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How to Write Winning AI Chatbot Prompts

TLDR: AI prompts are instructions that guide chatbots to produce better, more accurate, and more creative results. The quality of your prompt is the quality of the output. Be specific, give context, define a role, set a tone, and state your goal clearly. Use iterative prompts and break tasks into steps. Whether you’re writing content or generating images, better prompting = better results.

At a Glance: 

  • Specificity wins. Context, tone, and goals help chatbots deliver stronger, more accurate responses.
  • Break complex tasks into steps. Follow-up prompts dramatically improve output quality.
  • Prompt engineering is now a core skill. Understanding how to write effective AI prompts boosts productivity across marketing, operations, and creative work.
  • AI tools evolve fast, so your prompting skills should, too. Explore advanced prompting techniques and new tools. 

AI chatbots are now a staple in our digital lives, offering quick and smart assistance across various platforms. They can provide instant information, write relatable marketing content, and even engage in human-like conversation.  

To do this effectively, though, chatbots need strong AI prompts. 

What are AI chatbot prompts, and how do you write the best prompts for AI chatbot? Let’s break it down. 

What Are AI Chatbot Prompts?

If you’re new to AI prompting, it can seem intimidating. But the concept is simple.

A chatbot (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot) is a computer program that gathers human inputs like Internet searches, books, and published stories and uses that information to mimic human consciousness. 

A prompt is simply a set of instructions you provide to a chatbot to elicit a natural, accurate, and effective response according to your task.

Prompts tell the AI who it is, what it’s doing, how you want it to sound, and what outcome matters most.

A rule of thumb: Weak prompts = weak output. Strong prompts = strong output.

Why Good Prompts Matter

AI tools have become truly multi-modal: text, images, audio, data analysis, research assistance, brainstorming, and more. Knowing how to write AI prompts, or even how to write an advanced AI prompt, is now a core digital skill.

A weak prompt produces generic, vague, or even biased answers. A strong prompt produces insight, clarity, and content you can actually use.

The difference? Specificity and structure. When you define the context, the goal, and the format you want, the AI stops guessing. Better prompts mean fewer revisions, faster workflows, and smarter output.

A Simple Formula for Strong Chatbot Prompts

You’ll never need a complicated “prompt hack.” Just follow this structure:

Role + Task + Details + Tone + Goal + Constraints (optional)

Here is an effective AI prompt example that includes all of the keys and is workable as a template for any task: 

“You are a marketing director who excels at creating catchy, relatable content. You want to create a 100-word social media post about [insert business here]. Make it warm, catchy, and highly shareable. The goal is to drive referrals and increase local engagement. Include one playful CTA at the end.”

Below is a screenshot of what it looked like to provide this prompt to Microsoft’s CoPilot, which has five different conversation modes: Smart, Quick Response, Think Deeper, Study and Learn, and Search. I chose “Smart” for this to elicit the most imaginative response.

Screenshot of a prompt asking Copilot to write a 100-word social media post for a pet grooming business and the generated post

Why it works:

  • It sets a role (marketing director).
  • It describes the task (100-word post) and details (pet grooming business and address).
  • It sets a tone (warm, catchy).
  • It clarifies a goal (referrals + local engagement).
  • It anchors output with constraints (100 words + playful CTA).

This is the foundation of how to write a chatbot prompt that actually delivers.

Prompting for Different Outputs

Modern chatbots are wildly versatile. You can now prompt them to create: social posts, long-form blogs, SEO meta descriptions, custom schedules, email sequences, images, data summaries, video scripts, customer service replies, learning plans, interview questions, slide decks, and much, much more.

But the key is the same: be specific.

To generate a different content format with the template, simply replace “social media post” with whatever you need. You can always be more explicit about each of the prompt elements if you want a specific style or level of detail.

Don’t be afraid to over-communicate with chatbots. If it takes an extra prompt to get the result you want, keep the conversation going. That is often how you get the best outputs.

For more complex tasks, it can help to break the request into smaller pieces so the chatbot addresses each part thoroughly.

For example, if you’re creating a daily work schedule, you might start by setting the foundation: “I work 9–5 p.m. I want you to create a schedule with three meetings at 10:00, 12:00, and 2:30.”

