Description

This Christmas Eve Cinnamon-Vanilla Custard Pie is a creamy and comforting holiday dessert perfect for festive gatherings. Featuring a buttery pie crust filled with a spiced custard infused with cinnamon and vanilla, this pie delivers a warm, aromatic flavor profile with a silky texture that is sure to delight family and friends during the holiday season.

Ingredients

Scale

Pie Crust

1 pie crust (homemade or store-bought)

Custard Filling

4 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
1½ cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1½ tsp ground cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick, steeped)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (or 1 vanilla bean, scraped)
Pinch of salt
Optional: ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Optional: 1 tsp orange zest for holiday flair

Instructions

Pre-bake the Crust: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out the pie crust and place it in a 9-inch pie dish. Line the crust with parchment paper, fill with baking weights, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment paper, then bake for another 5 minutes until the crust is lightly golden. Allow it to cool slightly.
Prepare Custard Base: In a saucepan, heat the whole milk and heavy cream with cinnamon and vanilla until steaming but not boiling. If using a cinnamon stick or vanilla bean, steep them in the milk and cream for 10 minutes, then remove.
Whisk Eggs & Sugar: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and pale in color.
Temper & Combine: Slowly pour the hot milk and cream mixture into the eggs while whisking constantly to temper the eggs and prevent curdling. Strain the combined custard mixture through a fine-mesh sieve for extra smoothness.
Fill & Bake: Lower the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C). Pour the custard mixture into the pre-baked pie crust. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when gently shaken.
Cool & Chill: Remove the pie from the oven and cool it at room temperature. Then refrigerate it for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving to allow the custard to fully set.

Notes

For an extra festive touch, add ¼ tsp ground nutmeg and 1 tsp orange zest to the custard mixture.
If using a cinnamon stick or vanilla bean, steep them in the milk and cream for a more intense flavor.
Don’t overbake the custard; it should still have a slight jiggle in the center when done.
Ensure the pie crust is fully cooled before pouring the custard to prevent sogginess.
Use fresh whole milk and heavy cream for a rich and creamy texture.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Christmas pie, custard pie, cinnamon pie, vanilla custard, holiday dessert, baked custard, festive dessert, easy pie recipe