Description
Grandma’s cranberry custard pie combines tart berries with silky custard in a golden, flaky crust. Rich flavors and creamy textures welcome dessert lovers to savor each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 refrigerated pie crust or deep 9-inch pie shell (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 6 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- 4 cups (480 g / 17 oz) cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest (from approximately 2 oranges)
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Configure the oven to a precise 350°F, creating an optimal baking environment for the delicate custard pie.
- Crust Crafting: Roll the pie dough on a flour-dusted surface, forming a 12-inch circular canvas. Gently transfer and mold into a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan, artfully crimping the edges.
- Crust Roasting: Line the raw crust with parchment and foil, anchoring with ceramic weights. Partially bake for 10 minutes, remove weights, and continue baking until golden, approximately 10 additional minutes.
- Cranberry Transformation: Simmer cranberries with orange juice over medium heat, coaxing them to burst and release their vibrant essence. Blend thoroughly using an immersion blender, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to create a silky, jewel-toned puree.
- Filling Fusion: Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, cranberry puree, and orange zest until achieving a smooth, luxurious mixture. Pour the crimson custard into the pre-baked crust.
- Baking Finale: Bake for 30-35 minutes, watching for a subtle tremor in the center when gently nudged. Shield crust edges with foil if browning too quickly. Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack for two hours.
- Flavor Maturation: Refrigerate the pie for a minimum of four hours or preferably overnight, enabling flavors to meld and intensify.
- Elegant Presentation: Adorn the chilled pie with billowing whipped cream, scattered fresh cranberries, glistening red currants, or delicate sugared rosemary sprigs, transforming it into a visual masterpiece.
Notes
- Crust Protection Strategy: Use parchment, foil, and ceramic weights during initial baking to prevent soggy or shrinking pie shell.
- Berry Transformation Technique: Simmer cranberries with orange juice on medium heat, coaxing them to burst and release maximum flavor before blending and straining.
- Cooling Wisdom: Allow pie to cool completely at room temperature for two hours, then refrigerate for minimum four hours to enhance flavor complexity and set custard perfectly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg