OLD FASHIONED WATER PIE – The Southern Lady Cooks

Don’t judge a recipe by its name! One may think a water pie, or as it’s sometimes called, “depression pie,”  would lack flavor, but you’d be wrong. This old-fashioned pie was made popular during the Great Depression, and it’s all the things a pie should be…rich, sweet, decadent, and you got it,  easy!

If you like old-fashioned desserts, you might want to make our Do Nothing Cake, Buttermilk Pie, or Blackberries and Dumplings.

❤️WHY WE LOVE WATER PIE

We love old-fashioned recipes, and this pie is definitely that. It came out of the Great Depression when home cooks had to make do with what they had.  It’s been my experience that simple is almost always better, and this dessert qualifies. Flour, butter, vanilla, and of course, water are what makes this homemade pie fabulous. As you can see it has NO eggs! You won’t believe how easy it is and it’s the perfect dessert to serve for any gathering or holiday because it needs to be made in advance. 

🍴KEY INGREDIENTS

Deep Dish Pie Crust-we like to make our own using THIS recipe, but you can easily use a store-bought premade crust. Be sure that it is a deep dish pie crust.

Water-this is a must. The water makes this a water pie. 

All-Purpose Flour-this is a thickening agent.

White Granulated Sugar-this brings the sweetness!

Salt-you will definitely want to add this because it helps bring out the sweet flavors of this dessert.

Vanilla Extract-adds so much flavor for this dessert. You may use vanilla flavoring.

Butter-it can’t be buttery if we don’t add the butter. We use unsalted butter.

🥣KEY EQUIPMENT

One of the great things about this pie is that it takes very little equipment. You’ll need a deep dish pie plate and a mixing bowl. If you think you’ll need to cover your pie crust to keep it from browning too much, be sure and have some aluminum foil close by.

🥧HOW TO MAKE

You won’t believe how easy this pie is. You basically mix, pour and bake! That’s it. You have to love those simple desserts, and this one definitely qualifies.

PREPARATIONS

Go ahead and get your ingredients together and measured out. Let it sit out and reach room temperature if you use a premade crust. If you’re making your crust, go ahead and make it.

COOKING STEPS

1. Pour water into the uncooked pie shell.  I know this sounds weird, but this is how it’s done. 
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. 
3. Sprinkle over water in the pie crust.  DO NOT STIR. 
4. Drizzle on the vanilla extract and add butter pats on top of the pie. 
5. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and continue baking for 30 more minutes.  
6. Let pie cool completely and then cover and place in the refrigerator. Pie will set up as it cools and is refrigerated.  It will look like it is not cooked when removed from the oven. It will look watery in the center; that is how it should look. It will set up once it is cold. 

⭐PRO TIP

🔺You can cover the sides of the pie crust if your crust is becoming too dark. I haven’t had that issue with this pie, but all oven temperatures vary and can bake differently. 

🔺Resist the urge to serve this pie warm. It is to be served cold, and warming it up will cause it to become runny and loose again. 

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE

If you love this pie, you’ll want to try our Old-Fashioned Impossible Pie. It’s been around for years and years and has terrific reviews. It’s so easy; it doesn’t even require a crust. You can also try our classic Chess Pie. It’s absolutely delicious!

❓FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cathead Biscuits

Our Nannie made these biscuits every day! Many ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews.

STORING AND REHEATING

Cover the pie and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for at least five days. Do not reheat this pie. This pie is to be served chilled or at room temperature. 

Old Fashioned Water Pie

The Southern Lady Cooks

This water pie is from the depression era and it’s so good! Simple ingredients.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, southern

• 1 deep dish 9 inch pie crust uncooked
• 1 1/2 cups tap water
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons butter sliced

• Pour water into uncooked pie shell.

• Whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Sprinkle over water in pie crust. DO NOT STIR.

• Drizzle on vanilla extract and add butter pats on top of pie. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

• Reduce heat to 375 degrees and continue baking for 30 more minutes.

• Pie will set up as it cools and is refrigerated.

• It will look like it is not cooked when removed from oven but will set up once it is cold.

Keyword Old Fashioned Water Pie

Are you reading our magazine?

Join 1000’s of others and start a subscription today. Full of new recipes, inspiring stories, country living, and much more.

© The Southern Lady Cooks photos and text – All rights reserved. No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.