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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » Old-Fashioned Brown Sugar Pie Recipe

    Published: Aug 4, 2021 · Updated: Oct 3, 2021 by Sharon Garofalow | This post may contain affiliate links. See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Old-Fashioned Brown Sugar Pie Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Close up of a slice of brown sugar pie on a plate with text around it.

    This Brown Sugar Pie is rich, custardy and my new go-to dessert recipe for holiday potlucks! It’s super easy and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser because the taste is outrageously delicious.

    With just 4 ingredients and a whisk, you can create two pies that will steal the show. If old-fashioned desserts are your favorite, you HAVE to give this one a try!

    Brown Sugar Pie in a tin on a table next to a knife.
    Buttery and sweet, you’ll have to stop yourself from eating this whole Brown Sugar Pie.
    Contents hide
    1 Why this recipe works
    2 Ingredient Notes
    3 Step-by-Step Instructions
    4 How to Serve This Pie
    5 Tips and Tricks
    6 Fequently Asked Questions
    7 Related Recipes
    8 Brown Sugar Pie
    8.1 Ingredients
    8.2 Instructions
    8.3 Notes
    8.4 Nutrition

    I have a wicked sweet tooth and have a soft spot for those old-fashioned desserts that use only a few ingredients but create sweet magic. This recipe is just that. Like a chess pie or buttermilk pie, this recipe turns a few simple things into a crave-worthy dessert!

    A party table with text next to it to get email sign ups for a Thanksgiving Planner.

    Why this recipe works

    This recipe was born out of trying to make do with what little supplies people had. Sometimes referred to as “desperation pie,” this is a recipe that shouldn’t be ingnored. BECAUSE IT’S DELICIOUS!

    The best way to describe a southern Brown Sugar Pie to say it tastes a bit like pecan pie, but without the pecans. Boom. We all know that the filling is the best part.

    It makes two pies which makes this a great dessert for a crowd. I’ll be adding this into our Thanksgiving menu from now on because although I’m not technically allowed to change our traditions, people tend to give me a little leeway when I introduce a dessert as tasty as this one.

    This Brown Sugar Bacon Butter was the last thing I was able to get on the holiday rotation… And a Brown Sugar Pie will pair perfectly with my favorite Fireball Pumpkin Pie.

    While I don’t think I am a great baker, this recipe is almost fool-proof. While there is a bit of decision-making that needs to be done around if the sweet pie is cooked enough, it’s great for beginning bakers.

    With a lightly caramelized top and a custard-like texture, this Brown Sugar Pie has moved into my top 5 favorite desserts ever invented. Do you know why I’m so sure of that? Because I pretty much ate one of these whole pies by myself… And I’d do it again.

    This isn’t a pretty dessert. Bless her heart. To look at the pies, it’s a little underwhelming. But you can simply dress them up with some whipped cream. But seriously, this is the perfect basic pie to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other gathering!

    There are a few variations on how to make this recipe. I like to make things that don’t need a ton of ingredients and require only a few minutes of prep time (like Dump Cakes and Cake Mix Desserts).

    My other go-to favorite recipes (that are crazy easy) are Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake, Strawberry Jello Angel Food Cake Dessert, Wine Cake and Microwave Bread Pudding.

    Ingredient Notes

    Labeled ingredients to make brown sugar pies for holiday parties or potlucks

    There are no specialty ingredients needed for this pie recipe.

    I used salted butter, but you could use unsalted if you prefer.

    I used light brown sugar. I think you could probably substitute dark brown sugar but it may have a bit of a stronger flavor.

    A lot of other sugar pie recipes call for all-purpose flour and milk or heavy cream. But this one doesn’t. It keeps things super simple! The only dry ingredients in this pie is the brown sugar.

    You can use a homemade pie crust. If you’re crazy. Or you can buy pre-made crusts to keep things super easy. With this type of pie, you can use the crusts from frozen and pop them right into the oven. No pie weights needed.

    Do not get a deep dish crust unless you are only making one pie and will use all the batter in that one crust.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    A woman cracking eggs into a large glass mixing bowl on the counter.
    A woman whisking eggs in a large glass bowl on the counter.

    To a large bowl, add the eggs and whisk them together.

    A woman adding brown sugar to a mixing bowl on a counter.
    A woman mixing brown sugar into eggs with a whisk.

    Add the brown sugar and mix together completely.

    A woman pouring melted butter into a brown sugar pie mixture.
    Woman adding vanilla to batter in a glass mixing bowl.

    Add the melted butter and vanilla and whisk until combined. Do not over mix!

    Woman pouring pie batter into crusts on a cookie sheet.

    Place two unbaked pie shells on a cookie sheet. As evenly as possible, split the brown sugar mixture between the pie crusts.

