Take a step into history with this depression era Water Pie recipe. Go back in time and try this recipe your ancestors made during harder times. Brought back by Dylan Hollis on tiktok try your hand at a recipe from long ago.
This was definitely a humbling pie to make. It brought a new perspective of what others before us may have gone through. You can make this pie as a part of a school history lesson or teaching moment with your kids.
This pie is also enjoyed by many during the holidays like Christmas, or Thanksgiving. The flavor is impressive for a time that had limitations to several ingredients we enjoy today.
For a little more flavor, try our other traditional pies like Banana Cream Pie. Or try our tasty Chocolate Cream Pie. Or try our tasty southern pie Chess Pie, Pecan Pie, Black Bottom pie, Buttermilk Pie, or Sweet Potato Pie.
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Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients needed for this recipe. Follow our tips on each ingredient for best results.
- Pie crust- You can use store bought or homemade for this recipe. Store bought is handy when you're in a pinch.
- Sugar- Gives the pie its sweet flavor. Make sure to use white granulated sugar.
- All-purpose flour- Use white all purpose flour. This will help to thicken the pie and not be as watery. We recipe tested with some other thickeners and found the flour to work the best for this pie. It is also the most period-accurate for this being a depression era recipe.
- Salt- Just a hint of salt to help balance the various flavors.
- Water- Seeing that it's in the name, water is a key ingredient to this recipe.
- Vanilla- Not traditionally used, but it adds a splash of flavor to this custard like pie.
- Butter- Use unsalted butter when making this recipe. If you use salted butter then omit the salt.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Water Pie
Use these process shots to help get the results you are wanting. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for best results.
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Form a pie crust in a pie pan and add the water. Pour the flour mixture over the top.
3. Add the vanilla and lightly mix. Sprinkle the grated butter over top the water and flour mixture making sure it is evenly distributed.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover the edges of the pie with foil. Bake for another 35 minutes. The pie will come out bubbly. Cool and refrigerate before eating.
Hint: When it first gets out of the oven it looks watery. Make sure to let it set and cool and then refrigerate before serving. This gives it time to set properly.
Water Pie vs. Chess Pie
Water pie and chess pie are both traditional Southern desserts with distinct characteristics. It's is a minimalist dessert, consisting of just a few basic ingredients like sugar, butter, flour, and water, resulting in a custard-like texture. On the other hand, chess pie is richer and more elaborate, typically made with a mixture of sugar, butter, eggs, and buttermilk or vinegar. It has a smooth, dense filling with a slightly tangy flavor.
While water pie embodies simplicity, chess pie embraces a more indulgent and flavorful profile, both are southern pies that hold a place in history.
Substitutions and Variations
We love switching things up when we're in the kitchen. Try any of these variations for something a little different.
- Gluten Free- Make this gluten free by using a gluten free pie crust and gluten free all purpose flour when mixing with the water.
- Powdered Sugar- Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar to give it a little sweet flavor and also a cute look.
- Ice Cream- Serve each slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Whipped Topping- With each slice, add a dollop of whipped topping of your choice.
- Berries-Top with fresh berries or a berry syrup for added flavor.
- Sprite- Make this a sprite pie by substituting the water with sprite.
- Root Beer- Make this a root beer pie by substituting the water with root beer. You can use any flavor of soda you'd like to make a fun flavored pie.
Helpful Hints
Let the pie cool completely to room temperature before moving it to the refrigerator, then refrigerate for 2-24 hours. This will ensure that the pie sets up correctly. It could separate or be too watery.
Use a non-stick spray or line the pie plate with parchment paper before putting down the pie crust. The first time I made this when I was recipe testing, I didn't do that and the pie crust stuck like crazy!!
How To Serve Water Pie
Serve this for any Thanksgiving or Christmas for a fun traditional southern pie. It would be a great way to start a conversation about times of old.
Serve this in a history class when you are learning or teaching about the great depression. It would be an easy way to have a visual for students to see just how some people had to eat during hard times.
Storage
Store cooked pie in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 4 days. It's not suggested to freeze this pie. It doesn't thaw well.
Top tip
The pie crust is known to stick to the pan. Make sure to grease and flour the pie pan before adding the pie crust. Or line the pie pan with parchment paper.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Water Pie
Equipment
- 1 Pie Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust store bought or homemade
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 5 Tablespoons butter unsalted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grate butter and place in the freezer.
- Grease 9" pie plate or line with parchment paper. Place pie crust into bottom and up the sides of the pie plate.
- Sift flour, sugar and salt together in a small bowl. Pour water into the pie crust. Sprinkle flour mixture evenly over top of the water. Pour vanilla evenly over the top. Remove butter from the freezer and spread evenly over the top. See process pictures above for a visual, if desired.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cover edges with aluminum foil. The easiest way for me to do this is to cover the entire pie with foil, then make some cuts in the center and peel the foil back (see photo above). Bake an additional 35 minutes. The pie should be bubbly and look like it's turning slightly golden in some places.
- Allow to cool completely to room temperature, then refrigerate 2-24 hours before serving.
Notes
- This pie crust will stick to the pie plate. Please make sure to grease your pie plate or line it with parchment paper.
- Place grated butter in the freezer while assembling the rest of the pie. It makes it much easier to work with.
- Make sure you allow it to cool to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator or it won't set up properly.
- After cooling to room temperature, make sure to refrigerate a minimum of 2 hours so that it sets up properly.
- There will be just a tiny bit of water on the top of the pie when it is completely set up, this is normal.
Nutrition
FAQ
Water pie is a vintage Southern dessert that harks back to times when ingredients were limited. This simple pie typically comprises just a handful of pantry staples: sugar, butter, flour, and water. The ingredients are mixed together to create a custard-like filling that bakes into a subtly sweet, almost translucent layer with a slightly caramelized top. Despite its uncomplicated composition, water pie offers a comforting and nostalgic taste of history, reminding us of the ingenuity of cooks in making something delightful out of basic elements.
This pie has the texture a lot like a custard and the flavor is like a less creamy custard. It's sweet and a little caramel-y tasting. The custard-like filling delivers a gentle sweetness that's not overpowering. The pie's texture is smooth and tender, with a slight caramelization on the surface that adds a delicate crunch
Water pie's appeal lies in its rustic charm and historical significance rather than in its complexity of flavors. While its minimalistic ingredients may not create an explosion of taste, its simplicity offers a taste of nostalgia and a connection to times when resources were scarce. Those who appreciate desserts with a humble and unpretentious character may find the recipe to be a comforting treat that transports them to a different era. Ultimately, whether water pie is considered "good" depends on one's appreciation for its historical context and it's straight forward non complex flavor.
To prepare this vintage Southern dessert, begin by preheating your oven and arranging a pie crust in a pie plate. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, melted butter, flour, and water, creating a smooth batter. Pour this mixture into the pie crust and bake until the pie sets and develops a golden-brown top. The result is a custard-like filling with a gentle sweetness and a hint of caramelization.
Water pie is made with all purpose flour, which has starch in it. The starch mixes with the water and thickens it and helps it set up.
Andrea says
This was a fun Water Pie recipe to explore. It gave a great perspective on how recipes have evolved over the years. It also gave a greater appreciation to the history of the great depression. We enjoyed eating this custard like pie.