Maple-Buttermilk Pie with Rye crust

I'd never had buttermilk pie before, but it's a new favorite. It's sweet and custardy, and tangy like key lime without citrus. This recipe comes from http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/maple-buttermilk-pie-recipe.html, and the photos there prove that I have a long way to go in the pie-appearance department. However: tasty as can be. (Pictured here with a somewhat generous dollop of whipped cream).

Sugarless Pear-Cranberry Pie with Crumble Topping

This one was another flop, though it was an educational one. A friend sent a vague recipe by email; I decided to take that vague recipe and wing it and go with my gut and modify as I went. The consequences? Not-quite-right filling (with painfully tart cranberries) and a soggy, mushy bottom crust. However, I think I've learned some lessons from my errors, which is after all why I'm doing all this pie experimenting to begin with. 

Coffee-Hazelnut Custard Pie

This may look delicious, but it was actually sort of a flop. The custard didn't really set and the crust came out hard and a bit leathery. Not one of my better pies. However, the recipe's pretty appealing, and I think I'll try again.

Chocolate Custard Cream Cheese Pie

Maybe just because it was New Year's Eve and everyone who tasted it was a little drunk, but this pie is one of the most ridiculously delicious things I've ever tasted. And everyone who scarfed a slice seemed to agree.

It's chocolatey, with a cream-cheese bite, and a texture midway between cheesecake and gelato. Pretty amazing. And it wasn't too difficult to prepare.