Water pie

A homemade water pie

Water pie is a type of pie with a translucent custard filling made primarily from water, along with sugar, flour, butter and sometimes vanilla extract.[1] The recipe originated during the Great Depression and experienced a revival during the 2020s amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.[2][3]

History

Simplified recipes with alternative ingredients, including desserts such as depression cake, were popular during the late 1920s and 1930s when most ingredients were scarce or unaffordable.[4][5] Water pie in particular, dating back to 1929 cookbooks from the Great Depression in the United States, was resurfaced by TikTok users and food blogs in the 2020s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which highlighted its low cost and simplicity.[2][6]

Ingredients

The pie is made by adding water mixed with sugar, flour and butter, and sometimes some spice such as vanilla or cinnamon, to a pie crust. The starch in the flour makes the mixture set and thicken, thus acquiring a custard-like consistency.[1] Soft drinks such as Sprite may be used in place of water.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Hubbell, Diana (April 8, 2022). "This Depression-Era Science Trick Transforms Water Into Pie". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Farris, Valerio (August 20, 2021). "Water Pie Was a Depression-Era Treat—Why Are People Into It Now?". Food52. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Peach, Katherine (September 29, 2020). "Depression-Era Foods That Are Weirdly Making A Comeback". Mashed.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Renee, Alex (February 1, 2022). "There Is A Fascinating History Behind The Great Depression's Water Pie". TheRecipe. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Chifalu, Nikki Overfelt (April 28, 2022). "The Intriguing History Of Water Pie". Tasting Table. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Thompson, Dillon (February 10, 2022). "TikTokers are resurfacing a Great Depression-era recipe for 'water pie'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  7. ^ van Niekerk, Sacha (December 9, 2020). "WATCH: People are amazed and confused by TikTok's Sprite pie". IOL. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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