Renaissance Pie Recipes

You will have fun trying these Renaissance pie recipes that include an early recipe for making pumpkin pies. Ingredient quantities aren't given, but history records that such pies were often preferred very sweet, so be generous when adding sugar.

Authentic Renaissance Pie Recipes

The Queen-like Cloſet or Rich Cabinet (1672)

To make good minced Pies

Take one pound and half of Veal parboiled, and as much Suet, ſhred them very fine, then put in 2 pound of Raiſins, 2 pound of Currans, 1 pound of Prunes, 6 Dates, ſome beaten Spice, a few Caraway ſeeds, a little Salt, Verjuice, Roſewater, and Sugar, to fill your Pies, and let them ſtand one hour in the Oven; When they go to Table ſtrew on fine Sugar.

To make a Pumpion Pie

Take a Pumpion, pare it, and cut it in thin ſlices, dip it in beaten Eggs and Herbs ſhred ſmall, and fry it till it be enough, then lay it into a Pie with Butter, Raiſins, Currans, Sugar and Sack, and in the bottom ſome ſharp Apples; when it is baked, butter it and ſerve it in.

To make an Herb Pie

Take Spinage, hard Lettice, and a few ſweet herbs, pick them, waſh them, and ſhred them, and put them into your Pie with Butter, and Nutmeg, and Sugar, and a little Salt, ſo cloſe it and bake it, then draw it and open it, and put in Clouted Cream, Sack and Sugar, and ſtir it well together, and ſerve it in.

A Friday Pie without Fiſh or Fleſh

Waſh a good quantity of green Beets (the tops only), and pluck out the middle ſtring, then chop them ſmall, with two or three ripe Apples well reliſhed, ſeaſon it with Pepper, Salt, and Ginger, then add to it ſome Currans, and having your Pie ready, and Butter in the bottom, put in theſe herbs, and with them a little Sugar, then put Butter on the top, and cloſe it and bake it, then cut it up, and put in the juice of a Limon and Sugar.

About Renaissance Pies

Pies in the Renaissance Era often were flavored with wine, nuts, fruits, herbs, spices, and minced meats. Seventeenth century pies were usually smaller and chewier than today's pies, spiced, and highly sweetened with sugar or honey. And they were very similar to today's scotch pies in appearance though some were baked as an open pie without a top crust.

Their edges were often crimped for decoration and on festive occasions, their top crusts were decorated with comfits and molded sugar paste, and they had flavored sugars strewn over them. Violet and rose flavored sugars were favored.

Sometimes, the top crusts were extravagantly gilded with an edible gold leaf when served to nobility at royal banquets.