Impossible Pie

Impossible Pie is the easiest pie you will ever bake! It magically forms its own crust plus two delicious layers while baking.

Why You’ll Love Impossible Pie

• It’s a very easy recipe. Just combine the ingredients, pour into a pie dish, and let the oven do all the work.
• The flavors are easily adaptable by adding simple ingredients, swapping out the extract, or adding spices.
• It’s the perfect pie for holidays but is easy enough to make anytime you have a craving for something sweet. The whole family will love it.
• Amazing recipe for bake sales or church potlucks.
• You probably have all the basic ingredients you need for it in your pantry right now!

Ingredients 

• Butter: I typically use unsalted butter in baked goods, but salted butter works out fine in most cases. Did you know that salt brings out sweet flavors? Culinary Lore explains how this works. However, if you’re watching your sodium, use unsalted butter. Remember to let it soften to room temperature before combining with the remaining ingredients.
• Flour: I used all-purpose flour, but you may use cake flour if you prefer. For cake flour, you’ll need an additional 2 tablespoons of flour. It will sink to the bottom during the baking process to make the scrumptious crust.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the pie just the right amount. Substitute the granulated sugar with brown sugar to give the pie more of a molasses or butterscotch flavor.
• Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract is preferable, but imitation vanilla works in a pinch. Alternatively, you can use paste or fresh vanilla bean to add flavor.
• Eggs: Use large eggs. Since this pie is a sort of custard pie, eggs are an essential ingredient!
• Milk: Any type of milk works (low fat, skim, etc.), but whole milk yields the richest flavor. 
• Shredded Coconut: You can use sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut. Sweetened coconut will make a much sweeter pie (which I prefer), while unsweetened coconut is a nice balance with the other ingredients.

How to Make This Impossible Pie Recipe

Ready to make some Impossible Coconut Pie? Roll up your sleeves and let’s get started. You’ll see just how easy (and delicious!) it is for yourself.

• Step One: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, add the butter, flour, cup of sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, milk and shredded coconut to a large bowl. Beat together until the mixture is combined.
• Step Two: Pour custard filling into a greased 9″ pie pan. Bake for 1 hour at 350°F until the center is firm and the pie is golden brown.
• Step Three: Cool this magical pie on a cooling rack and then let it chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. I recommend waiting for a few hours to make sure the pie has completely firmed up.

See how simple it is? Make this delicious recipe once and you’ll always remember how to make it. This is a timeless dessert that you’ll serve again and again.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Here a few helpful kitchen tools you’ll need to have on hand to make this recipe.

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• Mixing bowls
• 9-inch pie pan
• Pie server
• Mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cooling rack

What to Serve with Impossible Pie

I like to serve mine with a little bit of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Add toasted coconut flakes, caramel sauce, or shaved chocolate for an extra decadent version. Of course, coffee and dessert is one of life’s greatest pleasures. 

Impossible Pie Recipe Tips and Tricks 

• Put a baking sheet under your pie plate in case the mixture bubbles over while baking.
• If you don’t have coconut, you can simply leave it out and enjoy an egg custard pie instead or try one of the variations below.
• Dust a little powdered sugar over the top for added sweetness and a pretty presentation if you’re making this without the coconut.
• Refrigerate overnight for richer flavor! It tastes even better the next day.
• Use a deep dish pie plate for best results.

Variations and Substitutions 

• Add raisins. One commenter mentioned that her husband enjoyed a raisin pie that made its own crust, and the sweetness of the raisins would go perfectly with the other ingredients.
• Incorporate warming spices. Cinnamon, ground nutmeg, or even apple pie spice or pumpkin spice can be added to this scrumptious pie for extra flavor.
• Make Chocolate Impossible Pie. Add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to this recipe to make a pie that any chocolate fan would love. Mix in a couple tablespoons of peanut butter to turn it into Chocolate Peanut Butter Impossible Pie.
• Use buttermilk. You may have heard of Buttermilk Impossible Pie, as buttermilk desserts are quite popular in old-fashioned cookbooks. This could be a tasty option if you like pies with a little tang.

Storage Instructions 

Since this pie is made with dairy and eggs to make a custard, it should be kept refrigerated. It’ll be good in the fridge for up to a week. Make sure you wrap the pie pan tightly with plastic wrap or store leftovers in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze Impossible Pie? 

Since you may need your pie pan for other recipes, I recommend flash freezing the pie in the pan for an hour or two before wrapping individual slices in plastic wrap and storing them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

FAQ

What is Impossible Pie?

It’s an impossibly easy pie! Seriously, all you have to do is beat all the ingredients together, pour into a greased pie pan, and let it bake. It’ll form its own pie crust as well as a custard layer during the baking process.

What does Impossible Pie taste like?

It tastes like coconut custard, but you can easily adapt the flavor to your tastes. Impossible Lemon Pie is a yummy variation.

Can I omit the coconut?

Yes, if you don’t like coconut or have an allergy to it, you can leave it out to make a delicious egg custard pie.

More Vintage Pie Recipes

I love my old fashioned recipes and vintage desserts! I have a vintage cookbook you can snag at the bottom of this post. Just fill out the form to get it delivered to your inbox. In the meantime, check out these yummy pies.

• Marshmallow Pie: Creamy and sweet. This rich no-bake pie is like heaven on earth.
• Strawberry Cream Pie: Tastes like a dream. This easy summer pie is creamy, sweet and refreshing.
• Pineapple Pie: Creamy, smooth and tropical. This pie is easy to prepare and guaranteed to be loved by all.
• Oatmeal Pie: An old fashioned dessert just like Grandma used to make! Yes, I love my grandma’s recipes.
• Shoofly Pie: A popular Pennsylvania Dutch pie recipe from the 1800s. It has nothing to do with bugs!
• Millionaire Pie: Also known as Furr’s Cafeteria Pineapple Millionaire Pie. This easy vintage recipe takes minutes to prepare. Sweet and rich, it tastes like a million bucks!

You’ll also like Impossible Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Impossible Pie, Sugar Pie, Chess Pie and Fudge Pie.

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