Description
Water Pie is a nostalgic and simple dessert made with basic pantry ingredients. It features a sweet, custard-like filling created by baking water, sugar, flour, vanilla, and butter in an unbaked pie crust. This classic Southern dessert impresses with its unique texture and flavor despite minimal ingredients, perfect for an easy, comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 9-inch deep-dish pie crust, unbaked
Filling
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons butter, cut into 5 pieces
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Place the unbaked 9-inch deep-dish pie crust on a baking sheet to catch any drips during baking.
- Add Water: Pour 1 1/2 cups of water directly into the unbaked pie crust, being careful not to disturb the crust edges.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour with 1 cup of sugar. Evenly sprinkle this dry mixture over the water in the crust without stirring or dissolving it.
- Add Flavor: Drizzle 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract over the water and flour mixture. Then evenly distribute 5 tablespoons of butter, cut into 5 pieces, over the top of the pie.
- Bake the Pie: Place the pie in the oven and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). To prevent the crust edges from burning, cover them with aluminum foil if needed. Continue baking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Cool and Chill: The pie will appear watery and unset when hot. Let it cool completely at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm before slicing and serving.
Notes
- The pie filling looks liquid when hot but sets as it cools, so patience is essential for proper texture.
- Covering the crust edges with foil midway helps prevent burning during the longer bake time.
- Use a pre-made or homemade deep-dish pie crust for convenience.
- Refrigerate the pie thoroughly before serving to allow the filling to firm up.
- Serve chilled, optionally with whipped cream or fresh berries for extra flavor.
