This homemade Raisin Pie brings the perfect balance of sweet nostalgia and rustic comfort to your table in just over an hour. The plump, juicy raisins create a rich filling that’s encased in a golden, flaky crust – making every bite a delightful experience. With only 318 calories per serving and packed with natural sweetness, this classic dessert proves that sometimes the simplest recipes yield the most memorable results.
Ingredients for Classic Raisin Pie
- Raisins: 2 cups, plump and fresh
- Brown Sugar: 1 cup, packed for optimal sweetness
- Water: 1 1/3 cup, room temperature
- Cornstarch: 3 tablespoons, acts as perfect thickening agent
- Citrus Elements: 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 tsp zest, 3 tbsp lemon juice for bright flavor
- Walnuts: 1/2 cup, coarsely chopped for texture
- Pie Crust: Dough for top and bottom (9-inch)
- Finishing Touches: 1 egg white and 1-2 tsp granulated sugar for golden crust
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Filling: Combine brown sugar, water, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan, stirring until cornstarch dissolves
- Add Flavors: Mix in orange juice, zest, lemon juice, and raisins
- Cook Mixture: Heat on medium, stirring until bubbling and thickened (about 1 minute)
- Complete Filling: Remove from heat, stir in walnuts, and let cool completely
- Assemble Pie: Place bottom crust in 9-inch pie plate, add cooled filling, cover with top crust
- Finish Crust: Seal edges, brush with egg white, and sprinkle with sugar
- Bake: Place in 400°F oven for 35-40 minutes, watching for browning at 30-minute mark
- Final Touch: If needed, cover with foil for last 10 minutes to prevent over-browning
Storage Tips
This tasty raisin pie can stay fresh at room temperature for 2 days when covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container. Want to keep it longer? Pop it in the fridge for up to 5 days! The filling might get a bit firmer when cold, so let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving for the best texture. You can also freeze the whole pie for up to 3 months – just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
Variations & Substitutions
Make this pie your own with some simple swaps! Don’t have walnuts? Try pecans or almonds instead – they’re just as yummy. For a different twist, mix in some dried cranberries or chopped dates with the raisins. Can’t do nuts? Skip them completely – your pie will still be wonderful! If you’re out of fresh orange juice, bottled works fine too. Just remember to keep the total amount of liquid the same to maintain that perfect filling consistency.
Serving Suggestions
This sweet and fruity pie is amazing on its own, but why not dress it up? Try serving it slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. For breakfast or afternoon tea, pair it with a hot cup of coffee or tea. My favorite way to enjoy it? Warm up a slice for 15-20 seconds in the microwave – it brings out all those cozy orange and raisin flavors!
Raisin Pie
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- 9-inch pie plate
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 2 cups raisins
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/3 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
- pie crusts dough for two (bottom and top crusts)
- 1 egg white beaten
- 1-2 teaspoons granulated sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, cornstarch and stir to well to dissolve the cornstarch. Add orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice and raisins.
- Stir ingredients together over medium heat until mixture begins to bubble and thickens. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- Stir in walnuts. Set mixture aside to cool.
- Add pie crust to a 9” pie plate. Pour cooled filling inside. Cover with second pie crust. Seal the edges and flute or crimp if desired.
- Use a pastry brush to lightly brush egg white over the top crust of the pie. Sprinkle a little sugar lightly on top.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes. Check the pie around the 30 minutes mark and if it’s reached desired brownness you can place a piece of aluminum foil on top during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
