Pies + Tarts

Peach Crumble Pie

Peaches in A Cake Case | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Peaches | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Years ago, after completing college and moving back in with my parents for a spell, I would pick my Grandma up once a week and take her out shopping. She was close to 90 and could no longer drive, but was always eager to get out of the house and buy her own groceries and necessities. One of her favorite haunts was a neighborhood department store that she insisted on stopping by, and she would push her cart around the aisles aimlessly, happy to be out and about. This particular store didn’t have much for me to look at, but I would always wander over to the kitchen section and browse around until Grandma was ready to leave. I remember falling in love with one particular item: a glass cake stand with a heavy domed lid. Every week I would go back and debate purchasing it, but I had just graduated college without much in my bank account. So each time I would pass it by, dreaming of the cakes I could make to fill it.

That August I celebrated my 25th birthday, and there it was wrapped up so pretty: the cake stand I had been coveting. My parents gave it to me that birthday, but I’m pretty sure they were tipped off by my Grandma, who couldn’t help but notice me eying it each week. Almost twelve years later I still own the glass domed top to the stand, but the bottom chipped after I dropped it one sad evening. Over the years I’ve collected a few more stands, and use them frequently. But not just for cakes: for muffins and scones and cookies and fruit, also. I love having one perched on my counter; an interactive display of sugary goodness to brighten the day.
Peach Pie Filling in A Glass Bowl | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Placing Crumble Topping on Peach Pie | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Placing Crumble Topping on Peach Pie | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Peach Crumble Pie | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog
Last week the folks at Martha Stewart asked if they could send me a cake stand (pictured in the post here) from the Martha Stewart Collection (exclusively at Macy’s) and I could hardly say no. That very first cake stand was a Martha Stewart stand, and I had loved it dearly for years. I’m looking forward to all the birthdays, anniversaries, and get-togethers this new piece will be a part of.
Peaches | The Vanilla Bean Blog | Sarah Kieffer
(and, although I was given the stand, all my opinions here are my own).

Peaches | The Vanilla Bean Blog | Sarah Kieffer
Peach Crumble Pie

This pie is a recipe from the Martha Stewart webpage, and since I only made a few small tweaks, I will send you there for the recipe. I only made three small changes – I added a teaspoon of cinnamon to the streusel topping, and a good squeeze of lemon juice (about a teaspoon) and a good pinch of salt to the peach filling. It was delicious.
Peach Crumble Pie | Sarah Kieffer | The Vanilla Bean Blog

  • Reply
    Jessica Robinson
    Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Sarah this is beautiful! Love with the images. I can almost taste this!

  • Reply
    Coach's Oats
    Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 11:34 am

    Beautiful! We will have to try this recipe sometime. Thank you for sharing your lovely talents :]

  • Reply
    Victoria
    Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Mmmm, this looks delicious! I can only have crumble with custard though… lots of custard

  • Reply
    Rachel Walker
    Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 11:42 am

    It’s funny how something as simple as a crumble topping can have so many variations, but this looks delicious and dark and textured…just like how my mum used to make!

  • Reply
    Samantha
    Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 6:26 am

    Oh wow, this pie looks incredible! I desperately want to try this! Will be a great dessert this coming winter too!

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    Paula
    Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 2:42 am

    Thanks for sharing! The photos are really amazing and mouth-watering. I’m glad that the cake requires fresh peaches instead of canned ones – personally I’m not very fond of them… and when I use fresh peaches, I always peel them using this method: http://www.listonic.com/protips/get/ijkdgvctxl. In short, to easily get rid of peach skin, put it in boiling water for a while and then give it an ice bath.

  • Reply
    Erika Surmi
    Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    That pie though! This is next on my list. I just made a peach and blackberry galette with sun-drizzled California peaches! MMmmmmm http://www.therootblog.com

  • Reply
    Lissa
    Monday, September 1, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    This looks amazing. Your story reminded me of my grandmother and how she used to wander the aisles of her favorite stores. Your writing is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

  • Reply
    merry jennifer
    Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Such a lovely post, Sarah. And that pie. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.

  • Reply
    ATasteOfMadness
    Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    This pie is gorgeous!!

