The 18 Absolute Best Ingredients To Elevate Pie Filling

There is something to be said about pie. We don't want to diss cookies, cakes, or any other desserts, because we have a special place in our hearts for those too. But come on — pie? Not only does it double as dinner and dessert, but it also encourages fruit consumption. There is just no way berries tickle your fancy the way they do when they are bubbling within the walls of flaky pie dough.

No matter what time of year, you'll have no trouble tying seasonal ingredients to the pastry-encased bliss that we call pie. Considering all the forms it can take — be it sweet, savory, silky, or hearty — you will find a plethora of ingredients that make it extra special.

Some of the absolute best ingredients that elevate pie filling might surprise you, while others will remind you why pie is so darn delicious. When you are ready to take your pâtisserie-crafting skills up a notch, you'll want to turn to these ingredients.

Speaking of sweetened condensed milk, you'll notice that this humble ingredient does wonders for pies. It comes in a small can typically found on the shelves of the baking aisles. Unlike regular cow's milk, you'll find sweetened condensed milk to boast a superbly rich, creamy consistency and an incredibly sweet taste. A small amount can amp things up. In fact, it's the secret ingredient for a creamy cherry pie filling. The condensed milk helps dull down the bright colors of canned fruit filling while providing an ultra-creamy mouthfeel.

But cherry pie isn't the only one that will benefit from sweetened condensed milk. This secret ingredient also often finds its way into classic fall-inspired desserts like pumpkin pie to help provide a much-needed sweet touch and rich texture.

Boozing up desserts is one of the best ways to add a fiery flare that'll have everyone talking. From a fancy flambé over bananas foster to whiskey-infused caramel cheesecake bars, there is something to be said about the way alcohol takes things up a notch. Pie takes well to the addition, too.

You'll find the secret ingredient to this tart cherry pie is the swirl of sweet amaretto liqueur added into the Montmorency tart cherry pie filling. Amaretto liqueur, which carries a bright nutty flavor, is often added to various bar drinks to help lighten or soften the strong taste of liquor. The Italian liqueur will help to balance out some of those sour notes that cherries naturally carry in a jar of Montmorency cherry pie filling.

It combines beautifully with pesto, loads of manicotti, and baked shells like no other filling can. But did you know ricotta cheese can do more than cram its way between layers of lasagna sheets and other baked Italian dinners?

Quality ricotta cheese on its own offers a slightly grainy and almost sweet flavor that tastes lovely in both sweet and savory dishes. In fact, it's brilliant in pie, and we have a recipe to prove it. Sweet ricotta pie is traditionally served on Easter Sunday but can be enjoyed any time of year. You will find the filling classically made with ricotta, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, all of which come together to create a moist custard-like pie that is just sweet enough to call dessert. One way to elevate your pie even more is by making from-scratch ricotta cheese. Just make sure you make it with quality whole milk.

We all have our favorite herbs, but mint stands out in its ability to meet the needs of both sweet and savory dishes. Spearmint typically pairs well with savory dishes, while peppermint makes its way into delicious desserts.

Even pie loves a little touch of peppermint, whether it's garnished with a few green leaves or used as the prominent flavor when infused with a bit of extract. Creamy chocolate mint pie is a great place to start if you love the mild burn of a cooling dessert. The combination of peppermint extract and green thin mint chocolates arranged within the filling made of cream cheese and pudding mix will satisfy your sweet tooth and double as a breath mint. Now that's a dessert made for date night. One bite will make you go, "woah!"

We all know sweet potato pie is common during the holidays. And while the quintessential dish should always make its way to the table around Thanksgiving and Christmas, we think it's one of those dishes that should be seen more often.

This custard-like filling comes together in a flash with the help of canned sweet potato, butter, eggs, and milk. While nothing quite beats the ease of opening a can, feel free to use fresh sweet potatoes instead if you have a few stored away.  While you'll save a few minutes, the fresh flavor will be superior with freshly roasted and pureed potatoes blitzed at home. So if your sweet potatoes are in season, cook up a few yourself. Otherwise, if they are not, grab a few cans in their place.

Once the pie comes out of the oven, your taste buds will begin to explore the wonderful fall flavors again, thanks to the warming spices in each bite. Don't forget the whipped cream and chopped nuts topping.

Cream cheese, on its own, offers a slightly sweet, mild, and tangy flavor that tastes amazing for breakfast. Beyond the convenient bagel and cream cheese duo, though, you'll find this shmear to amp up various pie fillings as well.

Let's start with a classic pie that might surprise you — cheesecake. If you were today years old when you found out cheesecake was a pie, don't worry about it. Old Merriam-Webster herself can help clear that up for you. 

Beyond cheesecake, though, you'll notice other pies take to cream cheese just fine. During autumn months, pumpkin and cream cheese go hand in hand to create a lovely rendition of pumpkin pie a la no-bake. During all the craze of the holiday season, you'll find a brick of cream cheese helps bring body to something like a no-bake peppermint pie. The weighty consistency of cream cheese combined with other ingredients set beautifully when placed in chilly fridge conditions. No-bake pies are great for saving oven space.

We have all seen what heavy whipping cream, milk, and other dairy beverages can do to a pie, but sometimes it's fun to change things up a bit. Eggnog is one of the richest switches you can make for the cause. Because of its creamy consistency and ultra-sweet taste, eggnog boasts a custard-like texture that will bring glory to your tastebuds, especially when baked into a hot, gooey pie. Thanks to Eggland's Best, you can enjoy this unique eggnog pie. The lovely custard-like dessert is made with vanilla pudding mix, nutmeg, and eggnog. That hits three of our favorite pie-filling ingredients in one pie.

You can also make the most of your eggnog with the help of tangy cream cheese to make the best eggnog cheesecake or cheese pie your heart could ever desire.

We all know honey best for its ability to bring on the power of sweetness to just about anything. Whether you like your hot tea or coffee sweet or you are looking for healthier ways to enhance your meals, honey comes in clutch. Not only will this natural ingredient enhance your foods and drinks, but it helps baked goods retain moisture and keep things moist. That's why you'll notice honey in recipes like cornbread, biscuits, and cake.

You can even add a drizzle to pies or make it the most prominent ingredient in the dessert, like in this salted honey pie. Butter, sugar, honey, eggs, and heavy cream all come together to form a thin filling that transforms into a thick custard-like pie. The natural flavor of honey combined with the rich consistency you sink your teeth into will provide results everyone will admire.

We all love maple syrup as a go-to topping for crepes, pancakes, and waffles. But, beyond breakfast, maple syrup can elevate several baked goods as a natural sweetener, including pie. From baked maple and chocolate bar donuts to maple frosted cookies, you'll find that the sweet and natural flavor of maple is well-loved in the baking world. If you've been gifted with a glass bottle of some liquid gold, or you finally decided to splurge on a fresh batch from a nearby sugar shack, then be sure to use it in these pie recipes.

Classic pecan pie is a great place to start. The combination of golden syrup and maple syrup gives this pie a rich and immaculate impression that you won't get with other pies. Otherwise, you can try maple syrup 'n mix nut pie which boasts a variety of chopped nuts combined with a generous helping of medium amber syrup.