This creamy custard pie is known as impossible pie because it forms its own crust as it bakes. There is no need to make or use a pie crust for this pie. This easy pie is just 4 ingredients and doesn’t contain any dairy, butter or oil.
Impossible pie is an old-fashioned pie recipe that I love to make when I need an easy dessert to bake. I love custard pies and I like that I don’t need to deal with a pie crust. Most versions of impossible pie contain dairy but after a lot of testing, I’ve made a dairy-free version that tastes just as good.
Ingredients
- Unsweetened vanilla coconut milk
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Flour
Unsweetened vanilla coconut milk: I tested quite a few different dairy-free milk options and coconut milk was the best one. It creates a silky creamy custard that tastes like a custard made with dairy. Make sure you use vanilla flavored coconut milk. Without the vanilla flavoring, the milk and egg flavors are too strong. Also make sure you are using the kind of coconut milk meant for drinking and not the canned coconut milk meant for cooking. Canned coconut milk contains too much fat and won’t work well for this recipe. You can also use regular dairy milk if you don’t need this recipe to be dairy free.
Eggs: Eggs are needed to create the creamy custard.
Sugar: Regular granulated white sugar is used to sweeten the pie.
Flour: All purpose flour is added to help create a firmer bottom layer for the pie.
How to Make Dairy-Free Impossible Pie
- Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour your pie mixture into a deep 9 inch pie pan.
- Bake until the pie is set.
What is Impossible Pie
Impossible pie is an old-fashioned pie that became very popular in the 1970s. The pie gets its name because it forms two distinct layers as it bakes: a creamy custard layer and a firmer bottom layer that acts as a crust so you don’t have to make a crust for this pie. The crust layer isn’t your classic crust. Instead, it’s more like a very firm custard that holds its form so you don’t need a crust to hold the pie together.
The layers are not quite as visually distinct for this dairy-free version but when you bite into the pie, you can taste the distinct layers.
Expert Tips
- This recipe works best with unsweetened vanilla flavored coconut milk. Avoid using sweetened because it will make your pie too sweet. I did test with almond milk and oat milk but the texture of the custard was not very good.
- You can reduce the sugar slightly if you prefer your pie to be less sweet.
- Make sure you have a deep pie pan, at least 2 inches deep, otherwise the batter may overflow as it bakes.
More Impossible Pie Recipes
4 Ingredient Impossible Pie (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup (64g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (16 fl oz/473ml) unsweetened vanilla flavored coconut milk see note before starting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease the interior of a 9-inch deep dish pie pan (at least 2 inches thick).
- Add eggs, sugar, flour and milk into a blender. Blend until all ingredients are evenly mixed and no egg streaks remain. Pour batter into prepared pie pan.
- Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. The pie rises high as it bakes but will settle back down as it cools. Let pie cool to room temperature. Place pie into fridge for a few hours or overnight to chill and to let the flavors fully develop. Slice pie with a sharp knife. Store any leftover pie in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- Coconut milk note: This recipe works best with unsweetened vanilla coconut milk. You want to make sure you are using the drinking type of coconut milk and not canned coconut used for cooking. You also want it to be unsweetened because sweetened will make the pie too sweet. Also, make sure it has vanilla flavoring added, or add your own vanilla flavoring to the pie if you can't find vanilla flavored coconut milk. Without the vanilla flavor, the coconut milk and egg flavors are too strong. I used So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk.*
- *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- I don't recommend using almond or oat milk. The custard does not turn out right.
- The pie separates into two layers. While the bottom layer is often referred to as a crust, it's not a classic crust. It is more like a firmer custard layer that holds its shape so you don't need a crust for the pie.
- I added piped whipped cream on top for decoration.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Hi,
I just want to say that I really love all your recipes. I have made various treats and really appreciate all that you post.
Just a note on this recipe that eggs are considered dairy. The title of the recipe was a little misleading in my opinion.
Just want to pass that along.
Sincerely,
Jackie
I appreciate your comment, but eggs are not dairy. Please do some research online. People sometimes make this mistake because eggs are often put in the same refrigerated section as dairy products.
Thoughts on using soymilk for this?
Sorry, this recipe hasn’t been tested with soy milk! I did test with almond milk and oat milk but the texture of the custard was not very good.
Thank you so very much for your AMAZING recipes! We absolutely LOVE them.
Quick question, for this pie, how much Vanilla should I add if my Coconut Milk doesn’t come with it?
We’re so glad you are enjoying the recipes! I recommend adding 2 teaspoons of vanilla
Awesome
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoy this recipe!
I’m confused thought eggs are dairy
Eggs are not considered dairy! Dairy refers to products derived from milk, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Hello, 4 Ingredient Impossible Pie. Do you have a video showing how you made this? Also, do you have any video showing you making other recipes? Thank you
We do not have a video for this recipe yet! We do have videos for many recipes that will be in the post if there is one! You can also find all of the recipe videos on YouTube!
Thank you chef for the nice and easy recipe
You’re welcome! We’re glad you love this pie recipe!