Vanilla Bean Cream Pie Filling

Jul 17, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Medium

A creamy, sliceable vanilla bean cream pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Prep 20 min

Cook 15 min

Chill 4 hr

Total 4 hr 35 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
1.0 (3.0 g)vanilla bean, split and scraped
5.0 (90.0 g)large egg yolks
⅔ cup (133.0 g)granulated sugar
⅓ cup (43.0 g)cornstarch
¼ tspfine sea salt
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1.0fully baked 9-inch pie crust, cooled

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and cream with the vanilla bean over medium heat until steaming, about 5 minutes.
In a heatproof bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until smooth.
Slowly whisk about half of the hot milk mixture into the yolks, then whisk everything back into the saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the filling is very thick and bubbles steadily. Keep whisking for 1 minute more so it sets firmly and reaches at least 160°F.
Remove from the heat, discard the vanilla pod, and whisk in the butter until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve if you see any lumps.
Pour the filling into the crust and smooth the top.
Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until cold and firm enough to slice, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Tips

Top with whipped cream just before serving.
Vanilla swap: use 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste in place of 1 vanilla bean.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla bean cream pie filling?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to chill. It makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

How should I store vanilla bean cream pie filling?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste in place of 1 vanilla bean.

A creamy, sliceable vanilla bean cream pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

436 Calories / serving

28.1g Fat

40.7g Carbs

6.3g Protein

21.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3488 cal · 225g fat · 326g carbs · 50g protein · 168g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 436 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 82 min·4.8 mi·~9600 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 59 min·3.0 mi·~5900 steps
Moderate cycling 44 min·8.8 mi
Swimming laps 61 min
Jogging 43 min·3.6 mi·~6900 steps
Stair climbing 40 min·~3600 steps
Dancing 71 min
Bodyweight circuit training 44 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 101 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.