ChatGPT conversation where the user asks for a work schedule from 9–5pm with meetings at 10:00, 12:00, and 2:30 and ChatGPT responds with a detailed timeline

Then, you can use a follow-up prompt to provide additional context and details, such as a built-in lunch period between meetings two and three, a possible fourth meeting at 4:00, and individual time for research at 11:30. 

Help the chatbot understand your goal and scenario. If you do that, you are more likely to get the desired result.

ChatGPT response providing an updated daily schedule that includes a fourth possible meeting at 4:00 PM and research time at 11:30 AM

Crafting Effective AI Prompts

When learning how to write effective AI prompts, keep this in mind: use natural language, but be intentional. 

Because chatbots are trained on human responses, talk to them the way you’d give clear, concise directions to a new coworker or intern. They’re still “learning the mechanics” of your task, so the more context and clarity you offer, the better the outcome.

Think through what that coworker would need to know:

  • What’s the task?
  • What tone should they use?
  • What’s the goal?
  • What constraints matter?

If you feel like you’re over-explaining, you’re probably doing it right. AI thrives on specifics. If you’re not sure what else to include, try explaining the background: why you need the output, how you’ve handled it before, or what’s worked or failed in the past. 

Even that history helps the AI understand the full picture.

You’ll start to spot the difference between strong and weak prompts quickly.  A weak prompt might be: “Write a social media post for my pet grooming business.” Sure, you’ll get something back, but it won’t be tailored or strategic.

And remember: great prompting is often a back-and-forth process. Just like coaching a new intern, you refine the output with follow-up questions until it’s exactly what you need. Keep talking to the bot; that conversation is the workflow.

More Advanced Prompt Techniques

AI prompting can be nuanced, and modern tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Jasper, and Claude are always releasing new versions that are more sophisticated. Increasingly, you can shape the model’s reasoning, not just its output.

Here’s where AI prompt techniques get interesting:

  • Chain-of-thought prompting: Ask the model to think through the steps behind its answer. This boosts accuracy for strategy, logic, and planning.
  • Persona prompting: Define a role with expertise: copywriter, UX strategist, CFO, HR director, PR specialist. You’ll get more specialized responses.
  • Style prompting: Tell it to write in the style of your brand, a publication, or a personality. This builds brand voice consistency.
  • Constraint-forward prompting: Use short word limits, specific structures, must-include bullets, or formatting rules.
  • Customize Your AI Settings: Tools like ChatGPT let you set Custom Instructions (Settings → Personalization → Custom Instructions), which act as your always-on prompt. For example, mine is set to: “Be innovative and think outside the box. Tell it like it is; don’t sugar-coat responses. Take a strategic and analytic approach.” This baseline boosts the quality of every single output because the model already understands how to think, write, and reason for you. 

Play around with these once styles you nail down the basics. 

Ethical Considerations in Prompting

AI is trained on human inputs, so misinformation is also a concern. Make sure you cross reference any information given by the chatbot to ensure accuracy. 

And because AI learns from users’ responses, your data could be reviewed by humans at the chatbot’s parent company (like Google and Microsoft). Do not give out personal information or passwords to a chatbot.  

Although it might feel like you are talking to a robot, it is important to remember that there are human employees on the other end who may review your AI prompts to better train their systems.

Ready, Set, Prompt!

Good AI chatbot prompts can save hours and seriously elevate your work. 

So, which platform should you use? Each chatbot has its strengths. Here are a couple you could start with:

  • ChatGPT is usually quick to respond and is effective at providing natural-sounding outputs.
  • Microsoft’s CoPilot is great for schedule planning and fact-checking. 
  • Google’s Gemini is trained on Google data, meaning it is diverse and multifaceted. 

No matter which one you choose, implementing these prompting tips will make the process more efficient and effective. 

If you want deeper support in mastering how to write prompts for AI, Proof Digital has you covered.

Download our free resource on AI prompting, or talk to our team about how we’re helping businesses grow using strategic, practical AI.

FAQs

What is prompt engineering in AI?

It’s the process of designing clear, structured prompts to guide AI systems toward accurate or creative outputs.

Is writing good AI prompts really that important?

Yes. Your prompt is the biggest factor in the quality of the result…more than the model itself, in many cases.

What makes a prompt “advanced”?

