Angel pie facts for kids
Angel pie is a yummy dessert. It's a type of pie popular in America. What makes it special is its crust. Instead of a regular pastry crust, it uses a light and airy meringue shell. You can fill angel pies with many different tasty things!
How to Make Angel Pie
Angel pie starts with a special crust. This crust is called a meringue shell. To make meringue, you whip egg whites until they are fluffy. A little bit of cream of tartar is often added. This helps the egg whites get really stable and big.
Sometimes, people sprinkle chopped nuts on the meringue. This happens before it goes into the oven. The meringue bakes at a low heat for a long time. This slow baking helps the crust dry out. It becomes crispy without turning brown.
Different Kinds of Angel Pie
Angel pies were very popular a long time ago. Many recipes for them were printed in cookbooks. This was especially true in the early to mid-1900s.
There are many yummy fillings you can use for an angel pie:
- Chocolate Angel Pie: This pie has a rich chocolate mousse filling. You melt chocolate in a special pot called a double boiler. Then, you gently mix it with whipped cream. Sometimes, people add espresso powder or a coffee-flavored syrup for extra taste.
- Lemon Angel Pie: This version uses a tangy lemon curd filling. It's often topped with fluffy whipped cream. You can also add fresh strawberries or raspberries for a fruity touch.
- Coconut Angel Pie: This pie has a creamy filling made with shredded coconut.
- Grape Angel Pie: For this pie, a simple grape gelatin is made from grape juice. This creates a sweet and jiggly filling.
- Pineapple Angel Pie: This filling mixes beaten egg whites, whipped cream, and crushed pineapple. Small, colorful glacé cherries are also added. Everything is folded into gelatin to hold it together.
The Pavlova is a dessert similar to an angel pie. It also uses a meringue base. It is usually topped with fresh mixed berries and whipped cream.