  • Reply
    Laura
    Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 9:16 am

    My eyes misted up when you were talking about going to the department store with your grandma and just her general happiness for getting out, with or without a particular purpose. Just love. And peach pie is my all time favourite dessert. That recipe looks so, so legit. xo

  • Reply
    Jennifer Farley
    Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    I’ve never met a peach pie I didn’t love. Martha’s sounds excellent.

  • Reply
    kristie
    Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    You make the most beautiful desserts. I love the look of this pie, and I can’t wait to try it myself!

  • Reply
    Greg
    Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    The story was wonderful to read and reminded me of my own special times I have with my grandparents. The pie looks delicious and the cake stand looks wonderful with that touch of color from the peaches!

    Can’t wait to try it out my self
    Kitchen Monster

  • Reply
    Have you ever tried swedish pancakes for dessert? If not check out this recepie below.
    Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    That pie looks delicious! 🙂

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    Kasey
    Monday, August 25, 2014 at 11:07 pm

    What a sweet story (your grandma was paying attention!) Those are some beautiful peaches, I might add. x

  • Reply
    PassTheKnife
    Monday, August 25, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    What a sweet story. I’m sure your grandmother cherished those moments together. Also, what an amazing pie recipe.. the streusel topping pies are my favorite!

  • Reply
    thermomix recipe
    Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    i use a little bit of speculoos and the peach crumble pie is better 😉
    Thanks for your fabulous pictures.

  • Reply
    Dani
    Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 2:30 am

    What a pretty cake stand and an even more delicious looking pie! I bought my first cake dome 2 years ago to house my very first Christmas cake so it could sit on the kitchen bench looking and smelling like christmas all December. Love them!

  • Reply
    Raphaelita
    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 11:48 pm

    Beautiful photos and an awesome pie recipe! Aloha ????

  • Reply
    Ordinary Blogger
    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    Too funny! I have a ‘thing’ for cake stands too. This one is lovely, and the peach pie looks delightful. Thanks for sharing!

  • Reply
    Riley
    Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Aw man, tell Martha to send me a pretty cake stand!

  • Reply
    Nicole B.
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    What a sweet story – thanks for sharing. One of the first things that I received for our kitchen was a cake stand. I love it and the idea of using it for other things than just cake.

  • Reply
    Tieghan
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    I loved this post and your sweet story. It is always fun to have special pieces that remind of happy memories and people we love. Also, I am a huge fan of Martha Stewart anything, so I clearly love the bottom stand too!!

    And this crumble!! YUM! Love the photos too!

  • Reply
    Alanna
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    That pie looks like it descended from heaven.

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    Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    This DEFINITELY looks delicious!! Omg. Loving that topping!

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    shanna mallon
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:36 am

    oh geeze the story about going to the store with you grandma made my eyes well up with tears. I love that memory you have and especially that you still have the dome. and this new Martha base is beautiful!

  • Reply
    Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Wow, what a beautiful story about the domed cake stand, totally had tears in my eyes! Peach crumble pie is a faaave of mine, definitely love the looks of your version!

  • Reply
    Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 9:02 am

    I saw your Steller story yesterday and was like ‘I need that pie in my life!’. So yeah, I’m pretty excited about this pie.

    Have a lovely weekend, Sarah! xoxo

  • Reply
    Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:58 am

    What a lovely story and even lovelier photos! Now I’m tempted to get a stand with a dome to display in my kitchen : )

  • Reply
    mimi
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:44 am

    A lovely post. And an even lovelier crumble!

  • Reply
    Kathryn
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:16 am

    I loved reading this post Sarah, it gave me all the warm and fuzzies 😉 And a beautiful pie to go with it!

  • Reply
    Mallory @forkvsspoon
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 7:55 am

    The memory of your grandma is priceless … A good classic cake stand is a must and makes a kitchen complete, especially when filled with cakes and scones! The pie is lovely and aren’t the peaches just great right now?!?

  • Reply
    Maryna
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 7:00 am

    Such a nice story! I am going to buy my first cake stand. Just saving some money for it. I could have asked my parents, but I wanna get it on my own . Then it will be two times more precious.))

  • Reply
    Isabelle
    Friday, August 22, 2014 at 4:15 am

    Lovely post. Aren’t they nice memories: out shopping with your elderly Grandmother. And the pie looks absolutely delicious.

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