Advanced prompts use roles, constraints, tone, multiple steps, or reasoning processes. They produce more tailored and reliable output.

How do I write better chatbot prompts?

Use the role-task-tone-goal method, then add clarity. More context = better output.

How to prompt ai to create an image​?

When you’re creating visuals instead of text, your prompt needs a different kind of detail. Image prompts rely on descriptive, sensory, and stylistic cues. Think lighting, composition, mood, textures, and specific subject details.

What’s the best way to start using AI tools for marketing?

Start with one tool that solves your biggest need—SEO, content creation, design, or reporting—and integrate it into your workflow. Scale from there.

What are the biggest risks of AI for businesses?

Primary risks include data exposure, compliance issues, unauthorized access, inaccurate outputs, and phishing attempts using AI-generated content.

What information should I avoid entering into AI tools?

Avoid entering passwords, personal data, client details, financial information, legal documents, or anything sensitive or confidential.

How do we build an AI safety policy?

Define approved tools, outline data boundaries, set security standards, clarify employee usage expectations, and review the policy regularly.

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Brie, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam Puff Pastry Bites

Growing up, holiday cooking wasn’t exactly a grand affair in my family. Sure, we had good meals—consistent, comforting, and filling. But with just the five of us around the table, there weren’t any big traditional recipes passed down or an overwhelming spread of sides we couldn’t finish. The holidays were cozy and simple, but they didn’t revolve around elaborate culinary traditions.

In my recent step into independent adulthood, I’ve experienced my fair share of new responsibilities—some I love, others I wish my mom still handled. Among those I love? Cooking. Experimenting with new recipes is often the highlight of my day.

Last year, I attended my first Friendsgiving and decided to contribute a dish—a chance to flex my budding skills. I’m a bit of a charcuterie board fanatic, so I found a baked variation that features some of my favorite typical elements.

This recipe is perfect for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, dinner parties, or really any gathering where you want to impress without overcomplicating things (my forte).

Ingredients:

  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 4 oz brie cheese, cut into small cubes
  • 3-4 slices of prosciutto, torn into smaller pieces
  • 1/4 cup fig jam
  • 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
  • Fresh rosemary or thyme (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Puff Pastry:
    • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
    • Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the puff pastry sheet into a slightly larger rectangle.
    • Cut the pastry into 12 equal squares.
  2. Assemble the Bites:
    • Place each pastry square into a mini muffin tin, pressing lightly to form a small cup.
    • Add a cube of brie to the center of each pastry square.
    • Top with a small dollop of fig jam (about 1/2 teaspoon).
    • Add a piece of prosciutto on top of the jam.
  3. Add Finishing Touches:
    • Brush the edges of the puff pastry with the beaten egg for a golden finish.
    • If desired, sprinkle with a pinch of fresh rosemary or thyme for added flavor.
  4. Bake:
    • Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
  5. Serve:
    • Let the bites cool for a few minutes before removing them from the tin.
    • Serve and enjoy!

Chicken and Noodles

This is my mom’s recipe that she makes every Thanksgiving. It is a family favorite on both my mom’s and dad’s side of the family. She makes it every year.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 chicken breasts
  • Broth from the crockpot
  • 1 (32 oz) carton of chicken broth
  • 1 packet of Lipton onion soup
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 (24 oz) package of Reames Frozen Homestyle Egg Noodles
  • A few drops of yellow food coloring

Instructions:

  1. Cook the chicken in a crockpot for 4-6 hours.
  2. Once the chicken is done, shred it and place it in a large pot.
  3. Add the broth from the crockpot and the 32 oz carton of chicken broth to the pot.
  4. Stir in the Lipton onion soup mix, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Cook for 1.5 to 2 hours.
  6. Add the frozen egg noodles and a few drops of yellow food coloring.
  7. Continue to cook on low for 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and fully cooked.

Winnie's Sweet Potato Casserole

Recipe Title: Winnie’s Sweet Potato Casserole

My Grandma Winnie made the best sweet potato casserole. Every holiday each person in the family would fight over who got the corners because they came with more toppings and we always requested a double batch. The recipe has been passed down for generations and the original recipe card has quite a few sweet potato stains. 

NOTE: this recipe calls for A LOT OF MARGARINE! While we love margarine, we actually do advise to cut down the butter a little or it gets runny.

