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Chess Pie Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 61 reviews

A classic Southern Chess Pie featuring a rich, sweet filling made with eggs, sugar, butter, and a hint of cornmeal, baked in a flaky pie crust until golden and set.

Ingredients

Scale

Pie Crust

  • 1 pie crust

Filling

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Roll out the pie crust and fit it into a 9-inch round pie dish. Trim the edges, crimp them for a decorative finish, and prick the bottom of the crust evenly with a fork to prevent bubbling. Chill the crust in the freezer for 15 minutes to set.
  2. Blind bake the crust: Line the chilled crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans to keep the crust flat while baking. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden. Carefully remove the parchment and weights, then bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let the crust cool completely while you prepare the filling.
  3. Make the filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until smooth. Add melted butter, milk, white vinegar, and vanilla extract; whisk until well combined. Stir in cornmeal, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt, mixing until fully incorporated.
  4. Bake the pie: Pour the prepared filling into the cooled pie crust. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the filling is just set in the middle with a slight jiggle. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours before serving to ensure proper set and flavor development.
  5. Serve: Just before serving, dust the top of the pie with powdered sugar for a beautiful finishing touch.

Notes

  • Using pie weights or dried beans prevents the crust from puffing up during blind baking.
  • Cooling the pie filling in the refrigerator helps it firm up for cleaner slices.
  • For a more traditional flavor, use white vinegar which reacts subtly with the baking ingredients.
  • You can substitute the milk with buttermilk for a tangier taste.
  • Allow the pie to rest at least overnight for best texture and flavor.

Keywords: Chess Pie, Southern Dessert, Classic Pie, Sweet Pie, Cornmeal Pie

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/chess-pie-recipe/