Cream pie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A slice of coconut cream pie

This article is about the foodstuff. For the sexual act see creampie (sexual act).

A cream pie is a type of pie typically made of usually firmer versions of dessert-style puddings. Dessert-style cream pies can come in many varieties, and can be flavored with a multitude of ingredients, such as vanilla, peach, lime, banana, coconut, pumpkin, or chocolate.

Cream pies are often associated with clowns, who use them as a gimmick in routines. Its comedic use is identical with the custard pie in Britain. When used for show business purposes, cream pies are generally mock-up pies made from shaving cream, which resembles whipped cream on film. These have the advantage of washing off easily and not attracting flies, and are unlikely to melt under hot studio lights

Some political activists have recently adopted the cream pie as a weapon of protest, to be thrown into the face of one's unsuspecting opponent. Pieing is generally done in a very conspicuous, public manner, so that the opponent is seen (and perhaps filmed or photographed) looking ridiculous. This kind of protest is most common among college students, and although many regard the practice as silly and self-defeating, it has nevertheless caused much controversy. One team of such protesters, known as Al Pieda, operate primarily against right-wing public figures in the United States. Belgian prankster Noel Godin is famous for cream pieing Bill Gates in 1998.