Casserole

  • 1 large or 2 small cans of sweet potatoes, drained
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅓ cup margarine
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs

Mix with mixer and add to 8×8 dish

Topping

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • ⅓ cup margarine
  • ⅓ pecans
  • Mix all of the ingredients with a spoon
  • Crumble all of the topping over the casserole

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes

 

Indulgent Cheesy Potatoes

Thanksgiving brings on many traditions from family-to-family. Dishes are often requested, and even downright demanded if they’re good enough. This is one such dish that cannot be left out in our Thanksgiving gatherings each year. We even have to make two batches to tame the “leftover wars”.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns
  • 1 16 oz. container of sour cream
  • 1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
  • 8 oz mild cheddar cheese
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 Stick of butter, melted

Directions:

In large crockpot, add frozen potatoes, sour cream, can of soup, and top with cheddar cheeses. Melt 1 stick of butter and pour all over ingredients. Stir thoroughly. Set crockpot on high for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally. Let cool 15 minutes in crockpot before serving.

Note: Some recipes call for thawing frozen potatoes before preparing. I have found that using the potatoes directly from the freezer provides a little better texture. Ensure that the cheeses are shredded or grated.

Also, you might consider a crockpot liner to help reduce intense clean up once you’ve finished with the dish.

Easy Chicken & Homemade Noodles

I was browsing chicken & noodle recipes on Zaar, but there aren’t many with homemade noodles & IMHO that’s the best part. I am posting the current evolution of my mother’s (my grandmother’s) recipe before I start to forget it. The flour amounts are not specific because it’s always different. I just add more as needed to keep the dough workable. Sometimes I use cans of herbed chicken broth or substitute seasoned salt for the regular salt. This is a recipe from memory & I am constantly making little changes to it, but it’s always satisfying at the table. Comfort food at it’s best. Simple, filling & especially good on a cold winter day. Don’t let the length of instructions intimidate. This is very easy, I’m just very detailed. I hope you will give it a try.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1⁄2 – 4 cups flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 4 -5 tablespoons milk salt & pepper
  • 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans chicken broth
  • 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup (or vary flavor by using cream of celery, onion, or mushroom soup in place of the chicken)
  • 10 3⁄4 ounces water (optional, if needed)
  • 4 -6 cups mashed potatoes (optional, for serving)

Directions

  1. In large stock pot, combine chicken, salt & water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover & simmer til chicken is fully cooked.
  2. While chicken cooks, combine eggs & salt in mixing bowl (I use a stand mixer with dough hook attachment, but it can be mixed by hand with a fork) & beat eggs slightly. Gradually add flour & milk to eggs & continue mixing until the flour is incorporated & dough is no longer sticky to the touch. Slightly more or less flour may be necessary, depending on the size of your eggs.
  3. When dough is ready, form into a ball & turn out onto a well floured surface. Knead by hand a few times, adding more flour if it gets sticky again. Pat into a round & then roll out into a large rectangle about 12×15 or so & 1/4 inch thick. Be sure to flip dough often, keeping it well floured so it doesn’t stick.
  4. Starting at a short end, use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 1/4 inch wide (or smaller)strips. (To do the cutting with a sharp knife: flour the top of your rectangle, roll up jelly roll style & slice into 1/8 inch spirals.) When all strips are cut, unroll if needed & toss them with enough flour to keep them from sticking together. Spread noodles out in a single layer on your rolling surface & leave to dry a bit while you are finishing the chicken.
  5. When chicken is cooked, remove to a cutting board, (discarding the water it was cooked in) & use two forks to shred it into bite-sized lengths.
  6. Add the chicken broth to the stock pot & bring broth & water to a boil.
  7. Add noodles & whatever flour is with them to the boiling pot.
  8. Add the shredded chicken & stir gently. Reduce heat to low to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes.
  9. Add the cream of chicken soup & stir well. If this makes the mixture too thick, add enough of the optional water to make your desired consistency. we like it a bit stew-like, but still thin enough to look like gravy on mashed potatoes.
  10. Simmer all for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until noodles are tender. Timing really depends on how thick your noodles are cut. We like them a little on the thick side. Serve over mashed potatoes.

