Coffee Custard Pie Recipe

Silky Coffee Custard Pie Recipe: A Dreamy Dessert Delight

Silky coffee custard pie tantalizes taste buds with its rich, velvety essence that enhances ordinary desserts into extraordinary experiences.

Smooth and decadent, this divine creation marries the robust depth of coffee with a delicate, creamy texture that melts effortlessly on your palate.

Traditional baking techniques merge with contemporary flavor profiles, creating a dessert that speaks to both classic comfort and modern culinary innovation.

The harmonious blend of ingredients promises a sensory journey that elevates the humble pie into a remarkable gastronomic adventure.

Subtle notes of aromatic coffee weave through each delectable slice, offering a sophisticated twist on familiar custard traditions.

Layers of flavor unfold gradually, revealing complex undertones that dance between sweetness and bold coffee intensity.

Mastering this recipe requires patience, passion, and a genuine appreciation for nuanced dessert crafting.

Add-In Ideas for Your Custard Base

  • Mocha Madness: Intensify the coffee flavor by adding a tablespoon of coffee liqueur to the custard and sprinkling dark chocolate shavings on top for an extra rich experience.
  • Nutty Espresso Crunch: Incorporate chopped toasted hazelnuts or almonds into the custard before baking, creating a delightful texture contrast and complementing the coffee notes.
  • Caramel Coffee Dream: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce over the cooled pie and sprinkle sea salt flakes to enhance the sweet and bitter coffee profile.
  • Spiced Coffee Sensation: Mix ground cinnamon and a pinch of cardamom into the custard base for a warming, aromatic twist that elevates the traditional coffee custard pie.

Coffee Custard Pie That’s Silky and Rich

  • Craft an Indulgent Coffee Flavor Explosion: This pie delivers a rich, deep coffee essence that transforms a classic custard into a sophisticated dessert, tantalizing taste buds with its intense espresso-infused profile.
  • Achieve Silky-Smooth Custard Perfection: The careful tempering and double-straining technique ensures an ultra-smooth, creamy texture that melts perfectly on your tongue, creating a luxurious mouthfeel that's both elegant and comforting.
  • Elevate Your Baking Skills with Chocolate Pastry Mastery: The chocolate pastry crust adds a decadent twist, combining deep cocoa notes with the coffee custard, making this recipe a delightful challenge for home bakers looking to impress with professional-level techniques.
  • Versatile Dessert for Every Occasion: Whether it's a fancy dinner party, a cozy weekend treat, or a special celebration, this coffee custard pie brings a touch of gourmet sophistication that works perfectly for any gathering or personal indulgence.

What You’ll Need for Coffee Custard Pie

Pie Crust Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for creating a rich, chocolate pastry with sturdy texture.
  • Cocoa Powder: Provides deep chocolate flavor and dark color to the pie crust.
  • Powdered Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create a delicate crust texture.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the pastry.
  • Cold Butter: Ensures flaky, tender crust with rich, buttery taste.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds structure to the pie dough.
Coffee Custard Filling Ingredients:
  • Whole Milk: Creates smooth, creamy base for the custard.
  • Heavy Cream: Adds richness and luxurious mouthfeel to the custard.
  • Brown Sugar: Provides deep, caramel-like sweetness to the filling.
  • Espresso Powder: Intensifies coffee flavor throughout the custard.
  • Salt: Balances and enhances the overall flavor profile.
  • Eggs, Egg Yolks: Primary thickening agent for creating silky custard texture.
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides additional sweetness and helps with custard setting.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic background flavor.
Garnish Ingredients:
  • Whipped Cream: Light, fluffy topping that complements the rich custard.
  • Powdered Sugar: Delicate finishing touch for visual appeal and extra sweetness.

Instructions to Bake and Chill This Creamy Pie

Step 1: Create Chocolate Pastry Dough

Blend dry ingredients in a food processor. Add cold butter and pulse until crumbly. Pour whisked egg while processing until dough forms a cohesive ball. Wrap dough in plastic and shape into a disk. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Step 2: Prepare Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out chilled dough on floured surface to 11-inch circle. Transfer to 9-inch pie plate and crimp edges. Line with parchment paper and add pie weights. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove weights and bake additional 5 minutes. Cool completely.

Step 3: Make Coffee Custard Filling

Ingredients for filling:
  • Milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Brown sugar
  • Espresso powder
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Egg yolks
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract

Step 4: Heat Milk Mixture

Combine milk, cream, brown sugar, espresso powder, and salt in saucepan. Heat until small bubbles form around edges.

Step 5: Prepare Egg Mixture

Whisk eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract in separate bowl.

Step 6: Temper Custard

Slowly pour hot milk mixture into egg mixture while whisking constantly. Return combined mixture to saucepan.

Step 7: Cook Custard

Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Strain through fine mesh sieve twice to remove lumps.

Step 8: Bake Custard Pie

Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Pour warm custard into pre-baked crust. Bake 35-40 minutes until edges set and center slightly wobbles.

Step 9: Chill and Serve

Cool pie completely on wire rack. Refrigerate until serving. Top with whipped cream and powdered sugar dust before serving.

