French silk pie is a classic American dessert featuring a rich, silky custard filling in a chocolate cookie crust. With its decadent chocolate and cream flavors, it’s easy to see why this pie is a popular choice for special occasions and holidays. But behind its elegant exterior lies a high amount of added sugar, which may cause some to think twice before indulging. So just how much sugar is in a slice of French silk pie? Let’s take a detailed look at the ingredients and nutrition facts to find out.
What is French Silk Pie?
French silk pie consists of just a few main ingredients: a chocolate cookie crust, eggs, butter, sugar, chocolate, and vanilla. The filling is made by beating eggs and sugar into a thick, airy custard, then folding in melted chocolate and butter. This gives the filling its distinctive soft, silky texture. The rich custard is poured into a crunchy chocolate cookie crumb crust and chilled until set. When sliced, the pie has a smooth, mousse-like filling contrasted by the crisp crust.
French silk pie likely originated in the early 20th century United States. The name refers to the pie’s soft, silk-like texture. It’s often garnished with whipped cream before serving, adding even more richness. While French silk pie recipes can vary slightly, the core ingredients and method remain consistent. It’s most commonly found on American diner and restaurant dessert menus.
Nutrition Facts for French Silk Pie
To determine how much sugar is in French silk pie, we need to examine the nutrition facts, especially for sugars. As a whole pie recipe can vary, we’ll look at the nutrition for one slice or 1/8 of a 9 inch pie to get a standardized measurement.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one slice (1/8 pie) of French silk pie contains approximately:
| Calories | 330 |
| Total Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 15 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.5 g |
| Cholesterol | 115 mg |
| Sodium | 160 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 30 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Total Sugars | 27 g |
| Added Sugars | 26 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
As we can see, one slice of French silk pie contains 27 grams of total sugars. Out of this, 26 grams come from added sugars.
To put this in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams per day for men. So a single serving of French silk pie exceeds the daily added sugar limits for women and covers over 70% of the limit for men.
Clearly, this dessert packs a very high amount of added sugar into each small slice. But where exactly does all that sugar come from?
Sources of Sugar in French Silk Pie
When we look at the ingredients that go into French silk pie, two main sources of sugar stand out:
Granulated White Sugar
Table sugar, or sucrose, is the most commonly used type of sugar in baking. It comes from either sugarcane or sugar beets.
To make the custard filling, granulated white sugar is beaten together with eggs. This incorporates air into the mixture, giving it a light and fluffy texture. The sugar also helps thicken the custard as it cooks.
Most French silk pie recipes call for 1 to 1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar for the whole pie. When divided into slices, this equates to around 13-16 grams of sugar per slice just from the granulated sugar alone.
Chocolate
The chocolate used to make French silk pie also adds a significant amount of sugar. Most recipes use semi-sweet chocolate, which contains about 40-62% cacao solids along with sugar, cocoa butter, and emulsifiers like soy lecithin.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips can have up to 14 grams of sugar per ounce. For a whole 9-inch pie, the chocolate can add around 10-12 grams of sugar per slice.
Together, the granulated sugar and chocolate account for approximately 23-28 of the 27 grams of total sugars in a serving of French silk pie.
Does French Silk Pie Contain Other Sweeteners?
Aside from white sugar and chocolate, traditional French silk pie recipes do not contain other added sweeteners like corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup.
However, some modern recipes may substitute or supplement the granulated sugar with alternatives like:
– Brown sugar – Made from white sugar with molasses added back in, it provides a slightly richer flavor.
– Confectioners’ sugar – Very finely ground sugar with cornstarch added, it can be used to dust the tops of the pies.
– Honey or agave nectar – Used in small amounts for flavor, not as the main sweetener.
– Artificial sweeteners like Splenda or stevia extracts – Used to make lower sugar versions of the pie.
So when enjoying a slice of French silk pie from a restaurant or pre-made brand, be sure to check the ingredients list for added sweeteners beyond just white sugar and chocolate. This can increase the total amount of sugar per slice.
Ways to Reduce the Sugar in French Silk Pie
Because traditional French silk pie contains so much added sugar, some people may wish to enjoy it in moderation or make adjustments to reduce the sugar content. Here are a few ideas:
– Use less sugar in the filling – Cut back the granulated sugar by 1/4 to 1/3 cup. This reduces sweetness while maintaining texture.
– Choose lower sugar chocolate – Opt for chocolate with around 50% cacao content rather than semi-sweet varieties.
– Add more eggs – Additional eggs can offset some sugar and make the filling richer.
– Boost flavor with extracts – A little vanilla, almond, or mint extract enhances flavor with less need for sugar.
– Use an alternative sweetener – Replace 25-50% of the sugar with erythritol, monk fruit sweetener, or stevia blend.
– Serve smaller slices – A petite slice rather than a large wedge reduces overall sugar intake.
– Offer fresh fruit alongside – The tartness balances out the sweetness of the pie.
With some minor adjustments, French silk pie can be enjoyed on occasion as part of a balanced diet, even with its high sugar content. But it’s best reserved as an infrequent treat due to its low nutritional value beyond empty calories and added sugar.
French Silk Pie Sugar Content FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the sugar content of French silk pie:
Is French silk pie healthy?
No, French silk pie would not be considered a healthy dessert due to its high amount of added sugar, saturated fat, and low fiber and protein. However, it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy eating pattern.
Does French silk pie have as much sugar as other pies?
French silk pie has a higher sugar content per slice compared to many fruit pies like apple or blueberry. However, other decadent dessert pies like pecan pie contain a similar amount of added sugar.
Can diabetics eat French silk pie?
People with diabetes need to closely monitor carbohydrate and sugar intake. A small sliver of French silk pie may be suitable on occasion paired with protein and fiber. But the American Diabetes Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 36 grams per day for men and 25 grams per day for women.
Is the sugar in French silk pie natural or added?
Nearly all the sugar in French silk pie comes from added sweeteners like granulated sugar and chocolate, not natural milk sugars or fruit sugars. Only 1 gram of the 27 grams of total sugars is not from added sources.
Does French silk pie taste overly sweet?
French silk pie is certainly very sweet, but the chocolate flavor and creamy texture help balance out the sweetness. So while high in sugar, it may not taste cloyingly sweet due to other flavor and texture elements.
Conclusion
French silk pie’s silky smooth, chocolate-laced custard filling may seem decadent. But a closer look at the nutrition facts reveals just how much added sugar goes into each bite of this classic dessert. With 26 grams of added sugar, one slice exceeds the maximum daily recommended limits for women and provides over 70% of the limit for men. This high sugar content comes primarily from the 1 to 1 1/4 cups of granulated white sugar and semi-sweet chocolate used to make the pie filling. Though certainly delicious, French silk pie is best enjoyed only occasionally as a treat rather than a regular dessert due to its low nutritional value beyond sugar and fat. But there are ways to tweak the recipe, such as using less sugar, more eggs, or lower sugar chocolate, to make this dessert work within a balanced diet. When just a small taste is needed, a miniature slice paired with fresh fruit can let you enjoy the silkiness and flavor while keeping sugar in check.