Most people make their margaritas with crushed ice in a salt-rimmed glass. Alison Kave serves hers fresh from the oven with a buttery crust.
Kave, a self-taught baker from Clinton Hill, has made a name for herself dishing up cocktail-inspired pastries and other offbeat desserts through her made-to-order First Prize Pies pie company, and as one half of boozy Smorgasburg bakery vendor Butter & Scotch. Now, she is taking them beyond the borough with the release of her new cookbook, “First Prize Pies.”
“I’ve learned that pretty much anything can be translated into pie form, and I hope my book reflects that breadth of creativity,” said Kave, who will release the book at Park Slope’s PowerHouse on 8th on March 15, with samples of her creations prepared by Melissa Vaughn, author of “The New Brooklyn Cookbook.”
The book is broken into 12 chapters, each a tribute to the pies that pair well with specific months of the year. In addition to Kave’s beverage-based baked goods, such as her mint julep cream pie and a root beer float pie, there are recipes for an Elvis pie — made with banana, peanut butter, and bacon — and her popular candy apple pie.
With these and other unorthodox recipes, Kave said she hopes to open reader’s minds to the huge potential inside the humble pie.
“So many people are particularly scared of the pie-making process, and I try to alleviate that anxiety and show what a creatively exciting and limitless dessert it can be,” said Kave.
Once “First Prize Pies” is on shelves, Kave said her next move is to turn Butter & Scotch into a brick-and-mortar operation. The business was founded with her friend Keavy Bluehert — also of Kumquat Cupcakery — and combines the two women’s cooking specialties.
“Pie and cake are an unstoppable team,” said Kave.
The plan is to take their mutual love of baking and booze one step further, by creating Brooklyn’s first combination dessert and craft cocktail bar, which the pair hopes to open in Crown Heights this summer. Much like Kave’s cookbook, the venture is slated to serve a wide range of seasonal and playful desserts and mixed drinks — think maple bacon mini cupcakes and cocktail caramel corn.
“It basically marries our two favorite things in life,” said Kave.
“First Prize Pies” release and tasting at PowerHouse on 8th [1111 8th Ave. between 11th and 12th streets in Park Slope, (718) 666–3049 www.powerhouseon8th.com]. March 15 at 4 pm. Free.
