Egg Custard Pie
on Jul 15, 2020, Updated Apr 28, 2021
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Egg custard pie is a light-tasting, sweet treat. This is an ideal summer dessert because it isn’t too heavy while still adding a nice finish to any meal. Or as a little afternoon delight. At just 244 calories per slice, this easy dessert recipe isn’t going to put you over the top!
Make this easy egg custard pie in about an hour.
Table of Contents
Homemade pie recipes have always been cIose to my heart. I first fell in love with custard pies when my sister-in-law Carol (aka “The Pie Queen”) started making her raspberry custard pie.
Today’s recipe is a base for all of those wonderful berries desserts that Carol makes. The beauty of this egg pie is that it stands firmly (no pun intended), by itself. It just may be the best thing I’ve tasted since sliced bread!
🥧 What is it?
Remember hearing that simple is best? This dessert proves that point. This is a simple, old-fashioned, no-frills dessert recipe.
You can serve it by itself or top it with
- Vanilla ice cream
- Homemade whipped cream
- Sliced peaches
- Fresh berries
- Nutmeg
It’s perfect for company or for a major holiday meal, like Thanksgiving dinner. The bottom line: This easy homemade pie tastes great any day of the year.
🥘 What’s in it?
The shortlist of ingredients is part of what makes this recipe so appealing.
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla
- Nutmeg
- Salt
- Egg white
- Pie crust
🥣 How to make it
Start by gathering your ingredients. To save some time, you can always use a store-bought crust. If you want to learn how to make a pie crust, we are more than happy to show you the way!
Pro Baking Tip – Always use eggs at room temperature when baking. This will help your recipe to bake evenly. Here is a great trick for how to bring eggs to room temperature quickly.
- Combine eggs, sugar, salt, and, vanilla into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the scalded milk to the rest of the ingredients, after it has cooled.
- Be sure the milk is cooled before adding it, so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs!
- Scalding the milk is optional, see FAQ below.
- Whisk it all together.
- Use a pastry brush and coat the inside of the pie crust with the egg white.
- Pour the filling into the crust.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to top the pie filling with the ground nutmeg.
If you’re new at making homemade pies, this is a great recipe to get you started!
Once you have everything put together, you’ll bake it for 40-50 minutes at 400°F, until it is set.
💭 Common questions
How do you know when an egg custard pie is done?
This is done baking when the edges are firm but the center gently jiggles when you gently shake the pan. Don’t over-bake!
Do egg custard pies need to be refrigerated?
Any recipe that contains eggs or dairy should be refrigerated as soon as it is cooled to room temperature.
- Seal it with kitchen wrap
- Refrigerate it for up to two days
Can I use evaporated milk?
For a smooth and creamy texture, you can substitute regular milk for any of the following.
- Evaporated milk
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Half and half
- Cream
Pro Cooking Tip: It is not necessary to scald any of these before adding it to the eggs. Warming them, to at least room temperature or above, will enhance the baking process!
Why is scalded milk used in some recipes?
Back in the days before pasteurization, milk was scalded to help eliminate any nasty bacteria that may have been in the milk. Even though today’s milk is pasteurized, scalding milk before baking with it can add some nice touches to your recipe.
- Milk is a great way to infuse flavor and can help incorporate things like vanilla beans, cinnamon, mint leaves, and many other common baking ingredients.
- Scaling milk first will help butter melt and yeast to rise in some recipes like homemade bread.
Do I have to par-bake the crust before filling?
You don’t have to par-bake the crust for this egg custard pie. Brushing the pie shell before baking will help to keep it from getting soggy.
Other homemade pie recipes
If you like this dessert recipe, you’ll love our Old-Fashioned Butter Tarts as well!
I grew eating this type of dessert, and I’m afraid my waistline shows it. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. My Mennonite Mom could whip up this egg custard pie like it was nobody’s business all the while juggling an armful of other tasks.
A good homemade pie always takes me back to those magical days of growing up on the farm and knowing first-hand the meaning of real food.
I hope you’ll give this easy dessert recipe a try, and be sure and let us know how you like it! Leaving a comment below is one way we know that you’re reading our recipes. It’s almost as good as seeing the smile on your face after tasting this pie. Thanks for reading Platter Talk, it means the world to us!
Other easy desserts
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⏲️ Egg Custard Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs, beaten
- 3/4 cups Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 Egg white, beaten for an egg wash
- 1 Pie shell, pre-made
- 2 1/2 cups Milk, scalded
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400° F. Combine the egg, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Pour the milk in with the other ingredients and whisk to combine. If using scalded milk, be sure it has cooled before adding.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the inside of the pie shell with the egg wash. pour the filling into the prepared shell and sprinkle the nutmeg on top, using a fine-mesh strainer
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until the edges of the pie are firm and the center jiggles a bit Allow to cool on a cooling rack and then refrigerate before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your Egg Custard Pie is wonderful!
Thanks!!! So happy you enjoyed!
I would cut back on the sugar. Turns out way too sweet. Perhaps 1/4 cup or just 1/2 cup.
I’m hoping some can help me. I made this pie last night. The flavor is great! However my pie is more like scrambled eggs and very watery. Baked at 400F for 1 hour in a stone deep dish pie pan. The middle of the pie bubbled up, I’ve never saw that before so I’m really wondering what happened.
Hi Jamie,
I’ve found that 400F is far too hot for a custard pie. Each time I baked at the recommended temp, my pie would also bubble up. I suggest trying again but baking at 375F until done. It will take a little longer but the end result should be more to your liking 🙂
Can I just make the egg mixture in a glass pan so no pie crust, maybe using small glass cooking bowls.
I love this idea for a gluten-free option! Give it a try and let us know how it turns out!!!
Did you use a regular premade pie crust or deep dish? Debating but every time I use a deep dish crust I end up regretting it because it requires so much filling and makes it hard to estimate baking time. Thanks!
Can you make ahead and freeze it?
Yes, you can freeze an egg custard pie, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind to maintain its quality:
Cooling: Ensure the pie is completely cooled before freezing. This prevents the formation of ice crystals that can affect the texture.
Wrapping: Wrap the pie tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to prevent freezer burn and retain the pie’s moisture.
Container: For added protection, place the wrapped pie in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag.
Freezing Time: Egg custard pies can typically be frozen for up to two months. Beyond this time, they may start to lose their quality.
Thawing: When you’re ready to eat the pie, thaw it in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature. This helps maintain the texture and prevents any bacterial growth.
Texture Changes: Be aware that freezing and thawing can slightly alter the texture of the custard, making it a bit more grainy or watery.
Reheating: If you prefer your custard pie warm, reheat it gently in the oven to avoid overcooking the custard.
The quality of the pie after freezing depends on how well it was prepared and stored before freezing.
Can I use skim milk for this recipe?
Hi Pam, I don’t see why you can’t use skim milk!
What does the scalded milk do if you let it cool anyway?
Great question. Scalding the milk is part of the original old-fashioned recipe for this Egg Custard Pie. If you’re using pasteurized milk, you don’t need to scald it. That begin said, I would advise you to at least warm it to room temp (in lieu of using cold milk from the fridge.)