This Pie of the Month Club Is The Only Club I Want To Be In
Food Editor Grace Pritchett sits down with Easy as Pie’s Ann Lewis to chat baking, pie club & sweet nostalgia.
Ann Lewis. Photo by Lauren Pusateri
There is no pun intended when I say that Ann Lewis, owner of Easy as Pie, is one of the sweetest people I know. She’s an absolute delight to be around and her love and care is evident in the delicious creations that she’s known for. Take some time this Pi Day to celebrate with a pie, pop tart, or even a quiche from Easy as Pie! Read on to see where Ann gets her inspiration and what you’re missing out on.
Spoiler alert: It’s the monthly pie subscription.
Photo courtesy of Ann Lewis
When did you start baking?
I always loved baking as a child, doing the usual things like making cookies with my mom. My brother and I also would host “restaurant nights” where we made dinner for our parents, so I dabbled with creativity from an early age!
Do you remember any of the dinners you prepared?
Our specialty was “Ann & Hunter’s Pasta” with spaghetti noodles, chicken, carrots, broccoli, and a Velveeta cheese sauce. I honestly remember it being super delish.
How did you find your way to pie making?
I didn’t actually make my first pie until my high school home economics class! From there, I was always the designated pie maker for every major holiday! A few years ago, my boyfriend suggested selling pies for Thanksgiving. I figured I would maybe sell 5-10, but I sold over 40! Since then, it’s just been nonstop pies!
Photo courtesy of Ann Lewis
I imagine Thanksgiving is busy for you but what other holidays do people come to you for?
Some surprisingly busy dates are the 4th of July as well as Father’s Day! Dads really do love pie, so I guess it makes sense!
What’s been the easiest thing about running your business? What’s been the hardest thing about running your business?
The easiest thing has just been getting to make amazing connections with people all over Kansas City. We truly have some amazing locally owned businesses, and the people of KC are so supportive. The hardest thing about running my business is just finding balance. I teach full time, so when I have a huge pop up or wedding, I’m definitely putting in long hours with little sleep!
How do you draw inspiration for your creations?
I draw inspiration from so many places! For me, pie is so much about nostalgia. I love when people say, “oh my gosh, your cherry pie reminds me of my grandma’s recipe!” I also love taking a new approach to classic recipes. Of course, I also just get inspired by whatever produce is in season and available.
Photo courtesy of Ann Lewis
What’s your favorite flavor to make?
My favorite flavor to make would definitely be my AlohaPie! It’s a coconut cream pie with a brown sugar and pineapple jam, and it’s just heavenly!
What do you think is the most underrated pie flavor?
Tricky question! I grew up eating my grandma’s Chess Pie, which is a super simple southern recipe. I feel like sometimes the simplest pies are the most delicious!
Do you have any family recipes you follow for your pies or are they all your creations?
I actually wish that I had a book of family recipes for pies, but I don’t! My grandmas both had signature desserts, but neither were pies. Most of my recipes are based on lots of trial and error, or putting my own twist on existing recipes.
Do you eat pie outside of work?
Absolutely! Whenever I travel, I always try to find the best local pie shop to sample. I love meeting other people who are just as crazy about pie!
Photo courtesy of Ann Lewis
What inspired the Pie of the Month Club?
When I was putting together my menu, I wanted something fun and different that gave people an opportunity to try a lot of different options! The pie of the month club is a great gift idea, or just something to treat yourself! Initially, I just offered it with full sized pies, but I added a mini version to make it more practical for smaller households (or those that are conscious about their sugar intake).
If you had another business but you could only make savory products, what would you make?
I could definitely see myself doing a little breakfast/brunch spot with quiche, breakfast casseroles, soups, and salads! I recently won my school’s chili cook off (teachers are CRAZY competitive), so I’d put those skills to use! I also love making savory galettes with seasonal veggies and cheese, so those would definitely be on the menu.
What do you hope for the future of your business?
I hope Easy As Pie just continues to grow, honestly! I never could have imagined being where I am today, so anything that happens is just a blessing! Having my own pie shop is definitely the dream that keeps me up late at night, so I just work towards that every day!
