Southern Chess Pie - The Keep At Residence Chef

Southern Chess Pie is a basic dessert that brings a wealthy, gooey custard filling with a touch of caramelized goodness on high. Fortunately, this pie is tremendous straightforward to make. This recipe requires a pie crust and only a few extra components that you simply in all probability have already got readily available, so that you’ll have the ability to whip up this pie very quickly in any respect! It has such a deliciously candy and distinctive taste that everybody might be begging you for the recipe!

For easier pie recipes, attempt our Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pie or our Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie.

Why Our Recipe

The proper gooey custard filling that’s wealthy and candy with cornmeal to offer texture.
A caramelized layer on high supplies the proper end.
Tremendous easy to make in order that anybody from novices to pie execs can take pleasure in.

A slice of chess pie on a plate. A fork is resting on the plate as the first bite has been taken.

Southern chess pie is nice, indulgent, and downright scrumptious! The filling is much like custard, however the cornmeal offers it extra texture than custard. The sugar caramelizes on high of the pie because it bakes, making it even yummier. A great comparability is the flavour of pecan pie for those who simply eliminated the pecans!

Ingredient Notes

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make Chess Pie.

Pie Crust: This recipe doesn’t stroll you thru the way to make a pie crust, however don’t have any worry! Now we have our Fool Proof Pie Crust recipe that we swear by. For those who’re in a pinch, you should utilize a store-bought pie crust, however simply make certain you don’t skip the freezing step on this recipe! In any other case, your crust gained’t obtain that excellent texture because it bakes.
Cornmeal: This small quantity of cornmeal within the recipe is vital to the normal taste and texture of chess pie.
Milk: Complete milk works finest, however you possibly can at all times use 2%.
Lemon Juice: You should use bottled lemon juice for this recipe if you would like, however recent is at all times finest. The lemon juice cuts by way of the sweetness of the pie, giving it a extra advanced taste.

Recipe Origins

Chess pie has been round for a very long time—some say it originated again in England within the 18th century! It’s not clear the place precisely the identify chess pie got here from, however not one of the theories counsel that it’s named after the sport of chess. Some sources say that one baker of this pie served it saying, “It’s simply pie,” however her Southern accent made the phrase “simply” sound like “chess.”

Others say that the identify refers back to the chests that individuals used to retailer their meals in to maintain it recent, and that it was as soon as once more misunderstood and was “chess pie” fairly than “chest pie.” We’d not know why it was ever deemed chess pie, however we do know one factor—it’s nonetheless a superbly scrumptious dessert!

An overhead view of a chess pie that has been sliced for serving. The first slice has been removed from the pan.

Stop Cracking

For those who transfer this pie out of the oven too quick, you possibly can danger cracking the highest! One option to forestall pies from cracking is to position the pie dish on a cookie sheet earlier than placing it within the oven. That may make it a lot simpler to take out of the oven, and also you additionally gained’t have to fret about spills in your oven!

Serving Ideas

You may at all times serve slices of chess pie plain, however you may also gown them up with a bit of one thing further. Giving the pie a dusting of powdered sugar on high is the best option to glam it up. And, after all, pie is at all times nice served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you wish to get fancier, you possibly can high with recent berries or add a bit of orange or lemon zest on high.