Southern Chess Pie is a traditional dessert that brings a wealthy, gooey custard filling with a touch of caramelized goodness on prime. Fortunately, this pie is tremendous straightforward to make. This recipe requires a pie crust and only a few extra components that you just in all probability have already got readily available, so that you’ll be capable of whip up this pie very quickly in any respect! It has such a deliciously candy and distinctive taste that everybody shall be begging you for the recipe!
For less difficult pie recipes, attempt our Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pie or our Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie.
Why Our Recipe
- The right gooey custard filling that’s wealthy and candy with cornmeal to supply texture.
- A caramelized layer on prime supplies the right end.
- Tremendous easy to make in order that anybody from inexperienced persons to pie execs can get pleasure from.
Southern chess pie is good, indulgent, and downright scrumptious! The filling is just like custard, however the cornmeal offers it extra texture than custard. The sugar caramelizes on prime of the pie because it bakes, making it even yummier. A great comparability is the flavour of pecan pie when you simply eliminated the pecans!
Ingredient Notes
- Pie Crust: This recipe doesn’t stroll you thru tips on how to make a pie crust, however don’t have any concern! Now we have our Fool Proof Pie Crust recipe that we swear by. If you happen to’re in a pinch, you need to use a store-bought pie crust, however simply ensure you don’t skip the freezing step on this recipe! In any other case, your crust received’t obtain that good 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: Entire milk works greatest, however you possibly can all the time use 2%.
- Lemon Juice: You should use bottled lemon juice for this recipe if you need, however recent is all the time greatest. The lemon juice cuts via 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 title chess pie got here from, however not one of the theories recommend 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 title 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 changed into “chess pie” slightly than “chest pie.” We would not know why it was ever deemed chess pie, however we do know one factor—it’s nonetheless a superbly scrumptious dessert!
Forestall Cracking
If you happen to transfer this pie out of the oven too quick, you possibly can danger cracking the highest! One technique to stop pies from cracking is to put the pie dish on a cookie sheet earlier than placing it within the oven. That can make it a lot simpler to take out of the oven, and also you additionally received’t have to fret about spills in your oven!
Serving Recommendations
You’ll be able to all the time serve slices of chess pie plain, however you too can gown them up with a bit of one thing additional. Giving the pie a dusting of powdered sugar on prime is the simplest technique to glam it up. And, in fact, pie is all the time nice served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you wish to get fancier, you possibly can prime with recent berries or add a bit of orange or lemon zest on prime.
Storage Directions
Retailer at room temperature by overlaying the pie loosely with plastic wrap or foil for as much as 2 days.
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container or coated with plastic wrap or foil for as much as 5 days.
Freeze particular person slices then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a resealable freezer bag. Retailer within the freezer for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than serving.
Extra scrumptious pie recipes . . .
Watch the video under the place Caytlin will stroll you thru each step of this recipe. Typically it helps to have a visible, and we’ve all the time received you coated with our cooking present. You will discover the whole assortment of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or proper right here on our web site with their corresponding recipes.