Description
French pastry chefs perfected this classic caramel custard pie recipe with silky layers of rich custard and golden caramel. Sweet cream and delicate spices merge into an elegant dessert that delights discerning palates and promises pure comfort with each heavenly slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) whole milk
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) cane sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp caramel extract
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Pie Crust Preparation: Merge flour, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation for the pastry.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk vegetable oil and milk until smoothly combined, then fold into dry ingredients to form a cohesive dough with consistent texture.
- Crust Formation: Gently press dough into a 9-inch pie plate, ensuring even distribution and smooth edges across the surface.
- Sugar Layering: Sprinkle a blend of brown sugar, cane sugar, and flour evenly over the crust, establishing a sweet preliminary base.
- Custard Creation: Blend eggs, vanilla extract, caramel extract, milk, sugar, and salt until achieving a silky, homogeneous custard mixture with no lumps.
- Filling and Seasoning: Pour custard into prepared crust, maintaining a level surface, and dust ground nutmeg across the top for aromatic enhancement.
- Baking Process: Place pie in a 350°F (177°C) oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, confirming doneness by inserting a knife that emerges clean from the center.
- Cooling and Serving: Remove pie from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack, enabling the custard to set firmly before slicing and presenting elegant servings.
Notes
- Precise Temperature Control: Set oven exactly at 350°F to ensure consistent, even baking without burning the delicate custard base.
- Dough Moisture Management: Mix wet and dry ingredients thoroughly but gently, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender, flaky crust texture.
- Custard Consistency Check: Use the knife test to verify doneness – a clean blade means the custard is perfectly set and not runny.
- Cooling Technique: Allow pie to cool completely on a wire rack, giving custard time to stabilize and develop rich, smooth texture before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 174
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 107 mg