Buttermilk Chess Pie — Simple, Sweet, and Southern

There’s something comforting about the simplicity of an old-fashioned pie. This one, baked as a thank-you for our FedEx driver, quickly earned a place among our family favorites. It’s buttery, sweet, and smooth — the kind of dessert that tastes like home.

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📜 Ingredients

(Makes one 9-inch pie)

• 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons fine cornmeal (optional for a touch of tradition)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   Place your unbaked crust in a 9-inch pie dish and crimp the edges.
2. Mix dry ingredients.
   In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, cornmeal, flour, and salt.
3. Add butter and eggs.
   Stir in melted butter until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each.
4. Finish the filling.
   Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla. The mixture will be thin — that’s normal for chess pie.
5. Pour and bake.
   Pour filling into the crust. Bake 45–55 minutes, or until the center is just set and the top is golden with a delicate sugary crust.
   (If the crust browns too quickly, cover edges loosely with foil.)
6. Cool completely.
   Let the pie rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours before slicing. It continues to set as it cools.

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🍴 Serving & Storage

Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Store covered in the fridge up to 4 days.

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💡 Notes & Variations

• No brown sugar? Use 1½ cups raw sugar (or 2¾ cups if doubling the recipe) and add a teaspoon of molasses for deeper flavor.
• Lemon Chess Pie: Add zest and juice of one lemon.
• Chocolate Chess Pie: Add 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder with the dry ingredients.
• Maple Chess Pie: Swap ¼ cup sugar for maple syrup and reduce buttermilk slightly.

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❤️ From Our Kitchen

This pie started as a simple thank-you — a small way to show appreciation to someone who carries heavy boxes to our door year-round. But after one bite, Tim and I decided it won’t just be a thank-you pie anymore. It’s officially part of our family favorites list.