In homage to a movie and TV series that just sky rocketed into my life, I created this pie. Camp Firewood Pie. Named for the fictional camp at which Wet Hot American Summer both the movie (2001) and the TV series (2015) take place.
As if we needed any further empirical evidence that Paul Rudd does not age, or that everything Amy Poehler does is awesome, WHAS just went ahead and swooped in, proving both of those things to be completely true. (Seriously, Paul Rudd? Your face, bro? Why no aging?)
Because I only know one way to celebrate awesome things, I hit the kitchen to create my homage. The Camp Firewood Pie is what I came up with. To start with, it’s a pie, so it’s already super American, and it’s filled with brownies, bourbon and oreos, so that’s a quadruple hit of Americana right there.
The topping is a cookie-rippled marshmallow-meringue, which brings a s’mores flavour into the mix, which I think is perfect because s’mores are THE food of the summer camp, amirite? (No really, am I? I’ve never been to summer camp…or the USA)
Since the show is set in 1981 (9 years before I was born) I busted out this awesome Tiffany brand mixer that used to be my Mum’s, which I assume is from at least 1981, if not earlier.
If the fact that I literally just took this from my Mum and Dad’s house when I moved out, and they were totally cool about it (though it left them with no mixer) doesn’t prove how supportive they are, then nothing will. I mean, look at that thing! It’s never going to die.
Back to the pie at hand. My boyfriend has repeatedly said that this is the best pie he’s ever had. And if you’re a fan of cookies n’ cream Pop Tarts, then you will definitely love this.
The crust is buttery, and not at all sweet. The brownie is dark and dense and bittersweet, and spiked with unexpected bourbon which seemed fitting for Camp Firewood. And the cookie-meringue topping is light and sweet and awesome.
No part of making a Camp Firewood Pie is hard, but each step does require a little hanging around. The crust needs to blind bake, then the brownie needs to cool, and then the meringue needs to be whipped up and slathered on.
So I recommend doing the crust/brownie part of this on day one, and then the meringue/eating part on day two. Or in other words, be prepared, be enthusiastic, and leave your bullshit attitude and baggage at the door because we don’t need it! (<—quote from WHAS)
Anyway, I hope you plan your week around this post. Like, you should make this pie so that it’s ready on Saturday night, and then rent out ALLL of the Wet Hot American Summer, and eat this pie and watch that show. And then maybe you will understand why there is a random empty can in these photos.
Talk soon!
xx Sarah.
- 1 + ½ cups (225g) plain flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1 stick (115g) butter, cold
- ⅓ cup (85ml) cold water
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ stick (75g) butter
- ½ cup (100g) caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- ¼ cup (30g) cocoa powder
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 2 egg whites
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup (100g) caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 8 oreo cookies, filling removed, crushed
- First, make the pastry. Place the flour, sugar and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer. Cut the butter into ½ inch (1cm) cubes, and add it to the flour. In a separate jug, stir together the water and vinegar.
- Work the butter into the flour, using the paddle attachment of your mixer on a low speed, until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs with a few large, visible pieces of butter still remaining.
- With the mixer still on low, stream in the water a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture looks like it's about to come together. Use your hands to clump the dough into a ball, flatten into a disc and wrap in plastic. Place in the fridge to chill.
- Roll the pastry out to fill a 9 inch (23cm) pie dish, and then line the pastry into the dish. Cover the pastry with nonstick baking paper, and fill with baking weights (or dried beans, or another pie dish) and bake in a 375F/180C for 20 minutes. Then remove the weights and paper, and bake for a further 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan melt the butter for the brownie filling. When it's melted, turn off the heat and stir through the sugar and cocoa until there are no lumps. Then beat in the egg, and finally stir through the flour, and bourbon. The mixture should be a sticky, shiny batter.
- Pour the batter into the pie crust and bake for 12 minutes, or until dull on top. Set aside to cool completely, or refrigerate overnight.
- To me the topping, place the egg whites, salt and sugar into heatproof mixing bowl and whisk together just to incorporate. Place the bowl over a saucepan and heat, whisking gently, until the mixture is hot to the touch (about 5 minutes).
- Remove the bowl from the saucepan and beat with electric beaters until tripled in volume and completely cool. Fold through the crushed cookies, and top the pie. Serve.
I love both the movie and the series and am loving the look of this pie.
Is there something non alcoholic I can use to replace the Bourbon?
Also, Chris Pine, hilarious.
How good is it?! THA BEST! And as for the bourbon, you could easily just leave it out, or sub in 2 tsp of vanilla. xx Sarah
Thanks, was thinking Vanilla might do the trick.
Now go fondle your sweaters.
HAHAHA thank you!
The best pie I have seen in a very long time! Amazing Sarah! And you know I love my American desserts!
um, I’m sorry, but there is a TV series of wet hot American summer????
How’d I not know this!
It just came out!
I haven’t seen WHAS, but this post might motivate me to! I love all the different components you combined in here, looks just amazing :)
Oh lordy, it’s like you’re trying to kill me over here. This is all sorts of delicious sounding in the most over top kinda way possible. And That is a good thing. A VERY good thing.
Yeah, girl! Now I just want to re-watch the series and eat this genius pie. And seriously, how does Paul Rudd look exactly the same?? Even Bradley cooper was like, Paul Rudd does not age! Jon Hamm vs. Christopher Meloni? Elizabeth Banks and her hair clip? DJ Ski Mask? So great.
EVERY SINGLE THING!
yess!!!!! Love this, love WHAS. When Abby becomes a woman… I died.
HAHAHAH yes so good!
I am not sure what to do first! Make this pie or watch that TV show!
WHAS! #campvibes forevs. what if you parent-trapped it by making it PB meringue? Okay, now I’m getting out of control.
What a unique and great looking pie! Love the look, the colours, the contrast, the texture. All good!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
I am a serious fan of everything that makes this pie what it is! It looks awesome, sounds awesome, and I SO wish I could just grab a slice through the screen!
Oh, and that mixer… too cute!
S’mores just got a supermodel makeover!
I am on a mission to start WHAS ASAP, and i will have this pie at the ready – because I will need something to stop me from drooling of Paul Ruddy and his wonderabs.
He is a stone-cold vampire babe. (he never ages!)
MITCH!
This pie looks rad!
Hey! So I’m planning on making this pie this weekend and just curious – between steps 3 and 4: do I use both halves of the refrigerated dough or just one half when I roll it all out?
Looks super delicious
Hey Natalie – you use it all! That was actually a typo. Hope you like it!
xx
Sarah