To make a sweet little pie, you will need just a few pantry ingredients.

The Great Depression had caused resources to be scarce. People found clever workarounds to use as much of them as possible. Some of those tricks are kind of magic. You make water a main ingredient in this recipe and yet you end up with a creamy pie that tastes indulgent and sweet. It’s filled with just a few pantry ingredients, but it still manages to feel like a special treat.

Serves 8
1 hour 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

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

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place pie crust on a baking sheet and pour the 1 1/2 cups water into the pie crust.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Sprinkle evenly over water in the pie crust, but do not stir.

Drizzle vanilla over the pie, then evenly place pats of butter over the top.

Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°F and continue baking for 30 more minutes. Cover crust with foil if browning too quickly.

Pie will be watery but will set up as it cools. Allow to cool to room temperature, then place in fridge to chill before slicing.

Enjoy!