So Joanna released this recipe early for Valentine's Day just before the book came out, and there was even an amendment made to the printed recipe in the book after reports of the pie being too runny! Let's talk more about that as we unpack Joanna Gaines's recipe for Strawberry Pie and Graham Cracker Crust from the Magnolia Table Cookbook Vol.2.
The review...
Like many that made this recipe early, I found that the filling just never really set. I even put it in the freezer for a bit so I could get a slice out for a photograph and that still didn't go very well.
The bigger issue I have is that this book was published with a recipe that doesn't set. The changes that were added to the amended recipe are so substantial that anyone who tries this and doesn't see the announcement online will have soup for pie, no matter what they do.
That aside, the recipe is super simple to put together, and tastes great, even if it is soup.
As far as the graham cracker crust goes, it is a basic essential, does the job, and tastes great. Homemade is always my preferred method so it floats my boat!
The reaction...
I made this for my family's Sunday supper, and even straight from the freeze it still was very wet. But ok, we now know that the recipe requires half the sweetened condensed milk it calls for and that it needs to be frozen not just refrigerated. And I have to say that pie sounds a lot less satisfying and icey than the icebox pie I think this is supposed to be.
I think I much prefer the flavor of the pie the way it was, even if it never really set up. It tasted great, it just had a bit more of a trifle texture and you couldn't really get a slice out of it, but it was good in the end.
The only other continuity error that I see is that Jo shares a picture of the pie topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, but doesn't even acknowledge it in the recipe. I mean, if you are going to show me a picture of what the recipe should look like as a finished product, the recipe should be written to reflect the photo. It's a bit of a pet peeve, but make it right, you picked the photo and styled the shoot, make the recipe reflect it!
The TIPS...
Whip an extra cup of heavy cream and set it aside in the fridge if you want your Strawberry Pie to look like the photo. It isn't called for in the recipe, but I like the light cream mixed with the tart filling to balance everything out. I would suggest it and don't know why it would have been left out of the recipe.
I don't think I would really enjoy it much frozen, but you can freeze for about 30 minutes before serving to firm it up enough to get it out of the pie plate.
Overall, the family loved it. I think I would still make it the way it was published in the book, but if you want the amended recipe, find it here. It's not a bad recipe, just a soupy one, lol.
Until next time, Happy Cooking!
Kendell
If you watched Joanna makes this recipe on Season 3, Episode 7 of her new cooking show 'Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines' you can get the recipe by CLICKING HERE, she shared it on her blog so you can make it at home!
read my other reviews of season 3 episode 7 here...
Fried Chicken (coming soon)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (coming soon)
Coleslaw (coming soon)
Churros (coming soon)
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Jan says
I made the strawberry pie and it never set, very soupy, something is definitely not right with this recipe. I went over my steps several times to see what went wrong.....
Kendell says
Hey Jan, did you read any of the above text? I mention there, that if you have the first edition of the cookbook the recipe had a misprint, and I have a link to the corrected recipe that Magnolia shared on their website. Hope that helps.