
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). The addition of the juice of half a lemon improves it, if convenient to have it.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
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Grate the rind of one and use the juice of two large oranges
Stir together a large cupful of sugar and a heaping tablespoonful of flour
Add to this the well-beaten yolks of three eggs, two tablespoonfuls of melted butter
Reserve the whites for frosting
Turn this into a pie-pan lined with pie paste and bake in a quick oven
When done so as to resemble a finely baked custard, spread on the top of it the beaten whites, which must be sweetened with two tablespoonfuls of sugar
Spread evenly and return to the oven and brown slightly
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
The combination of flour and egg yolks creates a stable custard that sets without curdling in the oven's heat. The flour's starch molecules gelatinize and reinforce the protein structure from the eggs, preventing the filling from weeping or becoming grainy. Baking the meringue topping on the already-cooked filling allows the egg white proteins to coagulate and stabilize at a lower temperature, creating a tender, glossy topping rather than a tough, overcooked one.
The pie crust can be blind-baked up to 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap. The orange custard filling can be prepared (but not baked) up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated; bring to room temperature before pouring into the crust and baking.
Store the finished pie covered loosely with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note that meringue toppings will weep and deflate over time, so this pie is best served within 24 hours of baking. Do not freeze, as the custard filling and meringue will separate and become watery when thawed.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The pie crust can be blind-baked up to 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap. The orange custard filling can be prepared (but not baked) up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated; bring to room temperature before pouring into the crust and baking.
Store the finished pie covered loosely with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note that meringue toppings will weep and deflate over time, so this pie is best served within 24 hours of baking. Do not freeze, as the custard filling and meringue will separate and become watery when thawed.