
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
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Beat the sugar, cornstarch and yolks of the eggs together
After the milk has come to a boil, stir in the mixture and add a pinch of salt and about a teaspoonful of butter
Make crust the same as any pie
Bake, then fill with the custard
Grate over a little nutmeg and bake again
Take the whites of the eggs and beat to a stiff froth with two tablespoonfuls of sugar
Spread over the top and brown in a quick oven
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Cooking the cornstarch with milk creates a stable custard through gelatinization—when heated, starch granules absorb liquid and swell, thickening the mixture without curdling the eggs. Tempering the egg yolks by beating them with sugar and starch before adding hot milk prevents scrambling. The meringue topping browns beautifully because egg white proteins denature and the sugar caramelizes under high heat, creating both structure and flavor.
The pie crust can be blind-baked up to 1 day ahead and stored at room temperature, covered loosely with plastic wrap. The custard filling is best made fresh, as cornstarch-thickened mixtures can break down over time.
Store the finished pie loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The meringue will soften and may weep slightly after the first day. Do not freeze, as the meringue and custard textures will deteriorate significantly upon thawing.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The pie crust can be blind-baked up to 1 day ahead and stored at room temperature, covered loosely with plastic wrap. The custard filling is best made fresh, as cornstarch-thickened mixtures can break down over time.
Store the finished pie loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The meringue will soften and may weep slightly after the first day. Do not freeze, as the meringue and custard textures will deteriorate significantly upon thawing.