Dried fruits, like raisins and dates, were popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The dried fruits kept well and lent plenty of sweetness to pies, cookies, and cakes.
While still popular today, dates don’t appear in as many baked goods as they once did. This date pie recipe highlights dates and makes what appears to be a delicious date custard.
Date Pie Recipe
2 cups milk
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup dates
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 pie shell, unbaked
Place milk in a double boiler over medium heat.
In a small bowl, mix together the butter, flour, and salt. Stir into the milk mixture. Add dates and cook until softened. Remove double boiler from heat.
Mix together the egg yolks and sugar, then whip into the date mixture. Place into a pie shell and bake at 350F (170C) for 45-60 minutes or until it tests done.
Egg whites can be beaten into a meringue topping for the date pie.
