Posted in Family Lifestyle

Ice Cream Pies and Pie Tools for a Pie-Loving Family

Author Everyday Us Living Estimated read time 4 min read

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In our house, the pie table is a build-your-own situation. Each kid picks their own flavor, and a big family ends up with a lot of pies.

A pumpkin pie sitting on a table

Most of them are ice cream pies. We grab ready-made graham cracker crusts, let each kid choose an ice cream, and that’s about it. Chocolate and Oreo are the big winners with the kids. Mine is lemon custard. Candy cane and Moose Tracks always get a vote too.

My wife and I are partial to coconut cream and banana cream. And I’m the only one in the family who really likes pumpkin pie, so I usually count on another family bringing one so I get my slice.

We have made our own crusts and still do sometimes. Most of the time, though, we use the ready-made graham or chocolate crusts from Keebler or similar brands, because it keeps the day simple. My mother-in-law used to make around 20 pies every Thanksgiving, so I know the from-scratch route is real work. Here is what we’d put in the cart if your holiday runs on pie. This list is based on our research and customer reviews.

Crusts

  • Keebler Ready Crust Graham Cracker pie crusts, 9-inch, 12-count (Amazon #ad): The simple base for an ice cream pie. Trade-off: it is a 12-count box, which is a lot if you only want a couple of pies. A box lasts a big family a while.
  • Keebler Ready Crust Chocolate pie shells, 9-inch, 12-count (Amazon #ad): For the chocolate and Oreo crowd. Trade-off: same 12-count box, and you will want to pair it with the right ice cream so everyone gets their flavor.
  • Keebler Ready Crust Mini Graham Cracker pie shells, 6 per pack, 12 packs (Amazon #ad): Individual pies, so every kid can have their own flavor without anyone sharing a slice. Trade-off: a lot of small crusts to fill, so give the kids a job and let them help.

For ice cream pies

  • Zeroll Original ice cream scoop, 2.5-ounce (Amazon #ad): The liquid-filled handle is designed to help it glide through hard ice cream, which is helpful when you are packing a crust. Trade-off: it is a one-piece aluminum scoop, so check the listing for care instructions before it goes in the dishwasher.
  • Serrated pie server (Amazon #ad): Stainless steel and serrated on both sides, with thousands of reviews. It lifts a slice out of a graham crust without wrecking it. Trade-off: let the pie sit a minute out of the freezer so it cuts cleanly.

When you make the crust from scratch

  • 9-inch ceramic pie pan (Amazon #ad): Deep and fluted for a homemade pie. Trade-off: ceramic is heavier and takes longer to cool than metal or foil.
  • Silicone pie crust shield (Amazon #ad): Keeps the edges from over-browning on a baked crust. Trade-off: its rating is a bit lower than the other items here, and it is hot right out of the oven, so use oven mitts.

Taking pies to someone else’s house

  • Pie carrier with lid and handle (Amazon #ad): A 3-in-1 plastic container for pies, cakes and cupcakes. Trade-off: it holds one pie at a time and is not insulated, so if you are carrying an ice cream pie, bring a cooler.

How to choose: If your kids want their own flavors, start with the mini crusts. If you are feeding a crowd with a few classic pies, the 9-inch graham and chocolate crusts are the easiest path. Baking from scratch? Add the ceramic pan and the shield.

Alternatives: a store-bought pie from the bakery or freezer aisle covers the pumpkin and cream pies, and a few ice cream pies made the night before keep the holiday morning calm.

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