Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie

I made this for my dad's 96th birthday a couple of weeks ago. He and I share a love of all things sweet, and if they happen to involve peanut butter, all the better.

This pie has a sweet, rich, custardy-creamy filling with a flavor that might remind you of peanut butter fudge. It was a huge hit with all of us. 


Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie

Filling:
1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
1 and 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
2 cups milk
3 eggs yolks
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Meringue:
3 egg whites, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt

You'll also need 1, 9 inch pie crust, baked (here's my pie crust recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix the confectioner's sugar peanut butter until well combined. Set aside. 
2. In a three quart saucepan over low heat, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, milk, eggs yolks and salt until well combined. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles and thickens, about 10 minutes (this will vary, based on exact amount of heat, thickness of pan, etc.). When thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and butter until butter is completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the meringue. 
3. While filling is cooling, place the egg whites in a medium size bowl and beat on medium speed until the whites begin to foam. While beating, add cream of tartar and pinch of salt. Beat on high until whites become glossy and soft peaks begin to form. While mixer is running, slowly pour in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then add vanilla. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Set meringue aside.
4. Stir peanut butter into cooked filling mixture until completely combined. Pour mixture into baked pie shell. Spread meringue onto pie filling, mounding slightly in the middle, and completely sealing meringue edges to crust. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. 
5. Let  pie set on a wire rack until completely cooled before slicing, at least 2 hours.

History: Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter ran a family peanut farm and warehouse before Jimmy Carter was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970 (and President of the United States in 1976). They were always proud of Georgia and Georgia crops, such as peanuts. Recipe adapted from Brookshire Grocery Co.'s publication of Rosalynn Carter's recipe.

Rosalynn Carter's Peanut Butter Pie has been taken to these great parties!

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