Vanilla
Cream Pie Recipe
(or
Chocolate or Coconut Cream)
Use
this recipe to make vanilla cream pie or as a base to make chocolate
cream pie or coconut cream pie. This is a very good recipe, an easy
recipe to make, and illustrates the principles outlined in “How
to Make Cream Pies”.
Ingredients
1 nine-inch deep-dish
baked pie shell
3/4 cup granulated
sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cornstarch
3 cups milk
4 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
For optional
meringue topping
4 to 6 large egg
whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
This pie can also
be topped with sweetened whipped cream.
Directions
For more detailed
directions and an explanation of how the recipe works, see “How
to Make Cream Pies”.
1. Prepare and bake
a nine-inch pie shell.
2. In a medium saucepan, add the sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Stir to
mix well.
3. Gradually stir in the milk and cook over medium heat, stirring regularly,
until the mixture is bubbly. Cook for two minutes more.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk four egg yolks. While stirring constantly,
gradually add one cup of the hot mixture to the egg yolks. This tempers
and warms the egg yolks.
5. Add the egg yolk mixture to the hot filling mixture. Cook and stir
for two more minutes. Add the butter and vanilla.
6. Pour the filling into the baked pie shell. Cover the top with plastic
wrap pressed against the filling to avoid a tough skin on the filling.
For the
optional meringue topping:
1. Place the egg
whites in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla and 1 cream of tartar and beat
for about 1 1/2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Do not over-beat.
2. Add the granulated sugar gradually to the mixture. Beat for another
four minutes or until stiff peaks form. With a spatula, spread the meringue
topping on the pie. Sealing the meringue against the edges.
3. Bake the pie for 12 to 16 minutes or until the topping is a golden
brown.
Chill thoroughly
before serving. Store the pie in the refrigerator.
Chocolate
Cream Pie Recipe
Prepare the pie
as for vanilla cream except increase the sugar to one cup and add two
ounces unsweetened baking chocolate with the milk.
Coconut
Cream Pie Recipe
Add one cup of sweetened,
shredded coconut with the vanilla and butter. Top the meringue with
1/3 cup coconut prior to baking. The baking of the meringue will toast
the coconut.
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