We're Making This Ham & Cheese Quiche Recipe Just For The Crisp, Buttery Crust (2024)

FAQs

Is heavy cream or half and half better for quiche? ›

Heavy Cream and Milk – For the best tasting quiche, use a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. (Or simply use half-and-half.) Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better.

The crispy, flaky crust is one of the best parts of a quiche. "But to achieve that tasty outer layer, you need to bake your naked crust a little before adding the egg mixture," says Zakari Davila, executive chef at Willa's in Tampa, Florida. This prevents it from getting soggy.

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

The ratio maintains your custard's consistency. A good quiche custard typically features: 1 large egg to 1/2 cups of dairy. The dairy can be any combination of milk and/or half-and-half, for example: 1 large egg : ½ cup milk.

Choose the Right Rack in the Oven

Which rack you use in the oven can help ensure a crisp crust. Baking the pie on a lower rack will concentrate heat on the bottom of the pie and help the crust crisp.

Some people like to paint the surface of the pastry base with lightly beaten egg white after the beans have been removed and before returning the dish to the oven as the egg white cooks onto the surface of the pastry and can act as a slight sealant to help to keep the pastry crisp.

The fat melts when heated in the oven, and unless there is a filling to prop up the sides of the pie crust, it can slump. Another issue is billowing air pockets in the center. If you don't blind bake with weights, or poke holes into the bottom of the crust, the bottom of the crust can puff up.

Evaporated milk is an ideal heavy cream substitute in recipes that use heavy cream as a liquid. It won't whip well, but it's a great way to add moisture to baked goods. Substitute an equal amount of evaporated milk for heavy cream. Best for: baking.

If you're low on dairy ingredients, don't fret. Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream. Milk: If you're short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference.

Milk + butter

No half-and-half? You can make a similar heavy cream alternative using regular milk and butter. Whole milk has a fat percentage of around 3.5% and is preferable to lower-fat varieties, but you'll still want to use more melted butter than you would with half-and-half.

Is it better to use half-and-half or heavy cream? ›

You can typically replace heavy cream with half-and-half, but you'll increase the calories and fat of the recipe you're making. Does half-and-half taste the same as heavy cream? While the flavor of half-and-half and heavy cream is similar, half-and-half doesn't have as rich of a mouthfeel as heavy cream does.

Cool the par-baked crust.

And while you're at it, turn your oven temperature down. Most quiche recipes will call for it to be baked between 325 to 375°F that so the custard can slowly coagulate without turning spongy or drying out. If you're using a pizza stone, leave it in.

Why does my quiche have a soggy bottom? Cooking any vegetables before adding to the filling can help avoid excess moisture which can cause a soggy crust. Blind baking your crust, or baking without the filling, can also help ensure a flaky crust.

Simply put, eggs do the thickening and cream creates richness. I use a ratio of 1 egg to 1/3 cup of cream to get a firm quiche with a lot of flavor. Make sure that whatever you're adding to the filling (veggies in particular) is free of any excess liquids.