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Buttermilk Chess Pie Slice of buttermilk chess pie topped with whipped cream and served with raspberries and blueberries on a white plate.

Buttermilk Chess Pie

A comforting Southern Buttermilk Chess Pie with a silky custard center and a lightly crisp top that tastes like pure nostalgia.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert, Holiday Baking
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: buttermilk chess pie, classic pie, custard pie, southern dessert
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 369kcal
Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • 1 9- inch unbaked pie shell store-bought or homemade, chilled
  • 4 large eggs room temperature for smoother filling
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal finely ground for classic texture
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour used to help the custard set
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure vanilla recommended
  • ¼ cup buttermilk full-fat for richness
  • ⅓ cup butter melted (slightly cooled before mixing)
  • ¼ –½ teaspoon ground nutmeg adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar adds brightness and balance
  • 1 –1 ½ cups granulated sugar use less or more depending on sweetness preference

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  • Place parchment paper inside the pie shell and fill it with dried beans or pie weights to keep the crust flat.
  • Bake the prepared crust briefly, then remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly without browning too much.
    Unbaked pie crust with crimped edges in a white ceramic pie dish on a marble surface.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cornmeal, flour, vanilla, buttermilk, melted butter, nutmeg, lemon juice, and sugar until smooth.
    Glass bowl filled with yellow pie batter, viewed from above on a light marble countertop.
  • Carefully pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake until the top is deeply golden and the center tests clean with a skewer.
    Unbaked buttermilk chess pie with smooth yellow filling in a fluted pie crust, top-down view.
  • Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Golden on top with a tender custard center, this pie is meant to be savored slowly. It’s the kind of dessert that fills the kitchen with warmth and brings everyone back for one more slice.

Nutrition

Serving: 140g | Calories: 369kcal (18%) | Carbohydrates: 53g (18%) | Protein: 5g (10%) | Fat: 16g (25%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 103mg (34%) | Sodium: 194mg (8%) | Potassium: 73mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 38g (42%) | Vitamin A: 368IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 27mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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