A Depression-era Southern pie made from water, sugar, and flour—plus a pie crust. It sounds strange, but the result is surprisingly custardy and caramel-like.
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1½ cups water
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional, but highly recommended)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the unbaked pie crust in a pie dish. Pour in 1½ cups water.
- Whisk the sugar and flour together, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the water. Do not stir.
- Dot the surface with the butter and drizzle over the vanilla, if using.
- Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes.
- Reduce the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for another 30–35 minutes, until the filling is golden and mostly set with a slight jiggle.
- Cool completely—ideally several hours or overnight. The filling thickens considerably as it cools.
- Slice and serve plain, or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Tip: Don’t be tempted to stir the filling before baking. The unusual layering is part of what makes Water Pie work.