Book excerpt: A designer who’s “turned pie crust decorating into an art form” shows how to embellish an ordinary crust—for a creation as beautiful as any cake (Martha Stewart). Everyone knows that serving a pie for dessert makes guests happy. And serving one with a beautifully designed crust that makes guests swoon is even better. Pies can be as stunningly attractive as the most decorative cakes with the use of some basic techniques and the appropriate care when working with pie dough. The recipes and techniques in this book give any home baker the tools to create breathtaking works of pie art. From preparation of the dough to the last moments of baking, all methods are clearly presented using step-by-step photographs. A flat surface, rolling pin, sharp knife, and cookie cutters of different sizes and shapes make embellishing an ordinary pie crust easy. The 25 designs in this book, arranged by three levels of difficulty, range from graphic art styles to seasonal-inspired florals—offering the first guide to creating these stunning works of edible art. “[A] gorgeous cookbook...As the book progresses, so do your skills.” —Taste of Home