Water pie
Dessert with translucent custard filling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Water pie is a type of pie with a translucent custard filling made primarily from water, along with sugar, flour, butter and sometimes vanilla extract.[1] The recipe originated in the late 1800s and was also made during the Great Depression.[2] It experienced a revival during the 2020s amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.[3][4][better source needed]
History
Simplified recipes with alternative ingredients, including desserts such as depression cake, were popular throughout history in times when ingredients were scarce or unaffordable.[5][6] Water pie in particular dates back to the late nineteenth century.[2] Through versions of the recipe in cookbooks from the Great Depression in the United States, it resurfaced thanks to TikTok users and food blogs in the 2020s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which highlighted its low cost and simplicity.[3][7]
Ingredients
The pie is made by adding water mixed with sugar, flour and butter, and sometimes some spice such as vanilla or cinnamon, to a pie crust. The starch in the flour makes the mixture set and thicken, thus acquiring a custard-like consistency.[1] Soft drinks such as Sprite may be used in place of water.[8]
See also
- Depression cake – Type of cake commonly made during the Great Depression
- Toast sandwich – Sandwich with toast filling
- Chipped beef – Sliced dried beef product
- Spam – Canned pork product
- Betty Crocker – Brand and fictional character
- Chwee kueh – Chinese steamed rice cake
