Chilled Eggnog Pie—Prototype 1:

For one a 9.5" pie plate, prepare a Basic Bran-Buds-Based Pie Crust, and include the optional ingredients for eggnog pies.

Then for the filling, combine 2 packages of instant vanilla pudding mix (I used Trader Joe's, each package being a 3.39 oz. size) with 3 cups of light eggnog (I used Hood). Mix well, let the resulting mixture thicken a little, then pour it into the crust, and chill (preferably for at least three hours). Note: One variation is to increase the eggnog to 3 1/2 cups, but the filling may be a little runny when the pie is sliced (unless it is served frozen).

Chilled Eggnog Pie—Prototype 2:
 
Wow! It has been quite a few years since I last made a chilled eggnog cheese pie. Maybe that was around 2010, but I cannot fully remember at this point. Here we are, in late February of 2022, as I make up this latest prototype. I have had some tricky issues with the baked eggnog cheesecakes, particularly with their flavor. I somehow felt the taste just didn't quite measure up to a decent eggnog experience that I was looking for, despite the many tweaks that I have done over the years. As of this writing, it looks like I have done 29 (!) different baked prototypes for this flavor. That is an awful lot—it seems to somehow signify a long struggle that I had gone through.

In light of all this, I felt that I would take a
break from the baking and chill out for a change—and apply what I have learned from those baked eggnog cheesecakes to the latest chilled version presented below.
 
Crust:
1 package (or prepared) 8" graham cracker pie crust

Batter:
8 oz. (about 1 cup) whipped, lowfat cottage cheese
8 oz. softened Neufchatel cheese ("light cream cheese")
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups of eggnog
1 tablespoon xanthan gum

Pour batter into crust and chill for at least 2 hours.
 
The flavor was great (in fact, the eggnog may have been a little too dominant—after all, this was meant to be a cheese pie as well, so the cheese presence mattered too). The filling was barely stable (I had contemplated adding another teaspoon of xanthan gum—worth planning for next time). The crust, on the other hand, broke up too easily—and at times in wrong places. So much for packaged crusts (that's what I used for this pie)! But in light of my proposal to use more xanthan gum in the filling the next time around, I considered giving the packaged crust (because of its convenience) another try.
 
Chilled Eggnog Pie—Prototype 3:
 
Okay, I felt that if this was supposed to be a cheese pie as well as an eggnog-flavored one, perhaps less eggnog should be used. And that is what I did this time around. Due to the reduction of this liquid, I decided not to increase the xanthan gum. Instead, I wanted to see if the eggnog reduction was sufficient to get this pie more stable to my liking. So I kept this stabilizer at 1 tablespoon. I also adjusted the vanilla a little downward.
 
Crust:
1 package (or prepared) 8" graham cracker pie crust

Batter:
8 oz. (about 1 cup) whipped, lowfat cottage cheese
8 oz. softened Neufchatel cheese ("light cream cheese")
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups of eggnog
1 tablespoon xanthan gum

Pour batter into crust and chill for at least 2 hours.

Eggnog Pie—Prototype 3 (overview) Eggnog Pie—Prototype 3 (up close)

The texture of this pie's filling was considerably better. And I could still readily pick up the eggnog taste as well. Furthermore, this time the crust did not fall apart too easily (perhaps the filling's improved stability was helpful).
 

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