Angel pie is a class of pies in American cuisine made with a meringue pie shell. There are many different fillings that can be used to make angel pie.

Preparation

Angel pie is made with a meringue shell. Cream of tartar is used to add stability and volume to the egg whites. The meringue can be sprinkled with chopped nuts before baking. It is cooked in the oven at a low temperature for several hours. This method dries the crust without browning.

Types

According to James Beard, angel pies were one of the most frequently published pie recipes in the early to mid-20th century. There are many fillings that can be used for an angel pie. Chocolate

mousse A mousse (; ; "foam") is a soft prepared food that incorporates air bubbles to give it a light and airy texture. Depending on preparation techniques, it can range from light and fluffy to creamy and thick. A mousse may be sweet or savory. as e ...

filling is made by melting chocolate in a double boiler and gently folding it into

whipped cream Whipped cream is liquid heavy cream that is whipped by a whisk or mixer until it is light and fluffy and holds its shape, or by the expansion of dissolved gas, forming a firm colloid. It is often sweetened, typically with white sugar, and ...

. Other ingredients like espresso powder and Kahlua can be added to the chocolate. Lemon angel pie is made with lemon curd filling topped with whipped cream. Fresh

strawberries The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...

or raspberries are optional. A

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...

cream filling can be made with shredded coconut. Grape angel pie can be made with a simple filling of homemade grape gelatin made with grape juice. Pineapple filling for angel pie is made by folding beaten egg whites, whipped cream, glacé cherries and crushed pineapple into gelatin. The Pavlova is a type of angel pie made with fresh mixed berries and whipped cream.

References

{{American pies American pies Sweet pies Meringue desserts