OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (2024)

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Old Fashioned Sugar Pie Recipe is a vintage but very popular pie with a gooey brown sugar filling and flaky crust. It’s a simple recipe, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and milk, using pantry staples.

OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (1)

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OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE

I had a reader ask about an Old Fashioned Sugar Pie Recipe after I posted this Buttermilk Pie. Since I began making the brown sugar pie, it has become one of our favorites.

A lot of people confuse a Chess Pie with Sugar Pie, but they are not the same. In fact, Chess Pie, Sugar Pie, and Butter Pie are all similar. As well, the lines are blurred even more with personal modifications and bloggers’ renaming or misnaming these recipes based on SEO target keywords.

A Sugar Pie has a single crust and is filled with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, flour, milk, eggs, and vanilla. When it bakes the filling turns into a caramel-like mixture (from the butter and brown sugar).

Sometimes the Old Fashioned Sugar Pie is referred to as ‘desperation pie’ because it could be made with ingredients that would always be on hand ‘on the farm’, butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. Similarly, the reason Buttermilk Pie, Vinegar Pie, and Chess Piebecame popular.

OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (2)

WHERE DID SUGAR PIE ORIGINATE?

This pie is originally from France. It came to Quebec, and subsequently the rest of Canada, during colonization. Sugar Pie varieties can also be found in other western European countries, as well as throughout the mid-west in the US.

IS TART AU SUCRE THE SAME AS SUGAR PIE?

Yes! Tarte au Sucre is a French term meaning “sugar pie.”

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Sugar Pie Recipe

I found a simple version of the recipe in one of my Grandmother’s old recipe books. Basically, there were just measurements and no good instructions. After a couple of tries, it turned out great.

Turns out this recipe is crazy simple to make. I even modified it after initially posting this recipe to an even more simple method of mixing it. Most recipes that have been around for a long time are simple. But, they stand the test of time because they’re also goodand usually economical to make.

This Sugar Pie Recipe has a gooey, sugary consistency. It’s like flan or creme brulee without the caramelized sugar on top. You could totally top this pie with meringue if you’re not meringue-opposed like I am. Instead, I prefer to serve it with whipped cream or ice cream.

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What you’ll need to make this recipe

  • Butter. Real butter, no substitution
  • All-purpose flour.
  • Milk.
  • Eggs.
  • Brownsugar.
  • Pure vanilla extract.
  • Pie crust. You can make pie crust. I love this Never Fail Pie Crust recipe as well as this Coconut Oil Pie Crust. Of course, you can also purchase a pie crust. This is a regular, not deep dish, pie crust. If you use a deep dish pie crust, you will need to double the filling ingredients as well as cook the pie longer. (I’m not sure about the time, you’ll need to watch and test it.)
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Old Fashioned Sugar Pie Tips

As mentioned above, I changed the method for making this pie over time. I mix all the ingredients in a bowl, pour it into the prebaked pie crust, and put it in the oven. It’s so much easier than the way I originally published the recipe.

Likewise, be patient when baking the pie. It takes a long time to bake, especially when you’re dying to taste it. This pie will still be slightly jiggly in the center when it’s done. But the edges will be set and the top will be lightly browned. And, hey, if you take it out of the oven before it’s set, serve it over ice cream as a sauce and it’s still good. #becauseIknow

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I updated this post from an earlier version dated October 15, 2017. I made new photos and simplified the recipe instructions.

These were the original photos for this sugar pie.

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OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (8)
OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (9)

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  5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (15)

Old Fashioned Sugar Pie Recipe

Butter, sugar, and brown sugar cook in a flaky crust to form a gooey pie. It'ss simple yet decadent.

Author: Paula

4.95 from 94 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 slices

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 1 and ½ cups brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 9-inch Pie crust I used a store bought crust

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Place the pie crust on a cookie sheet (in case it boils over). Blind bake the crust for 10 minutes.

  • When you remove the crust from the oven after 10 minutes, turn the oven up to 350°F.

  • In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, flour, milk, vanilla, and brown sugar.

  • Whisk the eggs separately, then stir them into the brown sugar mixture.

  • Pour the mixture into pre-baked pie crust.

  • Bake at 350°F for 50 to55 minutes. The pie will puff up with the edge appearing brown and 'firm'. The center will be a little jiggly.

  • Carefully remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool before cutting.

  • Serve at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream.

  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It's last 5 to 7 days in the fridge.

Notes

I retested this recipe and made changes to the above ingredient amounts that I believe work better. Below is simply the recipe as originally written.

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2tablespoonsflour
  • ½cupwhole milk
  • 1 and ½ cups brown sugar
  • 2largeeggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (9-inch) Pie crust, I used a store-bought crust

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 153mg | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 1mg

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OLD FASHIONED SUGAR PIE RECIPE {BROWN SUGAR PIE} (2024)

FAQs

What does brown sugar do in baking? ›

What Brown Sugar Does in Baking. Brown sugar is often used in baking for the flavor and moistness it adds to baked goods. The molasses in brown sugar also helps to prevent cookies and cakes from drying out. It generally makes baked goods softer and moister.

Do you always pack brown sugar in a recipe? ›

Packing brown sugar is a crucial component in making a consistent baking measurement. Packing brown sugar presses out all of those small pockets of air that get trapped between the sticky sugar granules, and in-turn will ensure that your sweet treat comes out as just that—sweet!

What's the difference between a sugar pie and a chess pie? ›

What is the Difference Between a Sugar Cream Pie and Custard or Chess Pie? Chess pies and custard pies are mixed and poured right into the pie crust, and they contain eggs. A sugar cream pie is made without eggs, and the filling is usually prepared on the stovetop, reducing the overall baking time.

How much molasses to make brown sugar? ›

Light brown sugar: Use 1 tablespoon molasses for every 1 cup sugar. Dark brown sugar: Use 2 tablespoons molasses for every 1 cup sugar.

Does brown sugar bake differently than white sugar? ›

Keep in mind when baking that brown sugar helps to promote a dense, chewy texture thanks to the moisture content in the molasses. Think: chewy brownies or soft, dense chocolate chip cookies. On the other hand, white sugar helps to create crispy, crunchy cookies that have a drier texture.

What happens if you only use brown sugar? ›

When we use only brown sugar in a cookie recipe, the resulting cookies will be chewier, since they contain more moisture from the molasses. Also, we'll have a puffier and softer cookies, because molasses is acidic and reacts with baking soda to make them puff up in the oven more.

How do you know if your brown sugar is packed well enough? ›

Answer: Yes, brown sugar should be packed into measuring cups and spoons with your fingers until even with the rim. The packing should be firm enough so when the measuring tool is inverted, the brown sugar is released and holds its shape.

What is a patsy pie? ›

The English word "pasty" derives from Medieval French (O.Fr. paste from V. Lat pasta) for a pie, filled with venison, salmon or other meat, vegetables or cheese, baked without a dish. Pasties have been mentioned in cookbooks throughout the ages.

What is another name for sugar pie? ›

Sugar cream pie (also known as sugar pie or Hoosier pie) is a custard pie made with a simple filling of butter, flour, cream and sugar sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

What does chess mean in a pie? ›

One story is that it was called a "chest" pie, since it was made with anything found in your chest, or pantry, but because of the Southern accent, it turned into "chess." Another story is that a woman who whipped up the recipe called it "just pie," which with the Southern accent, it turned into "chess" pie.

What kind of molasses is best for brown sugar? ›

Light or dark molasses work well for most baking projects, but seek out unsulphured molasses for the purest flavor. If you don't have molasses on hand, you can substitute an equal amount of pure maple syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or a dark honey (like buckwheat) in the homemade brown sugar recipe above.

Can I use Karo syrup for brown sugar? ›

Can corn syrup be substituted for brown sugar or granulated sugar in recipes? Although corn syrup and granulated sugars are both sweeteners, the added moisture in corn syrup means it isn't a simple substitution in baked goods, since those recipes demand a balance of dry and wet ingredients.

Does molasses go bad? ›

There's no cut-and-dry answer to the question of whether molasses goes bad. If you store it in a cool, dark place, it could last for years without obvious signs of spoilage (like mold or an off scent). If the molasses was exposed to moisture or air, the chances of it spoiling sooner go up.

Does brown sugar make baked goods moist? ›

When you're looking to add a light, caramel flavor to your baked goods, C&H® Light Brown Sugar is perfect. It contains more moisture and binds to water, which adds wonderful characteristics to your recipes like chewiness in Snickerdoodles and keeps baked goods like Brown Butter Brownies moist for longer.

What are the benefits of adding brown sugar? ›

Brown Sugar is rich in minerals like iron and calcium. It contains more iron than white sugar, which is an essential mineral that helps fight fatigue and maintain healthy blood cells and red blood cells. Brown sugar also contains calcium. Calcium is a mineral that helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

Do you need brown sugar for baking? ›

Is brown sugar necessary for cookies? Most chocolate chip cookie recipes use a mix of brown sugar (for added moisture and chewiness), and granulated sugar (for that slight crisp on the edges of a cookie), but it is not necessary.

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