Grandma's Old Fashioned Custard Pie

My Grandma's Old Fashioned Custard Pie is a simple, easy recipe passed down from my grandmother. It features a rich and creamy nutmeg scented custard nestled inside a flaky crust. Our Thanksgiving table wouldn't be complete without it!

My grandma makes 3 pies: apple pie, blueberry pie and custard pie. Each one is simple, classic and absolutely delicious, but if I had to pick a favorite, her custard pie is it. There's something so comforting about the creamy custard filling, the simplicity of the flavors and just the over all old fashioned vibe.

Why this recipe works

• Rich, creamy and not too sweet.
• Short list of simple, old fashioned ingredients.
• Can be made with a homemade pie crust or store bought.
• Made in advance so you don't have to worry about dessert the day of entertaining.

Essential Ingredients

• Pie Crust - Grandma's pies taste best because they're always made with her homemade Crisco pie crust. I use my trusty foolproof flaky pie dough recipe, but if you're not up for making it, Trader Joe's sells a pretty good one. Whether store bought or homemade, just make sure you're using a high quality pie crust - it makes all the difference.
• Eggs - For the best tasting custard pie, use the freshest, best quality eggs you can get. Look for the words "pasture raised" in the grocery store - I like this brand.
• Milk and Cream - I find a mixture of whole milk and heavy cream produces the best tasting custard pie with an intensely rich and creamy filling. However, growing up my mom would make custard pie using 100% skim milk and it still tasted really good. Substitute as needed, but stick with real dairy.
• Vanilla Extract - Make sure you use a good quality pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavoring. The flavors in custard pie are simple, so you will be able to taste the difference.
• Nutmeg - It's very important that your nutmeg is fresh. I prefer to buy whole nutmeg and grate it myself, but if using ground nutmeg, make sure it's less than a year old so it doesn't make your custard pie taste stale or lacking in flavor.

Helpful Equipment

• Pie Plate - An obvious essential for making a custard pie. I love these white ceramic pie plates, but you can't go wrong with a basic Pyrex pie dish either. You can also go with a disposable pan for a potluck if need be.
• Bench Scraper - A bench scraper is essential for scraping the dough off the counter. I use mine all the time when baking.
• Rolling Pin - You can use any cylindrical object to roll out a pie crust (like a wine bottle!), but a decent rolling pin is way easier to work with. I love my French rolling pin because it's lightweight and tapered on the edges to help the dough roll out more evenly.
• Microplane Grater - If grating fresh nutmeg, a Microplane grater will work best.
• Whisk - Use a whisk to mix the custard by hand rather than an electric mixer to avoid air bubbles and over whisking.

Step by step instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Dust a rolling pin with flour and roll out the pie dough so that it's about 3 inches larger than your pie plate. If the dough does not roll out perfectly round, use a knife or a pizza cutter to trim the edges and even it out.
3. Gently roll the dough onto the rolling pin and carefully transfer it to the pie plate. Press it in to fit, then tuck the loose pieces under and use your fingers or a fork to crimp the edges. Place in the freezer for at least 15 minutes, or longer if you have time.
4. Crack the eggs into a medium bowl. Remove the pie crust from the freezer, then dip a pastry brush into the egg whites and brush the pie crust all over. This will create a barrier so the custard doesn't make the crust soggy.
5. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure the edges don't fall down. If they do, push them back up with the back of a spoon while still hot. Let cool.
6. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
7. Add the sugar, salt, vanilla extract, heavy cream, milk and nutmeg to the eggs. Whisk together until very well combined. There should be no visible bits of egg white or yolk remaining, but be careful not to whip too much air into the mixture.
8. Place the pie plate on to a foil lined sheet pan to prevent any spills, then pour the mixture into the cooled crust.
9. Carefully place the pie into the oven and bake for about 1 hour or until the edges are just set but the filling is still a bit wobbly in the center - if it doesn't jiggle, it's overcooked.
10. Allow the pie to cool to room temperature, then place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
11. Top with whipped cream and more grated nutmeg for garnish if desired. Serve chilled.

Tips for success

• Keep your raw pie crust in the freezer until you're ready to bake. This will help the pie crust hold its shape while baking and turn out nice and flaky. 
• Do not over whisk the custard, as it can add too much air into the mixture which can alter the texture and cause big air bubbles when baking. Avoid using an electric mixer and instead whisk by hand.
• Use caution when transferring the pie to the oven, as the uncooked custard can easily spill out. I like to place the pie plate on a foil-lined sheet pan to catch any potential drips. Also make sure to pour the custard into the crust as close to your oven as possible to minimize the transfer distance.
• For an extra smooth filling, strain the custard before adding it to the pie shell. 
• Make sure the pie crust has cooled completely before adding the custard filling to avoid scrambling the egg mixture.
• If the outer crust starts getting too brown before the filling is set around the edges, cover the edges with foil and continue baking until done.
• Be careful not to over bake or it could cause the custard to become rubbery rather than creamy. The edges should be just set with a slightly jiggly center.
• Custard pie needs to be chilled before serving so the custard can set. I like to do it the day before so it can chill overnight, but be sure to give it at least 6-8 hours to ensure it cools properly. 

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