Desperation Pie as a Sweet Relief From Tough Economic Times
Photo by Sheri Silver/Unsplash
At various points in history, home cooks have found the cupboards bare. Despite a lack of resources, though, many of those cooks discovered how to turn their kitchen scraps into memorable desserts, and the desperation pie was born. Originally, desperation pies were prepared during the winter months, when a lack of produce meant that there was no fresh fruit with which to make a pie. More recently, like during World War II and the Depression, desperation pies became a sweet solution for dessert during difficult economic times.
As we face another economic crisis, as inflation wages a war on our wallets in the grocery store while wages remain stagnant, desperation pies are once again gaining traction. Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative to your usual dessert faves or you’re just on the hunt for easy pie recipes you won’t have to go to the grocery store to gather the ingredients for, these desperation pies may just be the solution. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most celebrated desperation pies of hard times past so we can imagine a sweeter future going forward.
1. Water Pie from Southern Plate
You might just be surprised at how few ingredients you need to make this simple but delicious pie I found on the blog Southern Plate. First, you’ll want to start off with a pre-made pie crust (or make your own for a cheaper dessert). In addition to the pie crust, you’ll need water, of course, along with sugar, butter, flour and vanilla extract. By mixing water, sugar and flour together, you can create a sweet, creamy pie with shockingly few ingredients.