We are a pie family for sure. Thanksgiving 2003 mom and I had decided that we needed to shake things up a bit and try some new pies. We thought a Pear Pie might be good. I made it my mission to find the best one and began trying recipes. They were mostly pretty good, but not spectacular. Then our friend Beverly M. heard about our search and shared with us her Pear Pie recipe. It was SO good and is now our first pie gone every year. In fact, we now make TWO for Thanksgiving.
Start with a single unbaked pie crust. Basic Pie Crust
Peel and slice 4 ripe pears. You don’t want them to be too ripe or the pie will have too much liquid to set. I do thick slices. The original recipe says to cut the pears into quarters. I prefer them sliced smaller so there is more room for the custard to move in and set around the pears.
Place the pears in a circular pattern, or just fill in as best you can, into the unbaked crust.
Next, with a hand mixer, blend together the butter, flour and sugar. After that is well mixed add in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Pour and smooth custard mix over the pear slices.
Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for 55-60 minutes.
We hope you love this pie as much as we do!
Pear Custard Pie
Ingredients
- 4 Fresh, Ripe Pears peeled, and sliced thick
- 1 cup Sugar
- ½ cup Butter softened
- ¼ cup Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 Single Pie Crust unbaked
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°.
- Place pear slices in a circular fashion, filling the prepared pie crust.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients with an electric mixer, until creamy. Pour batter evenly over pears and spread so it is smooth on top.
- Bake at 325° for 55-60 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
- It sometimes need to bake another 10 minutes. Make sure it is solid, and not liquid at all in the center. You can tell this just by moving it slightly to see if it stays firm in the center.
Absolutely love this recipe!!!! Literally the only pie I like.
Self risingor all purpose
Flour?
All purpose
What type of pears do you use?
I use Bartlett Pears. Choose pears that are firm that give in slightly when pressed. Firm, not hard.
Does crust bake ? No raw. Temp seems low. I make apple pies higher temp. Just wondering
I’ve never had a problem with the crust not baking. Pears are more fragile than apples, and in order for the custard to bake properly it needs a low temp, slow bake. I’ve been making this for years. Trust me. It works.
Just saw your recipe on TikTok, making it this year!
Loved this pie, thanks!
I tried this on a whim, and it really is a STAND OUT recipe! Thank you for sharing what will certainly be a pie I make over and over!
Does this pie do well as a make-ahead? Can it be frozen and how do you defrost it?
Never tried freezing it. Can definitely be made ahead. I’ve made it 3 days before, but be warned. It doesn’t last long once made.
Is this pie served warm or cold?
Either. We prefer room temp, or a little warm. If it’s too warm the pie will not be set up.
Has anyone done this with apples?
I love apple pie, but I’m really happy with this one the way it is. If you try it let us know how it goes!
I’ve made it with pears and a couple apples mixed in as well, and it was a great combination!
Do I have to refrigerate this pie if I make it the day before?
If it is longer than a day or two, I do refrigerate. I’ve never had a problem leaving it out for 24-48 hours. Usually, it’s gone before we get to that point anyways.
Does it have to be refrigerated?
If it is longer than a day or two, I do refrigerate. I’ve never had a problem leaving it out for 24-48 hours. Usually, it’s gone before we get to that point anyways.
Can I use apples instead of pears?
Give it a try! Let us know how it goes. We really love it with pears, and make apple pie that we really love, so I don’t think I would try it.
Outstanding pie recipe, wish I had made two for this year’s Thanksgiving! This will make an appearance at every family gathering.
AWESOME! Makes me SO happy! Thanks for letting us know!
I love this recipe SO much! It’s so easy to put together and far superior to any apple pie I’ve ever had. I love it so much I’ll be making pies to give away as holiday gifts to family and friends this season! Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe!
I’m so glad I discovered your recipe. I’ve made it twice and it’s outstanding. The second time I made it in a large IKEA tart pan, and it turned out wonderfully. My son didn’t want me to share the recipe with the rest of the family, he wanted it to be “our” secret!
Hahaha Love that secret recipe idea. Thanks for sharing. We are so happy that you love it!