Finishing Touches for Pie Crust
To top off double-crust pies before baking, use a pastry brush to lightly and evenly apply one of the following washes to the top crust, avoiding the edges:
For a shine and light browning, brush with an egg white that was lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon of water.
For a glossy golden appearance, brush with an egg yolk that was beaten with 1 teaspoon of water.
For slight shine, brush with half-and-half cream of heavy whipping cream.
For a crisp brown crust, brush with water.
For a little sparkle, sprinkle with sugar or decorator sugar after brushing with one of the washes.
To give a little more shine to a baked double-crust pie, warm 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup. Gently brush over the baked warm crust.