The Difference Between Pies and Tarts (2024)

FAQs

The Difference Between Pies and Tarts? ›

While pies look covered from all sides, tarts are open from the top and you can easily see the filling on top. Another difference lies in the base. While pies have a thin and smooth crust, tarts have a rather thick and crumbly crust which crumbles down when pieces are cut from the tart.

PiesTarts – If you've ever thought a tart was pie, you're forgiven because they're incredibly similar. The main difference is that tarts only have a bottom crust, and the crust is much thicker than a pie crust.

In French cooking we make a difference between a tart pan (for quiches or fruit tarts with no filling) and a pie pan (for American style pies and cakes such as the NY cheesecake). You will find both sizes here: the tart pan is wider and shallow. The pie dish is smaller but deeper.

A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes with custard.

Pumpkin pie is a dessert pie with a spiced, pumpkin-based custard filling.

PIZZA IS A PIE CAMP

Whether we go by Oxford Languages, as Google immediately does, or Merriam Webster, “pie” is, as one of its very definitions, pizza. Whether pies are sweet or savoury, it's still a pie, so clearly ingredients don't matter (which, coincidentally, is one reason pop tarts = ravioli).

Cheesecake is Technically a Tart

The cheesecake base is composed of a type of pastry shell that can sit at the base of the dessert or surround it on three sides. The top of a cheesecake can be decorated with fresh fruit, whipped cream, pecans, cookies, fruit sauce, or chocolate syrup.

I started off making tarts in a pie pan. It is a workable substitution, but now that I have tart pans of my own, I have to admit that it's much better. Getting the tart part out is so much simpler, and it ends up with lovely scalloped edges.

There are four main types of tarts: fruit tarts, custard tarts, chocolate tarts, and savory tarts.

Quiche (/ˈkiːʃ/ KEESH) is a French tart consisting of a pastry crust filled with savoury custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables.

Why are they called tarts? ›

Tarts have a long history, and their origins can be traced back to ancient Rome. The word “tart” is thought to derive from the Old French word tarte, which itself is derived from the Latin word torta, meaning “twisted bread”.

Pies that have a pastry lid - but not pastry sides and bottom - are known as 'pot pies' and many people believe they aren't actually real pies at all.

Often, tarts are thinner than pies. Tart pans are typically fluted around the edges, and can be round, square, rectangular. Flan: A flan can mean one of two things: an inverted rich egg-based baked custard with a caramel syrup, or an open tart (one crust only on the bottom).

The biggest difference between a cobbler and a pie is the placement of the dough. Pies have, at a minimum, a bottom crust with the fruit placed on top, while a cobbler has the fruit on the bottom and a dolloped dough on top instead.

Tarts tend to only have a bottom crust which is generally thinner than pie crust with straight sides and tart pans generally have a removable bottom so the tart can be served freestanding on a plate or platter making for a more elegant presentation.

To this day, many New Yorkers still refer to pizza as pie without a second thought. So, the etymology of “pizza pie” is really history lesson on how this iconic Italian food was first introduced to (and interpreted by) hungry Americans over a century ago.

The Italians use a variety of terms to describe their pizza. Crostata and torta are both used to describe savory and sweet pies, and pizza is a singular word that represents only one dish. There are other names for pizza, but these are the most common. There's nothing wrong with being confused.

There are four main types of tarts: fruit tarts, custard tarts, chocolate tarts, and savory tarts. Fruit tarts are typically filled with fresh fruits and a sweet glaze.

In the 19th century, tart was British slang for "pretty woman." Some believe it is a shortening of "sweetheart." But by the end of that century, tart described a prostitute, something many language scholars trace back to the tart that you get at the bakery. Definitions of tart. adjective.

1 Answer. Tart is also an acidic taste but it is lighter and a little sweet. If you take the sour lemon, add water and sugar to make lemonade you have a tart taste. An apple pie is also tart because it has sugar added.

What are the 4 types of filling for pies and tarts? ›

Pie crusts and tart shells can be made from several types of dough or crumbs. Flaky dough, mealy dough and crumbs are best for pie crusts; sweet dough is usually used for tart shells. Fillings make pies and tarts distinctive and flavorful. Four types of fillings are common: cream, fruit, custard and chiffon.