Big Mama's Egg Pie

For Jocelyn Delk Adams, author of the cookbook and blog Grandbaby Cakes, Christmas tastes like Big Mama's Egg Pie. "Egg pie has become my Big Mama's legacy, with each slice representing a small piece of who she was, and I will continue to serve it to honor her for years to come," Adams writes.

Adams loves egg pie for its simplicity—only requiring standard pantry ingredients, this pie comes together like magic. Milk, butter, sugar, and eggs form the base of the custard, which is then lightly flavored with vanilla and nutmeg (freshly-ground, if possible). The flavors are reminiscent of eggnog, rendering this a lovely Christmas dessert.

Freezing the pie crust before baking helps it keep its shape in the oven. Custard pies can easily overcook, so our Test Kitchen recommends setting an alarm for 5 to 10 minutes before the desired bake time to check on the custard.

Learn how to make egg pie. Slice and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a glass of bourbon. A bite of Big Mama's Egg Pie just feels like home.

What Is Egg Pie?

Depending on where you grew up, egg pie might mean something different to you. It could be savory or sweet, a breakfast dish or a dessert. In the South, an egg pie is a custard-based confection made simply with eggs, milk, sugar, and flavorings in a flaky crust. It's a humble dessert that's almost magical in its simplicity.

Egg Pie vs. Other Desperation Pies

Often called desperation pies, these types of old-fashioned pie recipes were created to make use of ingredients that were easy to get or already on hand. Chess pie, buttermilk pie, and egg pie are great examples.

Chess pie often includes a hint of cornmeal or flour in the mix, along with vinegar to balance the sweetness. With flour as a thickener, and buttermilk and/or lemon juice for acidity, buttermilk pie is a similarly simple pie with a custardy base. Egg pie typically includes a warming spice like nutmeg in the mix, and is similarly easy to make with what you have on hand, including whole milk for a silky, sweet filling.

Ingredients for Big Mama's Egg Pie

Made with just nine ingredients (including water), this egg pie is made with mainly pantry staples for a pie you can make on a whim. To make Big Mama's egg pie, you'll need:

For the crust:

• All-purpose flour: The base of the flaky pie crust.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps brown the crust.
• Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor of the crust.
• Unsalted butter: Bits of butter turn into pockets of steam as the crust bakes, creating flaky layers throughout.
• Cold water: Hydrates the pie dough while keeping the fat cold.

For the filling:

• Whole milk: The liquid base of the custard.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and a velvety texture.
• Large eggs: Binds the filling and creates a sliceable texture in the pie once baked.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the filling.
• All-purpose flour: Helps thicken the filling.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a nuanced flavor and depth to the pie. Can substitute with rum or bourbon if needed.
• Ground nutmeg: For a traditional warm, nutty flavor. Can swap with ground cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice, if preferred.
  

How To Make Big Mama's Egg Pie

With just 35 minutes of active time, making this classic pie couldn't be faster, or more simple. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Prepare the Crust dough: Make the dough by combining flour, sugar, and salt. Then, cut in butter until various-size crumbs form. Slowly add water, tossing with hands until a dough forms. Add more water if needed. Shape into a ball, wrap and chill for until cold.
• Step 2. Warm milk and butter: Cook milk and butter in a saucepan over medium-low for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Step 3. Make filling: Whisk together eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla, and nutmeg. Whisk in cooled milk mixture.
• Step 4. Roll out Crust: Preheat oven to 425°F. Unwrap chilled dough and roll on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Press into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp edges. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Step 5. Blind bake Crust: Line crust with parchment paper and pie weights. Bake 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Remove weights and parchment from crust and set aside 10 minutes.
• Step 6. Add Filling to Crust, and bake: Pour filling into crust. Bake until lightly browned and center jiggles just slightly. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with nutmeg before serving.

Tips for the Best Egg Pie

For consistently great results, keep these tips in mind when making egg pie:

• Cut in or grate the butter: Keeping the butter cold is key for the flakiest pie crust. If you find that cutting in butter takes too long or doesn't give you consistent results, opt for grating frozen butter into the dry ingredients for a simple mix.
• Freeze the crust: While it may just seem like an extra step, freezing the pie crust before blind-baking will help create a flaky texture and keep the crust from shrinking in the oven.
• Blind bake: For a pie crust that's crisp throughout, without a soggy bottom, blind-baking is crucial.
• Bake until jiggly: Bake the pie only until the center jiggles just slightly. It will continue to set as it cools for the creamiest texture.

Can I Make Egg Pie Ahead?

Egg pie can be baked and refrigerated up to two days before serving for the freshest flavor and best texture. You can also wrap tightly and freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

How To Store and Serve Leftover Egg Pie

Leftover egg pie can be tightly wrapped and refrigerated for up to four days, or frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen before serving.

What To Serve With Egg Pie

This egg pie is perfectly simple and satisfying all on its own. But if you're looking to take the presentation up a notch, serve with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, scoop of ice cream, or light dusting of powdered sugar. You can also pair with fresh berries or a drizzle of caramel, chocolate sauce, or fruit coulis for a final flourish.

More Classic Southern Pie Recipes You'll Love

From buttermilk to water pie, these recipes have withstood the test of time for good reason:

• Southern Buttermilk Pie
• Classic Chess Pie
• Water Pie
• Chocolate Silk Pie
• Banana Cream Pie
• Lemon Chiffon Pie
• Pecan Pie
• Coconut Cream Pie

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.