Description
Delightful Christmas eve cinnamon-vanilla custard pie brings festive warmth to holiday tables with its silky smooth filling and buttery crust. Sweet memories bloom as family gathers, savoring each creamy spoonful of seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Pie Crust):
- 1 1/4 cups (156 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Liquid Ingredients:
- 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 milliliters) ice water
Instructions
- Prepare the pie crust by combining flour and butter, working the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Incorporate ice water gradually to form a cohesive dough.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie dish, trimming and crimping the edges. Pierce the bottom with a fork and pre-bake at 350F for 10 minutes.
- Create the custard base by whisking eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until thoroughly blended. Gradually introduce warm milk while continuously whisking to ensure a smooth consistency.
- Transfer the custard mixture into the pre-baked pie shell, ensuring an even distribution.
- Bake the pie for 40-50 minutes at 350F, monitoring until the center sets firmly and a knife inserted comes out clean without liquid residue.
- Allow the pie to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to achieve optimal texture and flavor melding.
- When ready to serve, garnish with a delicate layer of whipped cream and a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Freeze butter for 15 minutes before cutting into flour for extra flaky, tender pastry that crumbles beautifully.
- Strain the egg mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps, ensuring a silky-smooth texture.
- Let the pie cool gradually to prevent cracking, avoiding sudden temperature changes that can damage the delicate custard structure.
- Swap regular milk with almond or coconut milk for a dairy-free version, and use gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly alternative.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg