How to Make Our Most Showstopping Pie Crust Designs Take dessert to the next level with these ideas for decorative pies. Close Credit: Johnny Miller If you're ready to take your pie skills to the next level, you're ready to make decorative pies with our stunning pie crust designs. As much as a seasonal fruit filling or creamy chocolate custard makes a pie stand out, a flaky, buttery base is equally important—and why should that crust be plain? Take it up a notch with these creative ideas that are sure to impress. Our 23 Top Pie Recipes of All Time 01 of 07 Simple Yet Spectacular Credit: Nico Schinco If traditional crimping cramps your style, pick up a paring knife and customize your single-crust pies with these striking geometric motifs. We have three clever ideas: checkers, crosshatch, and points. For a really precise rim to work with, give your dough three or four extra pulses in the food processor once your butter hits the pea-size stage; it will hold its shape better without losing much flakiness. Checkers If you love the checkered look, top, start by making short, straight cuts around the pie dish's rim at scant one-inch intervals; fold every other piece toward the filling. Crosshatch To achieve a crosshatch pattern, left, press the knife blade at a diagonal along the pie's edge, going deep enough to make an indent but not cut through. Repeat in the opposite direction. Points If you like the idea of a crust with many pointed tips, bottom right, simply cut small triangles all the way around the rim. Be sure to leave the tips about one inch apart. 02 of 07 Braided Edge Credit: Will Anderson You'll need your braiding skills for this intricate, decorative pie—strips of dough are weaved into three large fishtail braids, which decorate the circumference of this fall pie. As a finishing touch, cut out dozens of stars, snowflakes, and crescents from the pie dough. View Recipe 03 of 07 Lattice Pie Crust Credit: Mike Krautter Lattice is the classic pie crust design. This neatly woven lattice pattern ups the ante on a basic lattice. It's made by using both double and single strips of dough; they are laid on top of each other, going diagonally across the top of the pie. View Recipe 04 of 07 Linzer Pie Crust Credit: Kate Mathis For an alternative to an intricately cut top crust, mimic a lattice pattern in crumbly shortbread crust that's sprinkled on top. It's an easy, no-fuss design that goes well with this low-maintenance sheet-pan linzer pie. View Recipe 05 of 07 Diamond Pie Crust Credit: Johnny Miller Put your cookie cutters to work for pie! They can create serious pastry magic. This version is made by stamping out 16 dazzling diamonds from a 13-inch round of pie dough and arranging them on top of a classic apple filling. View Recipe 06 of 07 Stencil Pie Crust Credit: Johnny Miller While this precise, stenciled top crust looks complicated to recreate, it's actually an easy pie crust design to make. It uses wooden popsicle sticks arranged on top of the dough. Cinnamon sugar is sprinkled on top, and when the popsicle sticks are removed, the dazzling design is revealed. View Recipe 07 of 07 Patriotic Pie Crust Credit: Raymond Hom Show off your stars and stripes with a trio of red, white, and blue desserts. One uses a star cookie cutter, another a small pastry wheel to cut away diagonal strips of dough, and the third uses a paring knife to freehand a design in the center and smaller vent-like cutouts around the edge. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Pie & Tarts Recipes