Description
A rich, creamy, and wonderfully spiced custard pie perfect for ending your Christmas Eve celebrations with a sweet, comforting touch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pre-made 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
- 4 large eggs (200g)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5g) ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place the unbaked pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until well combined and slightly frothy.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and just beginning to simmer around the edges. Do not boil.
- Slowly pour about half of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. This step is called tempering and prevents the eggs from scrambling. Once combined, pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining hot milk mixture.
- Continue to whisk the custard mixture over low heat for 2-3 minutes, until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Do not let it boil.
- Carefully pour the warm custard mixture into the unbaked pie crust.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the center is just set. A knife inserted near the center should come out clean. The edges may be slightly puffed and golden.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This will allow the custard to fully set. The pie can be served at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
- Tempering is Key: Pouring the hot milk slowly into the eggs prevents scrambling.
- Don’t Overbake: The center should still have a slight jiggle when removed from the oven, as it will continue to set as it cools.
- Cool Completely: Allow ample cooling time for the custard to fully set for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking, Tempering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of pie
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Christmas Eve pie, cinnamon vanilla custard pie, holiday pie, custard recipe, easy dessert, vanilla pie, spiced pie, festive pie, Christmas baking