    Two baked Brown Sugar Pies on a cookie sheet.

    Bake for about 50 minutes until the tops are golden brown. The center of the pie should be baked through. It shouldn’t move very much when jiggled.

    Continue to cook until you feel the pie is set. If you see the crust starting to get too dark, you can cover them with aluminum foil so that they won’t cook too much while the center is getting set up.

    This simple pie will be set up a little bit more while cooling once out of the oven. You can also place it in the refrigerator to set up a bit more.

    How to Serve This Pie

    I like to serve this pie at room temperature or slightly chilled. I think the brown sugar flavor develops and is a little more pronounced once cooled.

    Top Brown Sugar Pie with whipped cream and a small sprinkle of brown sugar. It would also be delicious with a dusting of powdered sugar or vanilla ice cream.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Because there is butter in this recipe, it doesn’t store well. For best results, make a serve this pie the same day.
    • This recipe works best with two 9″ pie crusts. You can make just one deep dish pie or several mini pies if you prefer. You will need to adjust the baking time accordingly since the filling may be thicker or thinner depending on the crust you use.
    • Do not skip the cookie sheet. You do not want to be cleaning up spilled burnt brown sugar off your oven…
    • If you are questioning whether the pie is cooked through enough, go ahead and it cook it for a little bit longer. If you take it out and find that it falls even more because it wasn’t quite ready, there is no saving the pie by trying to cook it longer. It’s better to overcook it a little rather than undercook it!

    Fequently Asked Questions

    Where does this pie come from?

    Some say this recipe is southern. Some say it’s created by the Amish. There are french Canadian versions called Tarte Au Sucre. I am unsure about the exact origins but I do know that it is old-fashioned recipe and delicious!

    How do you store this sugar pie?

    Store any leftovers of this pie in the refrigerator. Make sure it is fully cooled then cover it tightly with plastic wrap. It will get greasy rather quickly so you may be able to enjoy it the next day but you’ll see if breaks down pretty quickly.

    Can you use white sugar instead?

    I have seen recipes for sugar pie that use white sugar. I haven’t tasted them myself so I can’t vouch for it. I’m sure it would be sweet, but I think using brown sugar will give the dessert another layer of flavor.

    A slice of Brown Sugar Pie on a plate topped with whipped cream.

    You guys. This is my new favorite pie. A flaky crust filled with a buttery, sweet center that reminds me of caramel is something you’ll just need to try for yourself!

    Related Recipes

    • Easy and Delicious Frozen Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
    • Alcohol Infused Cupcakes Based on Your Favorite Cocktails
    • How to Bake Pie Inside a Cake
    • Banana Bites Nilla Wafer Dessert Recipe
    A photo of an apple spice dump cake with text around it to get the free recipe.
    A whip cream topped Brown Sugar Pie next to a knife.

    Brown Sugar Pie

    Just 4 ingredients and a pie crust is all you need to create an outrageously delicious dessert! Brown Sugar Pie is full of rieasy! ch flavor that you are going to crave. And it's SO
    No ratings yet
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    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 540kcal
    Author: Sharon Garofalow

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound light brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup salted melted butter can use unsalted if you prefer
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 TBSP vanilla
    • 2 9" pie crusts (not deep dish)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Follow the ingredients for the pies on the pie crust packaging. Mine didn't require any pre-baking or prep.
    • Place empty unbaked pie shells on a cookie sheet.
    • In a large bowl add eggs and whisk together.
    • Add brown sugar and mix until fully combined.
    • Add melted butter and vanilla then mix.
    • Evenly split the brown sugar mixture between the pie crusts.
    • Bake for approximately 50 minutes.
    • Make sure the pies are cooked through. It shouldn't move much when jiggled.

    Notes

    • Because there is butter in this recipe, it doesn’t store well. For best results, make a serve this pie the same day it’s made.
    • I prefer to serve this pie at room temperature or slightly cooled. 
    • This recipe works best with two 9″ pie crusts. You can make just one deep dish pie or several mini pies if you prefer. You will need to adjust the baking time accordingly since the filling may be thicker or thinner depending on the crust you use.
    • Do not skip the cookie sheet. You do not want to be cleaning up spilled burnt brown sugar off your oven…
    • If you are questioning whether the pie is cooked through enough, go ahead and it cook it for a little bit longer. If you take it out and find that it falls even more because it wasn’t quite ready, there is no saving the pie by trying to cook it longer. It’s better to overcook it a little rather than undercook it!
    • If you see the crust starting to get too dark, you can cover them with aluminum foil so that they won’t cook too much while the center is getting set up.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece | Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 315mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 444IU | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!

    What do you think? Would you love this Brown Sugar Pie?

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    About Sharon Garofalow

    Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

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    Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com

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