Orange Custard Pie

The secret to a delicate, foolproof custard pie lies in the chemistry of cornstarch and eggs.

YIELD Serves 8

TIME 50 minutes, plus 2 hours cooling

Orange Custard Pie photo

Why This Recipe Works

Gather Your Ingredients

Key Equipment

Key Equipment - The Best Rasp Graters

Before You Begin

*

For a flaky and tender pie pastry with detailed instructions on how to prebake it, see the related recipe. The prebaked pie shell can be made ahead, but it should be heated in a 375-degree oven until hot, about 5 minutes, before the custard filling is poured into it. Or, if you prefer to prebake the pie shell and make the pie in one continuous process, begin heating the milk and cream for the custard when the foil and pie weights are removed; the filling should be ready at the same time as the shell is ready to be filled. (The oven rack position and temperature for prebaking the pie shell remain the same for the filled pie.) It is a given: Your pie shell will shrink as it bakes. With minimal shrinkage, all the custard will fit into the shell, but if you experience more severe shrinkage you will have some leftover filling.

Instructions

1.

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat milk and cream in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until steaming, about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, orange zest, orange juice, and salt in medium bowl.

2.

Heat prebaked pie shell in oven until hot, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk steaming milk and cream into egg and cornstarch mixture in slow, steady stream. Return egg and milk mixture to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, scraping bottom of pan, until custard begins to thicken and forms a ridge on tip of spoon when bottom of pan is scraped and spoon is lifted (see illustration below), 6 to 8 minutes. (If using thermometer, stir occasionally until custard reaches 160, then constantly.) Leaving pie plate on oven rack, pour custard into hot pie shell. Bake until custard has set around edges but jiggles slightly in the center when shaken, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature, 2 hours. cut into wedges and serve.

Test Kitchen Techniques

FROM OUR TV SPONSORS

We are thankful to the sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you the America's Test Kitchen TV series on public television. Read more about why we have sponsors.