Water pie
{{Short description|Dessert with translucent custard filling}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Hubbell |first=Diana |date=2022-04-08 |title=This Depression-Era Science Trick Transforms Water Into Pie |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/great-depression-water-pie-sprite-pie |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}} The recipe originated in the late 1800s and was also made during the Great Depression.{{Cite web |last=Van Lanen |first=Amanda |date=2025-01-07 |title=Debunking Viral Recipes: Water Pie |url=https://historyreheated.com/2025/01/07/debunking-viral-recipes-water-pie/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=History Reheated |language=en-US}} It experienced a revival during the 2020s amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.{{Cite web |last=Farris |first=Valerio |date=2021-08-20 |title=Water Pie Was a Depression-Era Treat—Why Are People Into It Now? |url=https://food52.com/blog/26500-what-is-depression-era-water-pie |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Food52 |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Peach |first=Katherine |date=2020-09-29 |title=Depression-Era Foods That Are Weirdly Making A Comeback |url=https://www.mashed.com/253585/depression-era-foods-that-are-weirdly-making-a-comeback/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Mashed.com |language=en-US}}
History
Simplified recipes with alternative ingredients, including desserts such as depression cake, were popular throughout history in times when ingredients were scarce or unaffordable.{{Cite web |last=Renee |first=Alex |date=2022-02-01 |title=There Is A Fascinating History Behind The Great Depression's Water Pie |url=https://www.therecipe.com/there-is-a-fascinating-history-behind-the-great-depressions-water-pie/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=TheRecipe |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Chifalu |first=Nikki Overfelt |date=2022-04-28 |title=The Intriguing History Of Water Pie |url=https://www.tastingtable.com/846811/the-intriguing-history-of-water-pie/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Tasting Table |language=en-US}} Water pie in particular dates back to the late nineteenth century. Through versions of the recipe in cookbooks from the Great Depression in the United States, it resurfaced thanks to TikTok users and food blogs in the 2020s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which highlighted its low cost and simplicity.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Dillon |title=TikTokers are resurfacing a Great Depression-era recipe for 'water pie' |url=https://news.yahoo.com/tried-100-old-recipe-water-135230459.html |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Yahoo! News |date=February 10, 2022 |language=en-US}}
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. Soft drinks such as Sprite may be used in place of water.{{Cite web |last=van Niekerk |first=Sacha |date=2020-12-09 |title=WATCH: People are amazed and confused by TikTok's Sprite pie |url=https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/food-drink/recipes/watch-people-are-amazed-and-confused-by-tiktoks-sprite-pie-211f5ec8-7e85-49a9-8a00-a43020074bd9 |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=IOL |language=en}}