
Making a sturdy pie crust
To hold the heavy, decadent filling, I use a classic pie dough called Pâte Brisée that consists of just flour, butter, salt, and water. I even use it for my double-crust apple pie recipe. It yields a tender and buttery texture, pairing perfectly with the custard.
It’s crucial to let the dough rest, chilled for 4 hours before rolling. This allows the gluten proteins that form to relax, preventing a tough bite. After shaping the crust, freeze it for 20 minutes to chill the butter. I like to use a 9-inch glass pie plate. It makes it much easier to monitor the browning on the sides when baking.

Fully bake the pie dough
Since you don’t bake the filling, the crust must cook in two stages to create a sturdy shell. First, the shell is blind-baked with weights for 20 minutes in a glass pie pan. This process helps set the shell’s hollow shape and keep the bottom from puffing up in the center.
Afterward, you remove the weights and bake the crust until golden brown. It will shrink slightly on the edges, but that’s normal as the proteins contract when heated up. Before filling the pie shell, it needs to cool down completely.
I’ve even made a version using a graham cracker crust. If you like the robust and sweeter taste of graham crackers, give it a try to switch things up!
Sweet apple and ladyfinger dumplings in crispy puff pastry
This was my nana’s all-time favorite cake! Now I know why
Sweet Chili Sriracha Glazed Salmon
Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
Texas Hash
Homemade Pizza: A Soft and Light Dough Like at the Pizzeria
Heartbreak for Simone Biles on the final day of the Olympics. She didn’t expect this.
Why Should You Attach a Clothespin to the Shower?
“Oh wow, you need to remember this one!” – The first thing my husband said after trying this, haha.









