7 Unexpected Crusts to Totally Transform Your Favorite Pies

By: Lauren Piro

Food Network Kitchen’s 4Ingredient Peanut ButterStrawberry Ice Cream Pie as seen on Food Network.

Here’s a brilliant way to change up your seasonal pie baking without having to skip all your favorite flavors: Don’t change the filling; change the crust. We’ll always love a traditional pastry or graham cracker base for a pie, but one of these crust alternatives just might become a new classic in your house.

Crispy Rice Cereal

A little peanut butter is all it takes to morph crunchy cereal into a moldable mix for a playful pie crust. We topped this version with strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries to mimic everyone’s favorite childhood sandwich.

Get the recipe: 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter-Strawberry Ice Cream Pie (above)

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Food Network Kitchen’s Chocolate, Caramel and Waffle Cone Ice Cream Pie for Summer Slow Cooker/Zucchini Fries/Picnic Brick-Pressed Sandwiches, as seen on Food Network.

Waffle Cones

Scooping ice cream cones for a crowd might leave you wiping sweat (and ice cream drippings) off your brow. Instead, try this sundae-in-a-pie, which layers a crumbled waffle-cone crust, chocolate, dulce de leche, vanilla ice cream and peanuts together.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Caramel and Waffle Cone Ice Cream Pie

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Food Network Kitchen’s Milk Chocolate Pudding Brownie Pie for Summer Slow Cooker/Zucchini Fries/Picnic Brick-Pressed Sandwiches, as seen on Food Network.

Brownies

Coax a thick brownie batter across the bottom and up the sides of a pie plate (plastic wrap helps) for a decadent crust that’s great with a filling of chocolate pudding or even something lighter, like whipped cream.

Get the recipe: Milk Chocolate Pudding Pie with Brownie Crust

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Food Network Kitchen’s Key Lime Pie with Butter Cracker Crust for Summer Slow Cooker/Zucchini Fries/Picnic Brick-Pressed Sandwiches, as seen on Food Network.

Butter Crackers

A savory-and-sweet combo is always pleasing, and is anything more perfectly savory than a buttery snack cracker? (We know you’ve gobbled them up as a midnight snack with whatever sweet spread you have in your fridge.) Here, we’ve paired the quintessential cracker with another classic — Key lime.

Get the recipe: Key Lime Pie with Butter Cracker Crust

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Food Network Kitchen’s for Summer Slow Cooker/Zucchini Fries/Picnic Brick-Pressed Sandwiches, as seen on Food Network.

Shredded Coconut

Dial up a pie’s tropical flavors with this stand-in for a graham cracker crust. Coconut is sweet, aromatic and crumbly — plus, it’s gluten-free.

Get the recipe: Banana Cream Pie with Coconut Crust

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Food Network Kitchen’s Easy Berries and Cream Pie for Summer Slow Cooker/Zucchini Fries/Picnic Brick-Pressed Sandwiches, as seen on Food Network.

Puff Pastry

With a little tamping down, flaky puff pastry won’t be too puffy to serve as an easy vehicle for your favorite berries and a tangy whipped cream cheese filling.

Get the recipe: Easy Berries and Cream Pie

FNK KIDS CAN MAKE: HASH BROWN TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA QUICHE Food Network Kitchen Food Network Olive Oil, Hash Browns, Eggs, HalfandHalf, Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Chives, Mozzarella

Hash Browns

A quiche isn’t technically a pie, but they’re certainly first cousins in the round-pastry family. Try this hash-brown crust technique as the base for your favorite savory pie filling.

Get the recipe: Hash Brown, Tomato and Mozzarella Quiche

Related Links:

Great Pies from Coast to Coast

8 Creative Ways to Crimp a Pie

Best Thanksgiving Pie and Tart Recipes