Christmas Eve Custard Pie (Printable)
Velvety custard with cinnamon and vanilla in a flaky crust—warm, spiced, and festive.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pie Crust
01 - 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust, store-bought or homemade
→ Custard Filling
02 - 1 cup whole milk
03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 3 large eggs
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Topping
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the unbaked pie crust in a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp or trim the edges as preferred.
02 - In a medium saucepan, gently heat the whole milk and heavy cream over medium heat until steaming, without boiling. Remove from heat.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
04 - Slowly pour the warm milk and cream into the egg mixture, whisking constantly until fully incorporated.
05 - Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to ensure a silky texture.
06 - Pour the strained custard filling into the prepared pie crust.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until the center is set but still slightly wobbly. Tent the edges with foil if browning too quickly.
08 - Transfer the baked pie to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely. The custard will continue to set during cooling.
09 - Sprinkle with the reserved ground cinnamon and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
10 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- This pie bakes up silky-smooth and makes the whole house smell like a holiday candle done right.
- The subtle spice and vanilla flavor is gentle enough to please even tricky dessert naysayers at the table.
02 -
- I once let the milk boil, and it curdled my eggs when I poured it in—take it off the heat right when it steams.
- Straining the custard makes an enormous difference; it’s tempting to skip, but don’t.
03 -
- Preheat your oven completely for a consistently set custard—an oven thermometer helps more than you’d expect.
- Taste your cinnamon before using; fresher spice makes every bite brighter.