Mini Cream Pies

"My Grandma's Cream Filling is the perfect custard for these mini cream pies.  To turn them into Easter desserts, just decorate with colored coconut and candy to make adorable Easter egg nests!"

To make Mini Cream Pies, first prepare Cream Filling (recipe follows).
 
Cream Filling:
2 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

3 Tablespoons flour

3 egg yolks, beaten

2 Tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Spray the bottom of a medium saucepan with non-stick cooking spray (to ensure that custard won't stick to pan) and pour in milk.  Scald milk (heat milk just to the point before it's going to boil-about 180 degrees).  In a bowl, mix together sugar, cornstarch and flour.  Add to heated milk and cook on low until thickened, stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes.  Remove from the heat and stir in egg yolks, 1 Tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly.  Return pan to the heat and add butter and salt.  Stir until butter is completely melted (2-3 minutes).  Remove custard from the heat and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes.  Stir in almond and vanilla extracts.

Now spoon cream filling into:

6 mini graham cracker pie crusts (about 3-4 Tablespoons of cream filling in each pie crust)

To decorate mini cream pies with Easter egg nests:

Dye sweetened flake coconut with a few drops of green food coloring and mound coconut on top of cream filling and top off with malted milk Easter eggs.    

**The cream filling recipe can easily be doubled if you need a dozen mini cream pies.