Sour Cream Raisin Pie is an easy custard pie full of vanilla-plumped soft raisins, a sour cream custard and fall spices you’ll love! Great for Thanksgiving or anytime of the year.
Sour Cream Raisin Pie is an old-school classic pie that is easy to make and boasts favorite seasonal flavors. It holds its own amongst Thanksgiving favorites of pumpkin pie, mincemeat pie and pecan pie, offering a wonderful surprise.
It's VERY easy to make and will likely become a new favorite on your dining table. This recipe was my Grandmother's and without it I never would have known about this best kept secret pie!
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What is Sour Cream Raisin Pie?
I'll confess If you are like I was when I first heard of Sour Cream Raisin Pie, the word 'yuck' came to mind. I think I imagined the texture would be lumpy and tapioca-like. And I couldn't imagine the flavors really.
The pie has the most wondrous texture, chock full of vanilla-soaked pudgy raisins filling every bite. Sour cream blends together the earthy spices of clove and cinnamon into a lovely custard base.
It's a pie for all season as well; uber flavorful yet light enough for the summer months, with the seasonings giving a nod as easily toward the cool weather months.
Sour Cream Raisin Pie can be eaten at room temperature or chilled. No one else will be bringing it to the summer picnic or potluck, nor any Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving meals, so you can bask in the glory of originality as well as introduction of a new favorite dessert.
My Favorite Pie Crust recipe
Butter Pie Crust is my all time favorite pie crust recipe. It’s easy to make and very forgiving (hard to mess it up).
It makes a delicious flaky crust every time!
The recipe post also contains more information about blind baking a pie crust.
Shortcut Pie Crust Tip
If you are in a pinch for time use a premade pie crust.
Keeping a stash of them in my freezer lets me whip up a pie with no notice.
Sour Cream Raisin Pie is fast to make and especially during the holidays this tip takes time out of the baking process.
If you love making your own crust from scratch, go for it!
Simply follow the instructions to pre-bake or ‘blind bake‘ before filling and baking the pie.
Use Gluten-Free or Regular Pie Crust
This pie may be made with any pie crust. I prefer Whole Foods Gluten-Free Bakehouse crusts for my gluten-free baking. The prepared pie shells are kept in the freezer area and I have a couple packages in my freezer at all time (also great for quiche!).
The filling is naturally gluten-free.
How to Make this Raisin Pie
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the raisins in a mixing bowl with vanilla extract and cover with boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake the pie shell for 10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt, sour cream, eggs, and lemon juice, until fully combined.
- Drain the raisins and mix into the filling.
- Spoon the filling into the prepared crust and bake for 25-30 minutes. Once cooled the pie may be served or chilled for serving later.
The pie cooks in less than an hour and takes about 15 minutes to construct!
Can Sour Cream Raisin Pie be Frozen?
Not recommended. Custard pies do not survive freezing well. The filling is often watery when thawed and the crust soggy.
This raisin pie is so fast and easy to make I recommend making it when you need it and sharing any leftovers instead of freezing.
More Pie Recipes You’ll Love:
Recipe
Sour Cream Raisin Pie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Raisins
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Cloves , ground
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 3 Eggs , lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice , freshly squeezed
- 9 " Pastry (pie) Shell {I used Whole Foods Gluten-Free Pie Crust)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
- Place the raisins and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water just over the top of the raisins. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Place pie shell in the heated oven and cook for 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt, sour cream, eggs, and lemon juice, until fully combined.
- Drain the raisins and combine with the pie filling, mixing with a large spoon to incorporate.
- Spoon the filling into the pre-baked pie crust. Place the pie on a baking sheet, and into the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the pie begins to brown slightly. Note: the pie filling will puff up above the pie crust while baking but will settle into a perfect custard when cooled.
- Allow pie to cool on a cooling rack until room temperature. Serve at room temperature or chilled. If desired, add whipped cream prior to serving.
Nutrition
Originally published June 14, 2013
Jamielyn says
Love all of the fall flavors! Yum!
Denise C says
That does look both easy and yummy. I’ve never had a Sour Cream Raisin Pie before; I wonder if I’d be able to get the kids to try it.
Toni Dash says
The name conjures a very different impression than the taste did my first time. I think one pictures the combination of raisins and sour cream in an unimaginable form lol. Instead it tastes like a fall-flavored custard pie.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
I love old fashioned pie recipes like this one!
Jennifer says
I’m not a big fan of reasons but my husband would absolutely love this pie! I love how you used sour cream in it — that is so unique.
Melanie Bauer says
Looks delightful! I love everything on this recipe, craving for this right now!
Theresa says
I have never heard of this kind of pie before, but I think I would love it. Good tip about not freezing it.
Paula says
I’ve never had a raising pie! I need to fix that.
Melanie says
I’ve never heard of a pie of this sort before, but I’m definitely curious. The soaked raisins sound divine! Can’t wait to add to my fall recipe favorites.
Kathy says
I’ve never had a pie like this one before. Sounds amazing though. I’m always up for trying out a new pie, so I think I’ll try this one for the holidays this year!
Amy says
This pie looks so fantastic! Custard pie is my favorite, but I have never tried a version like this! I need to try it this holiday season though because it looks amazing!!