slice of pie.

Winter: Pumpkin Pie or Tourtière Pie
This one’s a toughie, because pumpkin pie at Christmas is iconic, but for most of us French-Canadians from Augusta, we grew up on tourtière pie during the holidays.

For those unfamiliar, tourtière is a savory pork (or mixed meat) pie made with onions, seasonings, and baked in a traditional pie crust.

Spring: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
As the snow slowly starts to melt and the sun shines brighter than during the cold winter months, rhubarb begins to grow, and there’s nothing better than a reminder that warmer days are on the way and we can enjoy some pie.

I especially love freshly picked rhubarb, dipping each bite into a little sugar.

Our grandmothers or other family members often introduced us to strawberry rhubarb pie, and I love that perfect combo baked into a homemade pie crust.

Summer: Blueberry Pie
According to Food Blog Alliance, Maine blueberries are in peak season from mid-July through September. They also state that Maine’s low-bush wild blueberries are smaller, more intensely flavored, and boast a higher concentration of antioxidants.

Nothing is better than a Maine blueberry pie!

We look forward to summer every year, as we are all ready for longer, hotter days. However, we also look forward to that fresh blueberry pie, topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

READ MORE: Baking Essentials For Holiday Treats

Each season brings its own special flavors and memories through pie. From the warm apple pies of autumn to the fresh blueberry pies of summer, pies are more than just desserts; they are a delicious way to celebrate the changing seasons and the traditions that come with them.