 

Pear and Brie Crostini

Pear and Brie Crostini

Note: I love appetizers…I’m not a huge fan of meals, so I always bring at least 3 apps for Thanksgiving (or any other event to be honest). This is one of my favorites, and always popular.

Ingredients:

  • 1 French baguette sliced ½ inch thick
  • Brie cheese thinly sliced, rind removed
  • 2 pears halved, cored, and thinly sliced
  • Honey
  • Fresh rosemary or thyme leaves

 

Instructions

  1. Turn on the oven to broil. Place the baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Lightly brush each side with EVOO and broil (around 2-6 minutes depending on the oven) until slightly crispy, and then flip each slice and repeat. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place one slice of cheese on each baguette slice. Bake slices in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the brie is melted. Remove from oven
  3. While the baguette slices are baking thinly slice pear to fit the baguette slices.
  4. Place a slice of pear on top of each baguette slice. Drizzle lightly with either honey or balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary (I usually do thyme and honey but either is yum).

 

 

Golden Corn Soufflé

I’m a corn gal through and through. Though I’ve lived the majority of my years in Chicago, I grew up in a very small, very rural downstate farming community where the entire village was surrounded by cornfields. Heck, my first job was detasseling corn for local seed companies (where in my second season, I was awarded “Super Puller” – a prize that came with a green trucker hat that displayed my new title on the front in puffy Cooper Black font). Despite all of that, I don’t remember growing up with a ton of fresh veggies. It was the 70s and 80s, and there was only one store in town. The fresh produce was really hit-or-miss, so we relied on lots of cans and preserves.

That’s what makes this dish so great – it’s made entirely of things you probably already have in your pantry. This super easy side dish is like cornbread’s slightly sweet, satisfyingly savory, spoonable cousin. In fact, when I’ve taken it to potlucks in the past, others have said they’d call it “spoonbread”. That’s acceptable! In my family, we’ve never really had a name for it except “corn casserole”, but I feel like that’s boring and inadequate considering the bang for the buck and minimal effort resulting in this consistent crowd-pleaser. So I tasked AI to help me come up with a new name. These are the impressive results after feeding the recipe to ChatGPT.

So without further ado, I present you with Golden Corn Soufflé. Image credit: ME!

Golden Corn Soufflé

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • ½ C sour cream
  • ½ C vegetable oil
  • 1 16oz can of whole kernel corn
  • 1 16oz can of cream-style corn
  • 1 package of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix
  • 3 T chopped green onion
  • 1 C shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Beat eggs, then mix in sour cream and oil until well combined
  3. Fold in the rest of the ingredients
  4. Pour into a greased 2 ½ quart casserole dish (3 quart or 9×13” pan will work in a pinch)
  5. Bake for 45 min

Casserole will be puffed up when you pull it out of the oven, but will collapse into a more dense, scoopable consistency after resting for 20-30 min. Fantastic as leftovers too!

Chocolate Roll

I have the best dessert recipe! It started with my Grandma Feldman who lived in Greensburg, Indiana. She lived during the depression and was a widow with young children. She was frugal! She made most everything from scratch. Everything always tasted so good. One of the all time favorites was her chocolate roll. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas she would make two or three so everyone could have one piece, and sometimes if we were lucky, there might be a second piece available to snatch up. Now my mom has taken on the tradition. She makes it just like my grandma made it. It is not easy to make and therefore not made very often, but my goodness it is awesome!

See photos of the well used chocolate roll recipe pictures.

Chocolate Roll

Mix

  • 5 egg yolks (keep egg whites for later) – beat well
  • Add  ½ cup powdered sugar
  • Beat well until light and lemon colored
  • Separately from above, sift 2 tablespoons of cocoa and 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of flour
  • Once sifted mix with egg yolk mixture
  • Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into egg yolk mixture

Bake

  • Greased and flour wax paper on a cookie sheet
  • Bake at 350° for 5 – 7 minutes
  • Pull off the wax paper while rolling the mixture in a thin kitchen towel while it is still warm
  • Unroll the chocolate roll and add whipped cream, then roll it back into a roll with no kitchen towel

Get ready to slice it and enjoy!!

 

Bednarek Recipes

Pictured are my great-grandparents who immigrated to the South Side of Chicago from Prussian Poland.

