Quick & Zesty Cranberry Orange Custard Pie Recipe / Holiday Joy

Cranberry orange custard pie marries tangy and sweet flavors in a delightful dessert experience that upgrades ordinary baking into something extraordinary.

Seasonal fruits burst with vibrant colors and complex taste profiles that dance across your palate.

Creamy custard provides a smooth, luxurious foundation for the bright fruit elements.

Delicate pastry crusts cradle this magnificent combination, promising a sensory journey through texture and temperature.

Bakers seeking a sophisticated twist on traditional pie recipes will find this creation absolutely irresistible.

Winter gatherings become magical moments when this stunning dessert appears at the table.

The harmonious blend of ingredients creates a memorable culinary masterpiece that celebrates comfort and elegance.

Cranberry Orange Custard Pie That’s Tart and Creamy

• Burst of Seasonal Flavor: Cranberries and orange zest create a vibrant, tangy-sweet combination that captures the essence of winter holidays and festive baking.
• Luxurious Silky Texture: The creamy custard transforms simple ingredients into a velvety, smooth dessert that melts in your mouth with each decadent bite.
• Quick and Easy Preparation: This pie requires minimal ingredients and straightforward mixing technique, making it perfect for home bakers of all skill levels who want a impressive dessert without complicated steps.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or weekend family desserts that offer a delightful balance of tart cranberries and rich, smooth custard in every slice.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Cranberry Orange Custard Pie

• Unbaked Pie Crust: Homemade or store-bought crust that serves as the base for the pie, providing a buttery and flaky foundation.

• Cranberries, Orange Zest: Tart cranberries add vibrant color and sharp flavor, while fresh orange zest contributes bright, citrusy notes to the dessert.

• Sugar, Eggs, Heavy Whipping Cream: Sugar sweetens the custard, eggs provide structure and richness, and heavy cream creates a smooth, luxurious texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the custard and provide stability to the filling.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the pie.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth to the custard's flavor profile.

How to Assemble Cranberry Orange Custard Pie Easily

Step 1: Prepare Oven Temperature

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) ensuring even heat distribution.

Step 2: Spread Cranberry Base

Evenly distribute fresh cranberries across unbaked pie shell, creating a vibrant fruity foundation.

Step 3: Create Silky Custard Mixture

• Sugar
• Beaten eggs
• Heavy whipping cream
• Flour
• Salt
• Freshly grated orange zest
• Vanilla extract

Blend ingredients until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Fill Pie Shell

Pour custard mixture over cranberry layer, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 5: Initial Baking Phase

Bake pie at 400°F for 10 minutes to jumpstart cooking process.

Step 6: Adjust Baking Conditions

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).

Cover pie crust edges with shield or aluminum foil to prevent burning.

Step 7: Complete Baking

Continue baking 40-45 minutes until custard sets and becomes slightly firm.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Allow pie to cool completely at room temperature.

Refrigerate leftovers for optimal freshness.

Tips to Bake the Best Cranberry Custard Pie

• Zest Like a Pro: Use a microplane or fine grater to extract maximum orange flavor without touching the bitter white pith.
• Prevent Soggy Crust: Sprinkle a thin layer of ground almonds or breadcrumbs on the pie shell before adding cranberries to absorb excess moisture.
• Cranberry Distribution Trick: Gently shake the pie pan after adding cranberries to ensure even spreading across the bottom of the crust.
• Custard Consistency Check: Insert a knife near the pie's center- if it comes out clean, the custard is perfectly set without being overcooked.
• Make-Ahead Magic: This pie tastes even better when chilled overnight, allowing flavors to meld and develop a richer, more complex taste profile.

Storage Tips for Cranberry Orange Custard Pie

• Refrigerate: Carefully cover the pie with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep the pie away from strong-smelling foods to preserve its delicate flavor.
• Freeze: Wrap the cooled pie tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or place in a preheated 325°F oven for 10-15 minutes until just warmed through. Avoid overheating to prevent the custard from becoming rubbery.

What to Pair with a Custard Pie Like This

• Pair with Spiced Mulled Wine: Complement the tangy cranberry and zesty orange flavors with a warm, spiced mulled wine. The cinnamon and clove notes will enhance the pie's rich custard and bright citrus undertones.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Add a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the pie. The cold, smooth texture contrasts beautifully with the warm, custardy filling and provides a luxurious counterpoint to the tart cranberries.
• Match with Roasted Almond Biscotti: Enjoy a crisp almond biscotti on the side to add a nutty crunch. The toasted almond flavor will harmonize with the pie's sweet and citrusy profile, creating a delightful textural experience.
• Accompany with Chai Tea Latte: A spiced chai tea latte offers a cozy, aromatic companion to the pie. The blend of cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon in the tea will echo the warm, comforting notes of the cranberry orange custard.

Variations for a Fresh Take on Cranberry Orange Custard Pie

• Cranberry Maple Fusion: Replace sugar with pure maple syrup for a rich, woodsy sweetness that complements the tart cranberries, creating a deeply nuanced flavor profile.
• Spiced Winter Comfort: Add ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom to the custard mixture, transforming the pie into a warm, aromatic dessert perfect for cold evenings.
• Citrus Berry Blend: Substitute orange zest with lemon or lime zest, introducing a brighter, more vibrant citrus note that enhances the cranberry's natural tanginess.
• Nutty Cranberry Dream: Sprinkle chopped pecans or sliced almonds on top of the custard before baking, adding a delightful crunch and toasted undertone to the creamy pie.

Cranberry Orange Custard Pie Recipe

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4.6 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Cranberry orange custard pie blends tart berries with silky citrus-infused custard in a buttery crust. Seasonal flavors mingle deliciously, creating a festive dessert that will delight holiday guests with its rich, balanced profile.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh cranberries
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) sugar
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy whipping cream

Crust:

• 1 10-inch unbaked pie shell

Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:

• ¼ cup (30 grams) flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Scatter fresh cranberries uniformly across the bottom of the unbaked pie crust, creating a vibrant foundation for the dessert.
2. Craft a silky custard base by thoroughly blending eggs, sugar, heavy cream, flour, salt, fragrant orange zest, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture achieves a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
3. Gently cascade the luxurious custard mixture over the crimson cranberry layer, ensuring even distribution within the pie shell.
4. Initialize baking at a high temperature of 400°F to quickly activate the pie’s structural elements, allowing 10 minutes of intense heat.
5. Decrease the oven temperature to 350°F and shield the delicate pie crust edges using a protective crust cover or aluminum barrier to prevent excessive browning.
6. Continue baking for an additional 40-45 minutes, monitoring until the custard sets with a gentle, slight wobble when softly nudged.
7. Allow the pie to cool completely at room temperature, enabling the custard to stabilize and develop a perfect texture.
8. Refrigerate any remaining slices, preserving the pie’s delicate flavor and smooth consistency for future enjoyment.

Notes

• Master the art of even cranberry distribution across the pie shell for a stunning visual and balanced flavor profile.
• Use a fresh orange for zesting to maximize aromatic citrus notes that elevate the custard’s complexity.
• Initial high-temperature baking creates a crisp crust foundation before transitioning to gentle custard setting.
• Protect pie edges with a crust shield or aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning during extended baking.
• Allow complete cooling before serving to ensure custard sets perfectly and slices cleanly.
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly and consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture preservation.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 100 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg