Chess pie is a classic Southern pie that makes a sweet ending to any meal. My version contains white and brown sugar, plenty of salt to offset the sweetness, vanilla for lots of mellow flavor, and buttermilk and vinegar for a hint of tang that makes it hard to stop eating.
85gramsdark brown sugar3 oz or about 1/3 cup packed
1teaspoonkosher saltI use Morton's
34gramsfine cornmeal1.2 oz or 3 Tablespoons
several gratings fresh nutmegfor the top of the pie
Instructions
Heat oven to 350F and set your rack in the center of the oven.
Melt butter, either in the microwave or over medium-low heat on the stove. Set aside.
Whisk the eggs together. Set aside.
Combine the vanilla, vinegar, and buttermilk in a measuring cup.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cornmeal.
Whisk in the melted butter until well combined.
Whisk in the buttermilk mixture followed by the egg mixture.
Pour into a par-baked pie shell (I use pate brisee)
Grate some fresh nutmeg over the top of the pie.
Bake until only the center jiggles somewhat when you shake the pie, about 45-50 minutes.
Tent with foil for the last few minutes if the crust is browning too much.
Remove pie from oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack until barely warm.
Serve warm, and store leftover pie in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Variations
Classic variations of chess pie include lemon, where you just substitute lemon juice for vinegar and add some lemon zest, and chocolate.There are a few schools of thought on making a chocolate chess pie. My thoughts are that it should be as chocolatey as possible, so the only dairy in mine is butter.Some recipes call for evaporated milk, but I don't want a milk chocolate pie, thanks.
CHESS PIE Q & A
Is this pie gluten-free? As written, the filling is gluten free. Check ingredients to make sure, and of course use a gluten-free pie crust.
What if I don’t have cornmeal? Substitute all-purpose flour. If gluten-free and using a blend containing rice flour, let the batter sit for 30 minutes before baking so the rice flour can hydrate.
How long will a chess pie last in the fridge? Eat within 3 days, keeping leftovers well-covered in the fridge. Reheat or at least bring to room temperature before eating.