A Little Slice of Pie History

Pies weren’t always the cosy, comforting treats we know and love today. In fact, they started out as a pretty practical idea — a clever way to carry food around without much fuss.

Way back around 9500 BCE, the ancient Egyptians were making simple pastry cases using ground grains like wheat and barley. These early “pies” were filled with things like meat, nuts, and honey and worked more like edible containers than indulgent desserts.

The idea travelled on to the Greeks, who figured out how to make pastry a little flakier, and then to the Romans, who took things further by adding top and bottom crusts. They were also among the first to actually write down pie recipes — including one called placenta, a layered pastry made with cheese and honey (thankfully, nothing like the modern meaning of the word!).

Fast forward to Medieval England, and pies became serious business. Known as “coffins,” these deep, sturdy pastry shells were packed with spiced meats like beef, lamb, and game. The crusts were often too hard to eat and mainly used to preserve the filling. Pies also doubled up as entertainment at grand feasts — some even hid live birds or performers inside for dramatic effect!

By the 1500s, things started getting sweeter. Fruit pies and tarts grew in popularity, and cherry pie became a royal favourite thanks to Queen Elizabeth I. This was when pies began to shift from purely practical to properly enjoyable.

When pies made their way to America with early settlers, they adapted once again. Local fruits found their way into fillings, crusts became lighter and tastier, and pies slowly turned into the comforting, sweet treats we recognise today. By the 1700s, pie had become a much-loved staple in American homes.

From humble beginnings to dessert-table star, pie has come a long way — and honestly, we’re very glad it did.