Easy as Pie? We explain the difference between Pies, Crumbles, Cobblers, Tarts and more!

From Pies to Galettes, there are many delicious treats to serve your guests after dinner. But what makes them all different? We’ve broken it down for you!

Pies – This classic dish has a familiar and simple equation: bottom pie crust + filling + top pie crust = delicious pie. While the top pie crust is optional, when used it is pinched together with the bottom crust to make a seal.

Tarts – If you’ve ever thought a tart was pie, you’re forgiven because they’re incredibly similar. The main difference is that tarts only have a bottom crust, and the crust is much thicker than a pie crust.

Galettes – This is basically a pie made without using a pie dish, but because that would be too simple galettes can be made with any type of pastry dough. To make, you flatten your dough and pile your fruit filling in the centre leave about 1-2 inches of space between the filling and the edge of the pasty. Then you fold the edges up and just slightly on top of the filling to make a rustic looking pie crust. The top of the filling stays exposed.

Crumbles – If you’re looking for an easy alternative to pie try a crumble. There is no pie crust in a crumble which cuts down your prep time when making from scratch. Crumbles also have a streusel like topping

Crisps – No crisps and crumbles are not the same thing, but if it wasn’t for their topping they would be. Instead of the crumbles streusel topping, a crisp is topped with a mixture of: oats, flour, sugar and butter. Some variations call for the addition of nuts and spices to the topping as well. This dessert is baked until the topping is, like its name, crisp.

Cobblers – Similar to a crumble, a cobbler doesn’t have a bottom crust. Instead the fruit filling is put in a baking dish and topped with biscuit dough to form a top crust.

Grunts – These are basically a cobbler, except instead of being baked in an oven they’re cooked on the stovetop. When you make one, you’ll know how this dessert earned its name. As steam escapes from biscuit crust it makes a grunting noise.

Now that we’ve got that straightened out, we’re muddying the waters with our hybrid dessert for Caramel Apple Crumble Pie. Is it a pie or a crumble? You decide!

Get Caramel Apple Crumble Pie Recipe