🥧 Classic Old-Fashioned Custard Pie
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 45–55 minutes
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust, homemade or store-bought
- 1 tablespoon sugar, optional
For the Custard Filling
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon melted butter, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the Crust
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the pie crust in a 9-inch pie dish and crimp the edges.
- If desired, sprinkle the bottom lightly with sugar.
- Chill the prepared crust for about 15–20 minutes.
2. Make the Custard
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until smooth. Don’t whip excessively—you want a smooth custard rather than a foamy mixture.
- Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream.
- Add vanilla, salt, melted butter if using, and ¼ teaspoon of the nutmeg.
- Whisk gently until everything is well combined.
3. Fill the Pie
- Place the chilled crust on a baking sheet.
- Carefully pour the custard mixture into the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining nutmeg over the top.
4. Bake
- Carefully transfer the pie to the oven.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for 30–40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center still has a slight jiggle.
- Insert a knife about 1 inch from the center—it should come out mostly clean.
5. Cool
- Remove the pie from the oven and place it on a cooling rack.
- Let it cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing.
- For the cleanest slices, refrigerate for another hour after cooling.
🍦 Serving
Serve chilled or at room temperature with:
- Whipped cream
- A sprinkle of nutmeg
- Fresh berries
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
⭐ Tips for Perfect Custard
- Don’t overbake: The center should have a gentle wobble when the pie comes out.
- For an extra-smooth filling, strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve before pouring it into the crust.
- If the crust edges brown too quickly, cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
- Let the pie cool fully before slicing so the custard can finish setting.