This cottage cheese pie is a unique, old-fashioned dessert that delivers a creamy, sweet, and surprisingly light lemon flavor in every bite. It’s a perfect treat for those who enjoy traditional pies with a twist.
I don’t know about you, but I love cottage cheese, and having never heard of a cottage cheese pie, I was intrigued! Cottage cheese tends to get a bad rep for being unappetizing with a weird texture. But this cottage cheese pie recipe will definitely win your heart over.
Love old-fashioned pies? Then you check out this chocolate pie recipe. And if you love tart flavors, then try this lemon pie recipe for a classic pie that’s even more tart!
This recipe was found in a 1968 cookbook that was published out of Alabama. Having never heard of cottage cheese pie, but loving cottage cheese, I found this recipe intriguing. It was creamy and with a sweet and light lemon flavor. Delicious!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Time-Tested: This is a tried and tested old-fashioned recipe using the trending cottage cheese as its star. It’s a classic that never goes out of style, and is worth the try.
- Flavor-Packed: Every bite of this cottage cheese pie is bursting with flavor. The sweet and tangy combination of cottage cheese, lemon, and sugar is simply irresistible.
- Comfort Food: There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm, freshly baked pie. You’ll love making one at home.
- Unexpected Twist: Cottage cheese in a pie may sound unusual, but trust me, it works. It adds a unique creaminess that sets this pie apart from the rest. It reminds me of how creamy this buttermilk pie turns out.
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Key Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese: This ingredient, when blended, creates a creamy base for the pie, adding a unique texture and flavor.
- Eggs: They act as a binder in this recipe, holding all the ingredients together and adding structure to the pie.
- Granulated Sugar: This sweetens the pie, balancing the tangy flavor of the lemon and the creamy cottage cheese.
- Lemon Juice and Grated Lemon Peel: These two ingredients add a light lemon flavor to the pie, giving it a refreshing twist.
- All-Purpose Flour: It helps to thicken the pie filling, ensuring a perfect, slice-able texture.
- Uncooked Pie Shell: This will hold all the ingredients together and provide a flaky, golden crust for the pie.
Equipment
- Food Processor or Mixer- You’ll need this to blend the cottage cheese until smooth and to mix the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon rinds for the pie filling.
- 9-inch Pie Plate – We will bake our unbaked pie shell along with the cottage cheese pie filling in it.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Pie
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 425˚ F. This is crucial for making sure that your pie bakes at the right temperature. Next, prepare your unbaked pie shell. This will be the base for your delicious pie.
Step 1 – Blend the Cottage Cheese
Place the cottage cheese in a food processor or mixer. Your goal here is to blend it until it’s smooth or reaches the desired texture for your pie. This will give your pie a creamy, rich base.
Step 2 – Add the Remaining Ingredients
Next, add the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon rinds to the cottage cheese. Beat these ingredients on medium-high speed for five minutes. This will help guarantee that they are well combined and will give your pie a light, lemony flavor.
Step 3 – Prepare the Pie Shell and Add the Filling
Sprinkle flour onto the bottom of your prepared pie shell. This will help to prevent the filling from sticking. Then, pour your pie filling into the pie shell.
Step 4 – Bake the Pie
Place your pie in the preheated oven and bake at 425˚ F for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to 350˚ F without opening the oven door. Bake for an additional 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 5 – Cool and Serve
Once your pie is baked, let it cool at room temperature for at least 3 hours before serving. This will allow the pie to set and develop its full flavor. After it has cooled, it’s ready to serve. Enjoy!
Expert Tip
The creamier your cottage cheese in the beginning, the more creamy your pie will turn out. If you want curds in your pie, then don’t blend your cottage cheese as long in the beginning. However, if you want a creamy texture, you will need to process your cottage cheese (or buy cream style) to get the desired creamy texture.
Recipe Variations
- Lime Flavor: Swap out the lemon juice and lemon peel for lime to give your pie a tangy, citrusy twist.
- Vanilla or Honey: For a more subtle sweetness, replace the granulated sugar with honey or vanilla flavorings.
- Toppings: Feel free to add some fresh fruit on top before serving, such as blueberries, strawberries, or even some raspberries.
What to Serve With
- For a delicious dessert pairing, top your cottage cheese pie with a dollop of whipped cream. The contrast of the creamy pie with the light, fluffy whipped cream is a match made in dessert heaven.
- If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll enjoy serving this pie with a cup of your favorite coffee. The slight tartness of the pie compliments the bitterness of the coffee, making for a well-balanced morning or afternoon treat.
- If you’re hosting a brunch, this cottage cheese pie can be a unique addition to your spread. It pairs well with mimosas and other brunch favorites, adding a touch of sweetness to the meal.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can. If you have a favorite homemade pie crust recipe, feel free to use that. Just make sure your pie shell is 9 inches in diameter to accommodate the filling.
The lemon juice and peel add a refreshing citrusy flavor to the pie, which balances the richness of the cottage cheese and sugar. It’s a subtle but important component to bring out the flavors in the pie.
For this recipe, it’s best to stick with cottage cheese. The unique texture and flavor of cottage cheese are what make this pie special. Using a different type of cheese may alter the result significantly.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: Leftover pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze this pie for up to 1 month, but based on how easy it is to whip together, I recommend serving it fresh.
- Thawing: When ready to enjoy, let the pie thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheating: To reheat, place the pie in a preheated oven at 350˚F for about 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
More Old Fashioned Pie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This cottage cheese pie recipe yields a delicious 9-inch pie, enough to serve 8 generous slices.
- How to Scale: If you want to make more than one pie, you can double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Just make sure your food processor or mixer is large enough to accommodate the increased quantity of ingredients.
Cottage Cheese Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pint cottage cheese
- 3 large eggs
- ⅔ Cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
- 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
- 9 inch unbaked pie shell
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425˚ F. Prepare your unbaked pie shell.
- Place the cottage cheese in a food processor or mixer. Blend until smooth or the desired texture for the pie.
- Add the eggs, sugar, juice, and rind to the cottage cheese. Beat on medium-high speed for five minutes.
- Sprinkle flour onto the bottom of the prepared pie shell. Pour the pie filling into the pie shell.
- Bake at 425˚ F for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat (do not open the oven door) to 350˚ F and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least 3 hours at room temperature before serving.
Comments & Reviews
Lynette Rice says
If you love cottage cheese you will love this recipe (and you will) but even if you’re not a fan of the texture – this smooth vintage pie really surprises you with its tangy lemon flavor. Loved this one!