Company's Coming Pie Recipe

Name: Company's Coming Pie
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 110 min
Ingredients: 3 large egg whites; 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar; 1 cup granulated sugar; 18 saltine crackers (2 ounces), crushed; 1/2 cup chopped pecans, plus extra for garnishing; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons crushed pineapple

Angled view of a cream pie topped with pecans with a slice removed in a clear glass pie plate resting on a blue plate and a wooden tabletop — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

One of the most delicious pies I've ever eaten is also one of the weirdest to make. Company’s Coming Pie is an invention of the Cliff House Inn in Arkansas and is a delicious combination of crisp meringue and fruity whipped cream. The result is a super light pie whose sweet creaminess is tempered with a subtle saltiness and a satisfying crunch. It’s the kind of dessert that guests will invite themselves over for.

According to Scenic Arkansas and author Kat Robinson, Cliff House Inn’s original owners created the pie as a signature dessert. Later, when fans would call up to make sure there was pie to be had, it was renamed Company’s Coming Pie. It seems to be unrelated to the popular 1980s Company’s Coming Cookbook series that spawned many recipes with a similar naming convention.

Company’s Coming Pie is pretty great if you’ve got guests on their way. It requires just a few staple ingredients and you can keep canned crushed pineapple on hand to whip it up.

Angled view of a cream pie topped with pecans in a clear glass pie plate resting on a blue plate and a wooden tabletop — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

How To Make Company’s Coming Pie

You start by whipping up egg whites and sugar into a thick meringue. Because this calls for just a few whites, it can be awkward to get going in a stand mixer; If you opt for a hand mixer, it does take 10 minutes to get a stiff meringue, so be prepared to stand over the mixing bowl for a bit. Once the meringue is whipped, you fold in crushed saltines and chopped pecan bits and smooth the mixture into a pie pan before baking in a low oven. You want the meringue to set on the outside without browning.

The crust should cool for at least an hour, so you can plan on making the topping—a simple whipped cream studded with crushed pineapple—just before you want to serve the pie. I like to garnish the pie with extra chopped pecans, but this is completely optional.

Can This Pie Be Made Ahead?

Company’s Coming Pie really is best made and eaten on the same day, but you can make the crust the night before. Just cover it loosely and store at room temperature; This keeps the tender crisp exterior of the pie from becoming soggy or crushed. I like using my cake plate with a dome for this.

Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge, but the crust will soften and weep. All that to say, I’ve never had enough leftovers to worry about storing them. Company’s Coming Pie is one of those desserts that is so satisfying to eat that you’ll find yourself and your guests going back for seconds until it’s gone.

Closeup view of a slice of cream pie topped with pecans on a turquoise colored plate along with a fork all on a wooden tabletop — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Company's Coming Pie

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Cooling 60 mins

Total Time 110 mins

Servings 6 to 8 servings

Yield 1 (9-inch) pie

For a saltier meringue, use salted pecans. For a fruitier flavor, top with more drained crushed pineapple.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

3 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
18 saltine crackers (2 ounces), crushed
1/2 cup chopped pecans, plus extra for garnish
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the topping

1/2 cup cold heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons crushed pineapple, plus extra for garnish

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Lightly coat a 9-inch glass pie pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
Make the meringue:

Add the egg whites and cream of tartar to a large glass mixing bowl and whip with a hand mixer on medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually stream in the sugar. Continue to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, about 8 more minutes.

Gently fold the saltine crackers, pecans, and vanilla into the meringue. Scoop into the prepared pie plate. Use a spoon or spatula to gently press the egg white mixture into an even layer that covers the bottom and sides of the plate, like a thick crust.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Bake and cool:

Bake the pie crust until set but not browned, 20 to 22 minutes. The exterior will be dry and hard when lightly pressed, with a matte finish. Let the pie crust cool completely before making the topping, about 1 hour.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Make the topping:

Once the crust has cooled, whip the heavy cream until frothy using the whisk attachment on a stand mixer or a hand mixer, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and whisk on medium speed until medium peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes. The mixture will be doubled in volume with peaks that stand then fall over when you remove a beater.

Add the crushed pineapple and gently fold it into the whipped cream. Add the topping to the pie crust, smoothing it out. If desired, top with a little more pineapple and a sprinkle of nuts. Serve immediately.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
265	Calories
13g	Fat
36g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	265
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g	16%
Saturated Fat 4g	22%
Cholesterol 17mg	6%
Sodium 94mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 36g	13%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 1mg	3%
Calcium 27mg	2%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 110mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.