G-Gpa opened a meat shop to feed his family (Bednarek Sausage Co, now known as Slotkowski sausage, which is still found in stores today).

G-Gma baked sweet treats and pastries to keep said family happy.

This is the inspiration behind the Bednarek (my maiden name) Thanksgiving and Christmas (and honestly any other family get-together) tradition.

So here I share two, deeply rooted Polish recipes. The first, kiełbasa (Polish sausage). G-Gpa made this all the time, selling it at markets and in delis all over Chicago, but he never measured. This is the closest we can get to replicating his.

The second, kolachky (Polish cookies). G-Gma ALWAYS measured. So this is exact.

Both are a pain in the dupa to make.

Kiełbasa

  • 10 lbs. pork butts (also called Boston butt – it’s actually the shoulder butt, not the hind end), trimmed and cut up
  • 5 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (a little more won’t hurt) freshly ground black pepper
  • Add 3 or 4 large cloves fresh garlic
  • 1 scant tablespoon marjoram
  • 2 cups ice water

 

Run trimmed reserved fat through the ―fine plate on the grinder (pork butts have the perfect ratio of fat to meat, so don’t trim out the fat. (If you do, you’ll wind up with dry, flavorless sausage). Keep the meat as cold as possible.

Add the seasonings to the ice water and stir; then mix it into the meat.

Sausage is thirsty: it might seem wet when you first mix it, but come back in an hour or so and you’ll find that all the water’s been absorbed.

Let sit overnight before stuffing the meat into casings.

There are many ways to cook Kielbasa and each method is appropriate for a given set of end characteristics. The following method is quick and easy, but still provides optimal flavor and texture characteristics.

Be sure to bring the internal temperature of the sausage up to 165 degrees F. This is most easily done by bringing enough liquid* to cover the kielbasa and bring to a boil. (* adding spices, onions and/or beer to water is an optional way to add flavor!)

Reduce heat and simmer this for 30-45min until you reach 165 degrees internal temperature continue cooking for desired tenderness.

Serve with sauerkraut or kapusta.

Kolachky

  1. 8 Oz cream cheese
  2. 8 Oz butter
  3. 2 cups flour
  4. 1 tsp baking powder
  5. 2 tablespoons sugar.
  6. Fruit filling (raspberry, cherry, apple, and/or my favorite: apricot)

 

  1. Mix cream cheese and butter together
  2. Gradually add flour, sugar, and baking powder.
  3. Refrigerate after all blended.
  4. When ready to roll let dough come to room temp for easier to roll.
  5. Once rolled TIN TIN TIN (thin) as G-Gma would say, cut into sections.
  6. Fill each section with fruit filling, and pinch opposite corners together
  7. Bake 350 in oven 10 to 15 min.
  8. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar

 

Kristin’s Famous Pumpkin Pie

  • One 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (I like Libbys)
  • ¾ c. Sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground allspice
  • ¼ tsp ground mace
  • 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups whole milk (can change it out for low fat if you choose)
  • 2 extra large farm fresh eggs

 

1 unbaked 9-inches pie crust (see below for recipe)

  1. Preheat the oven to 450℉.
  2. Put the pumpkin, sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, allspice mace, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Paddle at low-medium speed for approximately 2 minutes.
  3. With the motor running, pour in the milk in two additions. Stop the motor, scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula, restart, and paddle for an additional 2 minutes. Add the eggs and paddle until absorbed, approximately 2 additional minutes.
  4. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch pie crust in a pan and bake for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 375℉ and bake until a finger dabbed onto the surface emerges clean, 30 – 40 minutes.
  5. Remove the pie from the oven and let cool for 1 – 2 hours

 

Slice and serve with lots of Cool Whip

Pie Crust

  • ⅔ c of lard
  • 2 c. all purpose flour, plus more for flouring your work surface
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 5 – 7 tbsp of ice water (depending on how humid it is)

 

Sift the flour and salt together in a bowl. Cut in the lard with pastry blender, two knives or blending fork until pieces are the size of small peas.  Add cold water a few drops at a time until particles just hold together. Press together lightly to form a ball. Chill for easier handling. Divide pastry in half, roll pastry ⅛ inch thick and line the pie pan. Trim ½ inch beyond the edge and fold under, flute the edge of the pastry.

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