I've Been Baking Pies for 7 Years, and This Is the Best Dish I've Ever Used

I’ll admit it: I’m a pie snob. I only like fruit pies if they’re homemade. They need to be stuffed with a jammy, sweet, sour, and salty filling, and have a golden and flakey crust that tastes like a buttery biscuit. And this weekend, after five years of tweaking, I perfected my apple pie. 

While I stand by my recipes for the dough and filling, I hadn’t quite found my perfect pie dish. The material you choose can make or break the way the pie bakes, from the browning of the crust, to the breakdown of the filling. And after trying out half a dozen different pie dishes, I finally landed on one I love. With this Emile Henry pie dish, not only did my apple pie bake perfectly, but its classic design transformed it into the centerpiece of my table. And just in time for the height of pie making season, it’s on sale in every color at Williams Sonoma. 

Emile Henry Modern Classics 9-Inch Pie Dish 

I’ve had my eye on this dish for years, but only just recently mustered up the motivation to finally buy it a few weeks ago. It has a 9-inch diameter, so it works well with most standard recipes out there, whether it’s a fruit pie or cream-based one, plus it’s made from stoneware, making it  freezer-, microwave-, broiler-, and oven-safe up to 500°F. Stoneware is my favorite material for baking pies, since it heats evenly and maintains the right amount of heat throughout the process. 

During baking, I found that this dish's stoneware material helped my crust brown at the exact pace I needed it to. And because the sides didn’t get too dark, it allowed for the right amount of time for my apples, brown sugar, and spice mixture to cook down. The top of the crust baked evenly as well, all the way from the center to the edges, which can often get too brown, too fast in pans that get too hot. 

There’s one thing worth noting: This dish is deeper than the standard ceramic pie dishes I own, with 2.25-inch tall walls all around. Because there’s more room, I find that I prefer to add a tiny bit more yield to fully fill it out, and I’ll often extend the bake time a bit longer to account for it. 

Emile Henry Modern Classics 9-Inch Pie Dish 

The slightly taller walls make for a beautiful, display-worthy pie. The dish is simple, with slightly scalloped edges and the brand’s logo at the front. I’ve found it has a unique ability to bake crust well, and thanks to its depth, is able to produce pies that are sturdy enough to stand up to a scoop of ice cream or a pile of whipped cream. Plus, thanks to its  smooth enamel finish, it’s also a complete breeze to clean. 

I’m not the only one that swears by this pie dish either. It’s a Food & Wine tried-and-tested favorite. We loved its consistent ability to brown, praised its elegant appearance, and found the fact that its broiler-safe an added bonus (especially if you like baking meringue topped pies). It comes in a few colors on sale, from the white shade I own, to blue, red, or gray. 

Emile Henry Modern Classics 9-Inch Pie Dish 

If you were waiting to grab a new pie dish, now’s the perfect time to grab this one since it’s 20% off just ahead of the holidays. Any pie you bake up will earn its spot on your family’s table with ease, thanks to its chic look and heirloom quality. Shop your favorite color now at Williams Sonoma before the deals are gone.  

Emile Henry Modern Classics 9-Inch Pie Dish 

Shop More Pie Dish Deals at Williams Sonoma: 

Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware 9-Inch Ruffled Pie Dish 

Emile Henry Artisan Ruffled 10.25-Inch Pie Dish 

Emile Henry 2-Piece Mini Ruffled Pie Dish Set

At the time of publishing, the price was $40.