Introduction: Pi Napple Upside Down Pie

About: Flemming changed the the world with a saucer and a bit of mold. Florence Nightingale changed the world with a tiny lamp, walking silent rounds among the wounded and dying. Einstein: chalk. Pasteur: chickens. A…

You've never eaten an upside down pie. Neither had I.

Step 1: Why Does Inverting Pi Make Me Feel Like a Heretic?

Yes, pi is like a math deity and it commands all the respect it deserves. Disrespecting Pi is a good way to bring down a Mathematician Fatwa on my head. While I wait for such white-hot nerd fury I will comfort myself with some pie.

First prepare two pie crust rounds

Then make this incredibly easy Filling


1.5 cups milk
3 Tbsp corn starch
0.5 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
0.5 tsp. vanilla
2 cups crushed pineapple

In a double boiler heat the milk, starch, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Whisk it around until it thickens. This took 15 minutes for me. Fold in the pineapple. It smells good the whole time. Mmmmmmm

But don't get too distracted by the beautiful smell of vanilla and warm pineapple. The next part is the good bit.

Step 2: The Good Bit

This is the step that makes the pie special.

First butter the pie plate well. Don't skip this step or you'll end up with your pie falling apart when you flip it over. Plus, a little extra butter never killed anyone (immediately).

Place the pineapple anywhere you like. I was singularly uncreative in this case. Plop plop plop. It's really more about the pie for me than the pi, I'll just admit it now.

Cover that over with a crust and press it down around the pineapple chunks.
Pour in the filling. I moistened the edges with the last piece of pineapple to help it seal. That little stroke of genius proved completely unnecessary since when I put the top crust on I just ended up folding it under to seal the pie. 

Pierce the top and bake at 314 until light brown, about 31.4 minutes. Make sure the rack is pretty close to the bottom.

Step 3: Ughh, It Smells So Good.

Allow the pie to cool and put your serving plate on top, face down. Invert the pie and carefully lift the pie plate off. My thanks to Vivie for being my hands while I snapped some pictures. Looks like the butter did it's thing, doesn't it?

This pie is flaky, crumbly-soft heaven. Vivie wholeheartedly agreed with me as we ruined our appetites together. I hope you ruin your appetite with this pi too.

Serious Eats Pi Day Pie Contest

Finalist in the
Serious Eats Pi Day Pie Contest