Southern Chess Pie - The Keep At House 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 simple to make. This recipe requires a pie crust and just some 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 can 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 high supplies the proper end.
Tremendous easy to make in order that anybody from newcomers to pie professionals 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 good, indulgent, and downright scrumptious! The filling is just like custard, however the cornmeal provides it extra texture than custard. The sugar caramelizes on high of the pie because it bakes, making it even yummier. A very good comparability is the flavour of pecan pie should you 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 easy methods to make a pie crust, however haven’t any concern! Now we have our Fool Proof Pie Crust recipe that we swear by. In case you’re in a pinch, you need to use a store-bought pie crust, however simply make sure 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 essential to the standard taste and texture of chess pie.
Milk: Entire milk works finest, however you’ll be able to 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 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 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 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 become “chess pie” relatively 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.

Forestall Cracking

In case you transfer this pie out of the oven too quick, you’ll be able to danger cracking the highest! One method to stop 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 Recommendations

You possibly can at all times serve slices of chess pie plain, however it’s also possible to gown them up with slightly one thing further. Giving the pie a dusting of powdered sugar on high is the best method 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’ll be able to high with recent berries or add slightly orange or lemon zest on high.

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 lined 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. Generally it helps to have a visible, and we’ve at all times acquired you lined with our cooking present. You will discover the entire assortment of recipes on YouTube, our Facebook Page, or proper right here on our web site with their corresponding recipes.

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