Indulge in this easy southern recipe, old fashioned Chess Pie. We love this simple recipe you can have homemade in no time at all. The best pie for holidays and family get togethers.
Southern Living always features a version of this pie during the holiday season like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's packed with flavor and kids and adults love this easy pie.
Made without evaporated milk, the main ingredients to this pie are eggs, milk, sugar, and butter. Combine in a pie crust you get the perfect taste that Paula Deen herself approves of. We love topping each slice with a pile of fresh berries and topped with a dollop of whipped topping. It brings this pie to the next level.
Pie season is our favorite season, especially if they are quick and easy pies. Check out our simple Water Pie for a more basic version of this pie. Or try our fan favorite cream pies like classic Banana Cream pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Buttermilk Pie, or Chocolate Pie.
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History
The history of chess pie is rooted in Southern culinary tradition, and its origins are somewhat debated. One theory suggests that the name "chess" is from the English word "cheese," pointing to the pie's use of dairy.
Another theory suggests that the name comes from "just pie," as in "this is just pie." Either way this is a staple in Southern kitchens during times when resources were scarce. Its simple ingredients—sugar, eggs, butter, and often buttermilk or vinegar—created a rich, custard-like filling that was both flavorful and economical.
Over the years, chess pie has become a beloved dessert, embraced for its decadent taste and historical significance as a testament to the ingenuity of Southern cooks.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy- This pie is so easy but yet creates a delicious result. You can easily add this to your list of holiday pies knowing you'll create a tasty pie that doesn't take too much time.
- Simple but delicious- The ingredients used in this pie are so simple. It consists of pantry staples people typically have at home And, it's delicious.
- Kid Friendly- Kids and adults both love this pie. It has a simple taste that kids can love.
- Great for the Holidays- This pie is great for Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, and family get together.
- Gluten Free-Make this a gluten free option by using a gluten free crust and a gluten free all purpose flour.
Chess pie vs Buttermilk pie
Chess pie and buttermilk pie, both iconic Southern desserts, exhibit subtle distinctions in their compositions and flavors. While both feature a custard-like filling, chess pie traditionally incorporates sugar, eggs, butter, and a tangy component like vinegar or buttermilk, resulting in a rich, sweet-tart profile.
Buttermilk pie centers around a blend of buttermilk, sugar, eggs, and flour or cornmeal, offering a smoother and creamier texture with a balanced tanginess. These ingredients contribute to unique taste experiences, making each pie a cherished symbol of Southern culinary heritage.
Ingredients
- Pie crust- You can use a store bought pie crust or homemade pie crust. Whatever your preference is, or what you have time for.
- Sugar- To get that sweet custard taste, you will want to use white granulated sugar.
- Unsalted butter- For best results you will want to use unsalted butter. If you use salted it will work great, but you may want to adjust the added salt.
- Eggs- Set the eggs out before starting the recipe. You will have best results if they are at room temperature.
- Whole milk- For best results use whole milk. You may have varied results if you use other milk.
- Lemon juice- Fresh or bottled lemon juice can be used for this recipe.
- Vanilla- Use pure vanilla extract, or imitation vanilla to bring all of the flavors together.
- Cornmeal- Cornmeal gives the signature texture you are looking for.
- All purpose flour- To help thicken and create that custard all purpose flour is needed. You can use gluten free flour to make this gluten free but make sure to use gluten free all purpose flour.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Whisk the melted butter and sugar together until smooth.
2. Add one egg at a time to the butter mixture until a smooth mixture forms.
3. Whisk in the flour and remaining ingredients.
4. Pour the batter into a prepared pie crust.
5. Bake for 45 minutes at 350* F. It will brown and puff up but will settle when cooling.
Hint: It's best to use room temperature eggs. They rise easier than eggs straight from the refrigerator.
Substitutions and Variations
- Dairy Free- Make this dairy free by using a milk alternative. Oat milk is a great alternative.
- Gluten Free- To make this a gluten free pie, use a gluten free crust and gluten free all purpose flour for the batter.
- Without Evaporated Milk- This is a recipe that doesn't use evaporated milk. If you want to use evaporated milk use ¼ cup and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar.
- Chocolate- For a chocolate version, add ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder when mixing in the flour.
- Lemon- For a lemon chess pie, add ⅓ cup lemon juice. It taste a lot like a lemon bar.
- Buttermilk- substitute the milk for buttermilk at a 1:1 ratio.
- With Berries- Serve topped with berries and whipped topping.
Helpful Hints
Take the time to add the eggs one at a time and mix well between each addition. This will provide the best texture.
Make sure to let it set it up by cooling all the way to room temperature before serving.
This can either be slightly reheated to make it warm, served at room temperature, or served cold.
How to Serve
This tasty pie is great on its own but level it up by adding some fresh berries, like cut strawberries and raspberries, and a spoonful of whipped topping. It really adds to the flavor profile.
Serve at any holiday function like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. It's a great traditional southern pie with a great custard texture. Your guest will love trying this pie, it will become a new favorite.
Equipment
This easy chess pie uses minimal equipment. For best results use a mixing bowl and a 9 inch pie pan.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator. It won't go bad for at least 5 days, but we recommend eating within 2 days for the best texture.
This pie does not freeze well.
Top tip
This pie is really yummy and has a fabulous texture, but we felt like we could take it up another level. We topped it with fresh whipped cream and fresh raspberries and it took it from yummy to mouth-watering fabulous.
FAQ
Chess pie is a Southern dessert renowned for its simple yet decadent charm. A custard-based pie, it typically comprises staple ingredients like sugar, butter, eggs, and a touch of vinegar or citrus juice, resulting in a velvety filling with a subtly sweet and tangy flavor profile.
A chess pie is a classic Southern dessert characterized by its rich, custard-like filling made from ingredients like sugar, butter, eggs, and a touch of vinegar or citrus juice. Often in a flaky pie crust.
To make Chess pie, blend sugar, butter, eggs, and a splash of vinegar or citrus juice until smooth. Pour the mixture into a pie crust and bake until set, resulting in a velvety, slightly tangy custard filling that's a hallmark of Southern comfort desserts.
A delicious, flavorful custard. The cornmeal gives it a beautiful texture combine with the caramelized sugar on top.
Chess pie is made of a delectable blend of basic ingredients including sugar, butter, eggs, and a touch of vinegar or citrus juice. These simple components come together to create a creamy, slightly tangy filling that's encased in a flaky pie crust, epitomizing the heartwarming flavors of Southern baking.
Chess pie features a velvety filling composed of staple ingredients like sugar, butter, eggs, and a hint of vinegar or citrus juice, creating a harmonious balance of sweet and tangy flavors. This delightful mixture is in a flaky pie crust, embodying the essence of Southern comfort desserts.
The origin of the name "Chess Pie" remains uncertain, with theories suggesting it might be a corruption of "cheese pie" due to its dairy-based ingredients, or derived from "chess" as an old term of endearment. Regardless of its etymology, Chess Pie has become a beloved Southern dessert cherished for its simple, comforting flavors and rich history.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chess Pie:
Recipe
Chess Pie
Equipment
- Pie Pan 9 inch
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust homemade or store bought
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
- 2 Tablespoons cornmeal
- 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt (⅛ teaspoon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Whisk the melted butter and sugar together on medium speed until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add milk, lemon juice and vanilla then whisk until combined. Stir in the cornmeal, flour and salt just until combined.
- Line a 9" pie plate with a pie crust then poke holes in the bottom with a fork. Pour in the filling and bake for 45-50 minutes. The edges should be set and the middle will be a little wobbly still. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature before serving. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Notes
- We ate ours with whipped cream and fresh raspberries and it was DIVINE!
- Store in the refrigerator. It won't go bad for at least 5 days, but we recommend eating within 2 days for the best texture.
Andrea
Yum I've always wanted to a make an easy Chess Pie ever since I saw it in a Southern Living magazine. This did not disappoint, it's so good!