The Most Searched For Pie Recipe In the South

It’s no secret that Southerners LOVE their pies—we’ll devour them in any shape, size, or form. Fresh and flavorful summer fruit pies? You bet. Crunchy, piping heated hand pies? Swoon. Icebox pies to ward off the heat? Hallelujah! So of all the Southern pies out there, what kind do you think folks search for the most?

Ann Taylor Pittman/Southern Living

If you’re like me, you confidently hollered “PEACH!” at your computer screen. Well, I regret to inform you that we were both wrong. While inarguably delicious, peach pie is not, in fact, the most searched for pie in the South. Ready to try again? On three—one…two…THREE!

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

I said “LEMON ICEBOX!” Did you? By now folks are starting to talk about us, but who cares what they think? We’re playing a game—and losing. Okay…we’ll give it one last try. Let’s stop screaming at our screens so our kids and coworkers don’t call the cops. Picture the South’s most searched for pie in your head…

Rob Culpepper; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Assistant Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Could it be…Sweet Potato? Alas, no. Are you ready to find out? Without further ado…here goes…the most searched for pie in the South is…FIG!

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Why We Love Fig Pie

If you’re like me and saying, “Fig? Seriously?” you’re obviously not alone. But the more I mull it over, the more it makes sense that fig pie is so popular. Southerners love figs. They’re one of our most prolific and low-maintenance fruit trees, populating backyards and roadsides all over the South. And when they start to ripen, there’s no stopping them! Fresh figs are lovely in a summer salad and fig preserves are fantastic, but they don’t hold a candle to fig pie. And while most folks have a go-to recipe for peach or blackberry pie, a fig one may not be in their repertoires.

What Makes This Fig Pie Recipe So Good?

Fresh Figs.
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It goes without saying that good figs make a great pie. Ripe ones aren’t ridiculously sweet, but they do have a bit of a molasses flavor. While some folks find the slightly crunchy texture of the fresh fruit off-putting, figs become jammy and delicious when baked in this pie, surrounded by a custardy filling lifted with the tang of lemon juice and humming with the subtle background heat of just a little ginger. 

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

It’s Easy To Make

This fig pie recipe uses a store-bought crust, which makes it super basic and perfect for beginning bakers. But if you want a little extra credit (and would like to take it to the next level) try our homemade piecrust—you won’t regret it. No need to parbake it—just fit the rolled-out dough into the crust, crimp, add the filling, and bake. 

Still intimidated by pie? I get it. Don’t worry—we’ve got plenty of basic cobbler recipes too!