Helpful Tips for Even Baking and Full Flavor

  • Chill Pastry Perfectly: Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours to prevent shrinking and ensure a flaky, tender crust.
  • Temper Eggs Carefully: Pour hot milk mixture slowly into eggs while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling and create smooth custard.
  • Check Custard Consistency: Use the spoon test by drawing a line that holds its shape to ensure proper thickening without overcooking.
  • Strain for Silky Texture: Double-strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve to remove any potential egg lumps and create an ultra-smooth filling.
  • Prevent Overbaking: Watch the pie's center carefully; it should be slightly wobbly when done to maintain a creamy, luxurious texture.

How to Keep Your Coffee Pie Fresh

  • Refrigeration: Store the coffee custard pie in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain its creamy texture and prevent absorption of other food odors.
  • Freezing: Carefully wrap the cooled pie in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to preserve its delicate custard consistency.
  • Reheating: Warm individual slices briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power, or let the pie sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to soften the custard and enhance its rich coffee flavor.

Best Pairings for Coffee Custard Pie

  • Brew a Bold Coffee Companion: Pair this rich coffee custard pie with a robust, dark roast coffee like Colombian or French roast. The intense coffee notes will complement the pie's deep espresso flavor, creating a harmonious taste experience.
  • Creamy Contrast Delight: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream. The cool, smooth texture balances the pie's warm, velvety custard and adds a luxurious touch to each bite.
  • Chocolate Lover's Dream Match: Enjoy with a small glass of chocolate liqueur or a dark chocolate truffle. The complementary chocolate undertones in the pie crust will dance beautifully with these decadent chocolate accompaniments.
  • Nutty Texture Enhancer: Sprinkle some toasted almond slivers or serve with a hazelnut biscotti on the side. The crunchy nuts provide a delightful textural contrast to the silky smooth custard and add a subtle depth to the overall dessert experience.
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Coffee Custard Pie Recipe

Coffee Custard Pie Recipe


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4.5 from 10 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Silky smooth coffee custard pie delivers a luxurious dessert experience that blends rich espresso with creamy custard in a delicate pastry shell. Espresso-infused layers melt together, promising a sophisticated treat that satisfies coffee enthusiasts and dessert lovers with its deep, complex flavors.


Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Pie Pastry Ingredients:

Main Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (28 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup (56 grams) powdered sugar

Seasoning:

  • 1 pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cold and diced
  • 1 large egg

Coffee Custard Ingredients:

Dairy Components:

  • 1 cup (227 grams) whole milk
  • 1 cup (227 grams) heavy cream

Sweeteners:

  • ⅓ cup (70 grams) brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup (70 grams) granulated sugar

Coffee and Seasoning:

  • 1 heaping tablespoon espresso powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Eggs:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks

Additional Flavor:

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Craft a rich chocolate pastry foundation by blending flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor until uniformly mixed.
  2. Incorporate cold butter into the dry ingredients, pulsing until the mixture transforms into a crumbly texture.
  3. Drizzle whisked egg into the processor while running, continuing until the dough consolidates into a smooth mass.
  4. Transfer the dough onto plastic wrap, mold into a disc, and gently stretch before sealing tightly.
  5. Chill the pastry in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours to enhance flavor and texture.
  6. Heat the oven to 400ºF and roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface into an 11-inch circular shape.
  7. Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate, crimping the edges with delicate precision.
  8. Line the pie shell with parchment paper and weight it down, then bake for 25 minutes to create a sturdy base.
  9. Remove weights and parchment, returning the crust to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to achieve a crisp finish.
  10. Reduce oven temperature to 325ºF in preparation for the custard.
  11. Combine milk, cream, brown sugar, espresso powder, and salt in a saucepan, warming until tiny bubbles emerge around the edges.
  12. Whisk eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until well integrated.
  13. Gradually introduce the heated milk mixture into the egg blend, whisking continuously to prevent curdling.
  14. Return the tempered mixture to the saucepan, cooking gently until the custard thickens and reaches 160ºF.
  15. Strain the custard twice through a fine mesh sieve to ensure silky smoothness.
  16. Pour the warm custard into the pre-baked chocolate crust, carefully eliminating any surface bubbles.
  17. Bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a set perimeter with a slightly trembling center.
  18. Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate to enhance its set and flavor.
  19. Garnish with softly whipped cream and a delicate dusting of powdered sugar before serving chilled.

Notes

  • Mastering the chocolate pastry requires chilled butter and precise pulsing to achieve a flaky, rich crust that complements the coffee custard perfectly.
  • Tempering eggs slowly prevents scrambling, ensuring a silky-smooth custard with intense coffee flavor and luxurious texture.
  • Straining the custard twice guarantees an ultra-creamy filling without any unwanted lumps or egg bits.
  • Baking the pie at the exact temperature allows the custard to set with a delicate wobble, creating a professional-quality dessert that looks as good as it tastes.
  • Cooling the pie completely before refrigerating helps develop a rich, deep flavor profile and allows the custard to set perfectly.
  • Serve chilled for the most decadent coffee custard experience, with a dollop of whipped cream that cuts through the intense coffee notes.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Drinks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 372
  • Sugar: 21 g
  • Sodium: 80 mg
  • Fat: 26 g
  • Saturated Fat: 16 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 35 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 132 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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