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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie Recipe

    Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie Recipe

    Published: Aug 25, 2020 · Modified: Nov 23, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

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    Old fashioned sugar cream pie is like a sweet cream cold brew but without the cold brew. It is a very simple pie that is creamy and sweet, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. The texture is very similar to a custard pie or flan, but there are no eggs. With the cinnamon sugar topping, it is like creme brulee and snickerdoodles come together in a perfect marriage.

    Slice of sugar cream pie topped with caramelized cinnamon sugar, on a plate with a fork.

    This was the dessert for our Indiana state dinner. If you are new to the blog, we are working our way through the United States enjoying dinners made of each state's famous food!

    In my post on the Indiana dinner, I shared the history behind this old fashioned sugar cream pie recipe. You may have heard of a Hoosier pie, Indiana farm pie, or a finger pie. These are all the same thing as a sugar cream pie.

    Preparing the Crust

    Do you know someone with impressive pie crust-making skills? My mom is one of those people. She always makes her pie crust from scratch and it is perfect every time!

    I remember as a kid being awe-struck with how well she fluted the edges. She tried to teach me and I blame my left-handedness for the fact that has been so hard for me to learn. With a whole lot of practice, I have improved, and would now give my skills a solid "B+" grade.

    My pie crusts may not be beautiful, but they sure are delicious! And that's because I have THE BEST pie crust recipe! It's seriously so good!

    This pie crust needs to be baked completely before we pour in the custard. After you put the crust into the pan you will want to poke holes all over it with a fork. This will allow the air to escape and prevent the dough from bubbling up.

    You could also line your pie crust with foil and pour in some dry beans as it bakes. But I rarely have dry beans in my pantry, and I find the fork method to be much easier.

    Empty Pie Crust Shell for Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie Recipe

    How to Make the Custard

    This is the fasted pie to make! You simply whisk together sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan, then mix in the butter and cream.

    Boil it for one minute and you are done! Essentially, all you have to do is heat up the liquids and allow the sugar and cornstarch to melt into them.

    This transforms into a creamy, delicious, eggless custard! I have read some reviews on other sites about the custard not setting up, and the cause seems to be boiling for too long.

    So once the custard starts to bubble, set your timer for one minute, and remove the pan from the heat once that timer goes off.

    Custard filled pie

    Caramelizing Cinnamon Sugar Topping

    The most delicious part of this old fashioned sugar cream pie is the topping.

    If you like creme brulee you will love this pie! Melted butter and cinnamon sugar are poured over the custard and put under the broiler for just a minute or two.

    Don't be scared of your broiler! Just keep an eye on it. Depending on your oven, you may need to keep an eye on it through the closed door.

    I didn't realize that our oven had a safety feature that turned the broiler off when the oven door was open. When the topping still wasn't caramelized after 5 minutes I thought our oven was broken! Oops! This snafu resulted in me burning the crust, but once I figured it out (okay, Matt figured it out) the topping caramelized right away.

    One tip to help you avoid a burned crust is to cover the crust with a pie shield. You can also cover the crust with aluminum foil. Either of these will help you keep your golden crust while caramelizing your pie sugar.

    Other Dessert Recipes You May Enjoy

    The Actual Best Snickerdoodle Cookie
    Huckleberry Pie Recipe
    Bourbon Peach Cobbler Recipe
    Strawberry Shortcake

    Pinterest Pin for Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie

    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind the scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    one slice of sugar cream pie on a plate

    Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie

    Recipe by: Erin
    This simple pie was common in the Shaker and Amish communities in the 1800s. It is sweet, creamy, and delicious! Perfect with a rich cup of coffee.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 620 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 prepared pie crust
    • ⅓ cup cornstarch
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 5 tablespoon butter
    • 3 cups heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • 1 pinch table salt

    Topping

    • 2 tablespoon melted butter
    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
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    Instructions
     

    • Roll pie crust into an 11-inch circle. Place in pie pan, pressing out any air pockets. Prick the bottom and sides of the pie crust with a fork. Bake according to your pie crust recipe directions for a single-crust baked pie shell, then cool.
    • In a medium saucepan, whisk sugar and cornstarch together. Add cream and butter to the pan and cook over medium heat, whisking continually. Bring the mixture to a boil and then cook one minute longer. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla.
    • Pour cream mixture into the cooled pie crust and smooth using a spoon or spatula. Pour the melted butter over the top of the pie. Combine 2 tablespoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the butter. Place on the top rack of your oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the sugar crystallizes and browns. Watch carefully so you don't burn your pie!
    • Remove from oven and cool. Store pie in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 620kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!
    « Hoosier Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich Recipe
    Famous Food From Indiana »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lata Lala

      September 03, 2020 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Sugar cream pie is looking yummilicious.
      Great tips to make perfect pie crust! And that custard looks wonderful in this dessert!
      Can't wait to try this soon.

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 04, 2020 at 6:15 am

        Thank you! Enjoy the pie!

        Reply
    2. Brianna

      September 02, 2020 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      This pie looks delicious and super easy to make!

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 02, 2020 at 7:28 pm

        It couldn’t be easier! But tastes like it is really difficult to make.

        Reply
    3. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food

      September 01, 2020 at 7:12 am

      5 stars
      I love that this pie is so easy. I'm guilty of not making pie crusts from scratch, so I can't wait to try out the tips you've learned from your mom. I'm definitely making this over Labor Day weekend!

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 01, 2020 at 4:11 pm

        Check out Cook Illustrated’s Foolproof Pie Crust recipe. I made it a few days ago and it revolutionized my pie baking!

        Reply
    4. Soheila

      August 31, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      I just drooled all over my keyboard! This looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 31, 2020 at 8:12 pm

        Thank you so much! Very kind of you.

        Reply
    5. Lillie

      August 31, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      You had me at "caramelizing!"

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 31, 2020 at 8:12 pm

        Soooo good!

        Reply
    6. Peter

      August 31, 2020 at 7:20 pm

      5 stars
      Great tips on the pie crust! And that custard is everything wonderful about this dessert! YUM!

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 31, 2020 at 8:12 pm

        Yes! It is the best flavor and texture.

        Reply
    7. Farrah

      August 31, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      Is it sad that I hadn't had one of these before? This looks so good + the tips for the crust were super helpful too!

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 02, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        It is devastating that you haven’t had this before! You need this pie in your life!

        Reply
    8. Damian

      August 31, 2020 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      This looks delicious, definitely added to the list to try.

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 31, 2020 at 10:20 am

        Thank you! It is the best!

        Reply
    9. Paolo Paolo

      August 30, 2020 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      Wow this looks so good! Will try your Sugar Cream Pie recipe tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 31, 2020 at 10:20 am

        Be sure to update me with how you like it!

        Reply

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    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin, wife, mom, and lover of great food. I've been cooking and baking for over half my life, including 7 years teaching cooking demonstrations. I have even sold baked goods, from homemade bread to wedding cakes! Somewhere between my kitchen disasters and extraordinary creations I learned a few things about what it takes to make a great dish. And I am excited to share those learnings and mouthwatering recipes with you!

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