Hey guys! I’ve got an easy little pie for you all just in time for Easter, or for any time really! If you’ve ever had a French Silk Pie, this is kind of like that, but coffee flavored instead of chocolate!
Eating a slice of pie for breakfast is maybe one of the best parts of being an adult, and this pie throws coffee into that mix at the same time. It’s fluffy, creamy, and pretty dang addictive, so let’s get to it!
This pie starts off with a coffee custard. It’s a simple process, but one that you need to take your time on to get it just right. Start by whisking together some sugar, cornstarch, instant espresso powder, and salt in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and milk, and begin to heat the mixture slowly over medium-low heat, whisking often.
Meanwhile, we’re whisking together the egg yolks and additional sugar in a small bowl until they become super pale and ribbony. Once the milk mixture is steaming, we can start to slowly drizzle in about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks while whisking. Then, pour the whole thing back into the pot, and whisk vigorously until thickened.
This step is super important. You want to keep the heat on medium low, and you can’t walk away from it at this point. You really need to whisk it constantly, and it’s going to seem like nothing is happening for a while, but then it’ll start thickening very quickly. Then, it’s off to the fridge to chill!
While the custard chills, make your pie crust since it needs to bake for a few minutes, and fully cool down. And finally, whip up a bunch of whipped cream. I like to add instant vanilla pudding mix to my whipped cream for a couple of reasons- it gives it a subtle flavor and sweetness without going overboard, and most importantly, it will stabilize the whipped cream and keep it from splitting over time as it sits in the fridge.
Once everything is nice and cold, you can start folding about 3/4 of the whipped cream into your custard. This process also takes a bit of patience, and you want to keep it slow to make sure you keep it fluffy! Spread the mixture into your pie crust, top it with the rest of the whipped cream and optionally some shaved chocolate, and you’ve got yourself a super easy Coffee Cream Pie! It need to chill for about 4 hours before serving.
Making a whipped cream pie is pretty simple, and the hard parts of this recipe are mostly in the custard itself. I’ve got some tips to help you along the way!
Hope you guys enjoy this one- it’s definitely one of our family favorites!
In a medium saucepan, whisk together 2/3 cup sugar, the cornstarch, instant espresso powder, and salt until combined. Slowly whisk in the whole milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until combined. Heat the mixture over low-medium heat, whisking often.
While the milk mixture heats, in a small bowl whisk together the egg yolks and remaining 2 tbs. of sugar until they become pale. Once the milk mixture is steaming hot, ladle in about 1 cup of the milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture very slowly, whisking constantly. This is to temper the egg yolks. Then, pour the egg mixture back into the pot, and whisk everything together. Whisk constantly over low-medium heat until the mixture becomes very thick, about 5-8 minutes.
Once the mixture thickens, remove it from the heat and continue to whisk for about 30 seconds-1 minute. If you see any lumps, push the custard through a fine mesh sieve at this point. Pour into a heat safe bowl, and cover with plastic wrap that is pressed directly on top of the custard. Chill the mixture for 1-2 hours, or until it is completely chilled through.
While the custard chills, make the crust. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and pull out a pie plate. Use a food processor to grind the oreos and sugar into fine crumbs. Stir in the melted butter until it is well distributed throughout the crumbs, and the mixture looks like wet sand. It should hold together when pressed. Pour the mixture into a 8 or 9 inch pie pan, and press into the pan gently all the way around and up the sides using a flat bottom of a glass or measuring cup. Bake the crust for 5-8 minutes, or until it looks dry and feels firm to the touch. Let the crust cool completely before continuing.
In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, use a whisk attachment to whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Then, add in the instant vanilla pudding mix (optionally), and beat the cream until stiff peaks form.
Slowly fold the whipped cream into the chilled coffee custard, starting with about 1/4 cup of whipped cream that you can stir in vigorously to lighten the base of the custard. Then, fold in about 3/4 of the total whipped cream mixture to the custard, folding slowly and gently until fully combined. Spread the filling in your prepared pie crust evenly. Top the pie with the remaining whipped cream, and optionally add sprinkles or chocolate shavings.
Chill the pie for at least 3-4 hours before serving, or overnight. Enjoy!
Hello and welcome! My name is Nicole, and Dough-eyed is a food blog for people who want to bake for their family and friends in high-altitude areas. Think of me as a friendly voice there with you in the kitchen, here to give you confidence when you’re baking, and to help you with the struggles of baking at high-altitude. Come back every week for new recipes, tips, and advice on high-altitude baking!
Hello and welcome! My name is Nicole, and Dough-eyed is a food blog for people who want to bake for their family and friends in high-altitude areas. Think of me as a friendly voice there with you in the kitchen, here to give you confidence when you’re baking, and to help you with the struggles of baking at high-altitude. Come back every week for new recipes, tips, and advice on high-altitude baking!
2020, Dough-Eyed
Design by Themeshift.
TJ Moore
April 3, 2021 at 1:52 pmThis is so creamy looking, haven't made it yet. Yum! Wanted to let you know that I just posted your recipe and link here on The Bakers group on Nextdoor.com. If you'd like to join us there you are invited! https://nextdoor.com/g/672urt3uw/ Warmly, Tami Moore
Susan Dubose
April 6, 2021 at 3:54 amCHOCOLATE! This is a beautiful and decadent pie. Perfect for a special occasion!
Dough-Eyed
April 24, 2021 at 2:25 pmGlad you liked it!!
Kelsey S
January 6, 2023 at 9:28 amMy custard is pretty dark – and not like the pic.I feel like I didn’t something wrong 😬😬
Dough-Eyed
February 25, 2023 at 1:53 pmHey there! This is likely just a difference in the type of coffee we used, unless your custard got burned. If it tastes good and it's thickened, you should be good to go!