Kathy Savoie of University of Maine Cooperative Extension says pumpkin pie should be refrigerated and eaten within 4 days, while apple pie can sit covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, then go in the refrigerator for 2 more days. Those two numbers are the part of fall baking most people never check.
This guide offers 12 apple, pumpkin and cinnamon ideas, with a short method for each, and a storage section based on Maine Extension. The recipes are my own designs, not tested or taken from a source, so treat quantities as starting points and adjust to your oven. The storage times come from the extension page, which has no publication date.
Apple Ideas
Apples bake well because they hold shape and sweeten as they cook. Choose firm apples, slice them evenly and toss with cinnamon and a little sugar.
| Idea | Method in brief |
|---|---|
| 1. Apple crumble | Layer sliced apples in a dish, cover with an oat, flour and butter crumble, bake until golden |
| 2. Baked cinnamon apples | Core whole apples, fill with raisins and cinnamon, bake until soft |
| 3. Apple cinnamon muffins | Fold diced apple and cinnamon into muffin batter |
| 4. Apple galette | Fold pastry edges over sliced apples on a tray and bake |
Pumpkin Ideas
Canned or home-cooked pumpkin puree works in both sweet and savory baking. Warm spice such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg suits it well.
| Idea | Method in brief |
|---|---|
| 5. Pumpkin bread | Mix puree into a quick-bread batter with cinnamon and bake in a loaf tin |
| 6. Pumpkin muffins | Use the bread batter in a muffin tray for a shorter bake |
| 7. Pumpkin pie | Fill a pastry shell with spiced pumpkin custard and bake |
| 8. Pumpkin oat bars | Spread a pumpkin and oat batter in a tray and cut into bars |
Cinnamon Ideas
Cinnamon works in sweet bakes and as a finishing touch. Fresh ground cinnamon has a stronger aroma than old jar spice.
| Idea | Method in brief |
|---|---|
| 9. Cinnamon rolls | Roll sweet dough with cinnamon sugar, slice, rise and bake |
| 10. Cinnamon sugar cookies | Roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar before baking |
| 11. Cinnamon toast bake | Layer buttered bread with cinnamon sugar and bake |
| 12. Apple cinnamon loaf | Combine grated apple, cinnamon and yogurt in a loaf batter |
If you have overripe fruit at home, our list of banana bread recipes gives a related base. For the cookie tray, see our holiday cookie recipes.
How to Store Pies Safely
The Maine Extension page gives storage times for common pies. Sugar-based fruit pies are more forgiving than custard and pumpkin pies.
| Pie type | Storage (Maine Extension) |
|---|---|
| Pumpkin | Refrigerate up to 4 days; freeze up to 2 months |
| Custard | Refrigerate promptly, up to 4 days; does not freeze well |
| Apple | Covered at room temperature up to 2 days, then refrigerate 2 more days; or refrigerate right away up to 7 days; freeze up to 4 months |
| Pecan and other egg-based | Refrigerate up to 4 days |
| Fresh fruit, cream and chiffon | Refrigerate up to 4 days |
| Made with sugar substitutes | Refrigerate and eat within 2 days |
The page does not mention a two-hour rule, so I do not state one for pies. It recommends the FoodKeeper guide from FoodSafety.gov for more detail.
Baking Tips for Better Results
Measure carefully, preheat the oven fully and use a thermometer if your oven runs hot. Cool baked goods before cutting so that they set.
For gifting, label the container with the date and storage instructions, especially for pumpkin and custard bakes.
