Description
Festive Christmas Eve Cinnamon-Vanilla Custard Pie delivers holiday comfort with luxurious layers of creamy sweetness. Delicate spices and rich vanilla embrace winter celebrations, promising warmth and joy for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups (591 milliliters) whole milk
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups (156 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter
- 2–3 tablespoons ice water
Flavor and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Topping:
- Whipped cream
- Ground cinnamon for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare pie dish by greasing a 9-inch pan or lining with parchment paper, ensuring easy pie removal.
- Create flaky pie dough by combining flour and cold butter, cutting mixture until crumbly. Incorporate ice water gradually to bind ingredients, forming a cohesive dough.
- Roll out dough on floured surface, carefully transferring to pie dish. Trim excess edges, creating decorative border using fingertips. Poke bottom with fork to prevent potential air bubbles.
- Par-bake crust at 350°F for 10 minutes, developing a sturdy foundation for custard filling.
- Craft silky custard mixture by whisking eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until thoroughly blended. Gradually introduce warm milk while stirring continuously to prevent ingredient separation.
- Gently pour custard into pre-baked crust, ensuring even distribution across entire surface.
- Bake pie for 40-50 minutes at 350°F until center stabilizes and knife emerges clean when inserted. Custard will continue setting during cooling process.
- Allow pie to reach room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum 2 hours to achieve perfect consistency and flavor melding.
- Garnish chilled pie with dollops of whipped cream and delicate cinnamon sprinkle before serving. Slice and savor this festive holiday dessert.
Notes
- Swap out traditional flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or coconut flour to make the pie suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Reduce sugar content by using natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit to create a lower-calorie dessert option.
- Enhance the custard’s richness by using full-fat coconut milk instead of regular milk for a dairy-free and more decadent version.
- Prevent crust soggy bottom by sprinkling a thin layer of ground almonds or breadcrumbs before adding the custard, which helps absorb excess moisture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg