Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (2024)

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Vinegar Pie is a super simple old fashioned pie that has been around for years! It gets it’s flavor from a little bit of vinegar and is topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg!

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • What is Vinegar Pie?
  • What does Vinegar pie taste like?
  • Methods for Vinegar Pie
  • How to make Vinegar Pie
  • Get the Recipe

What is Vinegar Pie?

Vinegar Pie is also known as Desperation Pie. It originated back in the 19th century. When people had trouble getting certain ingredients for flavoring, vinegar was an alternative.

From a texture perspective, vinegar pie is much like a chess pie or buttermilk pie. It’s kind of an old-school type pie that is super simple to put together. In these times of craziness where ingredients are also hard to get, it’s a fun pie to try. Along with the Wacky Cake I shared last week, this is another neat recipe that’s been around for ages.

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (2)

What does Vinegar pie taste like?

The acidity in the vinegar actually gives the pie a flavor that is reminiscent of lemon. I won’t say that it doesn’t taste like vinegar at all, but it’s sweet and tasty and brings to mind lemon more than vinegar. Plus, like a chess pie, it gets a little bit of a crust on top when baked. That browned crust adds a lovely caramelized flavor to the pie as well.

Not to mention that when topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg, the flavors get even better. That nutmeg really does help tone down the vinegar and bring out the lovely flavor.

Methods for Vinegar Pie

There are a couple different methods for making vinegar pie. I tried both to see which I preferred.

The first method was not my favorite. You cooked the filling over the stove until it reached a pudding-like consistency, then you poured that into the pie crust and baked it for a short bit prior to refrigerating it.

While it was a simple method, it wasn’t as simple as the second method. Plus, I didn’t care nearly as much for the pudding-like texture. Plus, the flavor was lacking for me and tasted more like vinegar.

The second method, that I ended up favoring, had much more flavor. Because the filling is baked only in the oven, the longer baking time allows for a crust to form on top. That crust (which caramelizes, as I mentioned before), gives so much flavor and the pie just isn’t the same without it. Plus, the texture of this method was more pleasing and like a traditional chess pie.

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (4)

How to make Vinegar Pie

So to make this vinegar pie, you’ll start by lining your pie pan with the crust and pre-baking it.

While the crust bakes, put together your filling. This part literally couldn’t get any easier! Just add everything to a bowl and whisk it all together!

Pour the filling into the baked crust and bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the pie is set, but the center is a little jiggly.

Let the pie cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

I personally really preferred this pie with some whipped cream on top and sprinkle of nutmeg. The extra flavor makes this pie!

I hope you enjoy it!

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (5)

You might also like:

Coconut Cream Pie
Salted Honey Pie
Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie

Print

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (6)

Recipe

Vinegar Pie

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 10-12 slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Print

Description

This Vinegar Pie is a super simple old fashioned pie that has been around for years! It gets it’s flavor from a little bit of vinegar and is topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg!

Ingredients

  • 1 refrigerated pie crust
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (56g) butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Whipped cream, optional
  • Nutmeg, optional

Instructions

1. Place the pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan and crimp the edges. Pre-bake according to the temperature and time of the package directions. Use pie weights to keep the crust from puffing up too much when baking.
2. Adjust oven temperature to 350°F, if needed.
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, butter, vinegar and vanilla extract. Whisk well to combine, then pour into pre-baked pie shell.
4. Bake pie for 30-40 minutes, or until pie is set but a little jiggly.
5. Allow pie to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate pie until cool and firm and serve.
6. Serve pie with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Don’t skip the nutmeg – trust me!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 241
  • Sugar: 25.1 g
  • Sodium: 102.6 mg
  • Fat: 10.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34.9 g
  • Protein: 2.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 72.2 mg

Categories

  • Pie
  • Recipes
  • Sweets and Treats

Recipe modified from Taste of Home.

Classic Vinegar Pie - Easy Old Fashioned Pie Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is vinegar pie made of? ›

Sugar, vinegar, flour, maybe some water, and if you're lucky, a bit of butter and an egg. That's the entire list of ingredients for a classic vinegar pie, which, depending on where you (or, more likely, your grandparents) grew up, will inspire fond memories—or perhaps some deep, bewildered revulsion.

Why put vinegar in a pie? ›

Why do you put vinegar in pie crust? It makes the pie crust exceedingly tender and flaky.

What happens if you put too much vinegar in pie crust? ›

If too much vinegar is added to a recipe, it can make the dish overly sour and unbalanced in flavor. This can also make the texture of the dish unappetizing.

Why does the chef use vinegar in his pie dough? ›

The acidic properties of vinegar inhibit gluten, some will say. This theory proposes that once the water and flour are combined, gluten starts forming, causing the dough to grow tough. Adding an acid, the theory goes, stops the gluten in its tracks and rescues the crust from toughness.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

What happens when you bake vinegar? ›

Vinegar helps with the rise of our baked goods

When vinegar reacts with baking soda, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles, which act as leavening agents. So as the batter bakes, these tiny bubbles expand, causing the cake to rise and giving it that light, airy texture we all love.

How do you make a pie taste better? ›

Add Fresh Ingredients: Incorporate fresh fruits or berries into the store-bought filling. For example, if you're using a canned cherry pie filling, add fresh pitted cherries to improve the texture and flavor. Enhance Flavor with Spices: Adjust the flavor with spices and seasonings.

Why do you put vodka in a pie crust? ›

Unlike water, alcohol does not contribute to the formation of gluten, the network of proteins that can cause a crust to turn leathery. Because the alcohol burns off quickly in the oven, drying out the crust, we could add enough vodka to keep the dough wet and extremely supple.

What does apple cider vinegar do in baking? ›

The reason that you'll see apple cider vinegar or vinegar in a lot of vegan baked goods is because it helps with the leavening. It's an acid and it helps the cakes to rise.

Is pie crust better with Crisco or butter? ›

The pros: Butter has the best flavor. A butter pie crust forms light, lofty, flaky layers while it bakes. The flakiness comes partially from the water content of butter, which evaporates as the pie bakes and turns to steam, separating and puffing up the layers in dough.

Why did my pie dough turn GREY? ›

“Well-wrapped, pie dough can be stored in the fridge for two to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months,” says David. “After day three in the fridge, you can expect your dough to oxidize, turning a grayish color.” This is completely normal, but can be postponed by adding a bit of vinegar to your recipe.

Is vodka better than water in pie crust? ›

The water in pie dough is necessary for workability, but too much is a bad thing. By replacing some of the liquid with vodka you are inhibiting gluten formation. Gluten forms when flour is in contact with water and is agitated. It does not form in alcohol, so it is a natural choice.

What can you substitute for vodka in pie crust? ›

Vodka doesn't have to be your only strategy for a flaky crust. Vinegar can also promote a flaky crust because like vodka, it's been distilled and doesn't encourage the formation of gluten. Apple cider vinegar and rice vinegar also form a tender pie dough and add a bit of flavor.

What is the secret to a great pie crust? ›

Cold butter is the key to flaky crusts. Do not skip this step. You must put your butter in the freezer to get it nice and cold. Many people do not like working with frozen butter, but it makes all the difference in the world when you create your pie dough.

What does a vinegar pie taste like? ›

What Does Vinegar Pie Taste Like? No, vinegar pie is not bitter, tart, or sour. In fact, it's sweet! The flavor of your pie is a bit dependent on the type of vinegar you use (more on that below), but the combination of fruit vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, and butter creates a sweet, slightly lemony, and even juicy pie.

What is vinaigre made of? ›

Vinegar is a combination of acetic acid and water made by a two-step fermentation process. First, yeast feed on the sugar or starch of any liquid from a plant food such as fruits, whole grains, potatoes, or rice. This liquid ferments into alcohol.

What is the fluffy thing in vinegar? ›

A mother of vinegar, that is. Yes, it looks rather grungy and scary, floating on the top of the vinegar like that, but this spongy mass of bacteria is completely harmless.

What fruit is vinegar made from? ›

Fruit vinegar is made from the fermented fruit juices of apples, mangoes, plums, citrus fruits, grapes, berries, or other fruits. The whole fruit or fruit scraps may be used to produce it.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 5696

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.