Opossum pie
Opossum pie is a traditional Southern American dessert, not a savory meat dish, featuring a creamy, custard-like filling in a flaky pie crust. It typically includes ingredients like eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, and sometimes nuts or coconut, with a distinctive browned meringue topping. The dish is a regional specialty, particularly associated with Arkansas and parts of the Ozarks.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This is a high-fat and high-carbohydrate dessert, primarily providing energy from sugars and fats, with minimal protein. A typical slice offers a significant amount of calories, along with some key minerals like iron and potassium from the eggs and nuts.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 380 kcal |
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbs | 45 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 32 g |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Potassium | 120 mg |
| Vitamin A | 150 IU |
| Calcium | 45 mg |
| Phosphorus | 80 mg |
| Magnesium | 15 mg |
| Zinc | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.2 mcg |
Per 1 slice (1/8 of a 9-inch pie, approx. 120 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The name 'opossum pie' is a humorous misnomer, likely a playful reference to its 'ugly' or rustic appearance before the meringue is added, or a nod to the opossum as a symbol of humble, foraged Southern cuisine. Culturally, it represents a classic example of resourceful, home-style baking that transforms simple pantry staples into a rich, comforting treat.
