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SouthernDessertEasy
🥕 Vegetarian

Classic Southern Chess Pie

A sunny, sweet cornmeal-and-vinegar custard pie with a slightly grainy filling and caramelized top — old-fashioned Southern pantry baking at its finest.

⏱ Prep 15m🔥 Cook 45m🕒 Total 60m🍽 8 servings
#southern classic#dessert
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Servings
8
Units
Oven temp

Ingredients

  • 1unbaked 9-inch pie crust
  • 1 1/2 cupsgranulated sugar
  • 1 tbspyellow cornmeal
  • 1 tbspall-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tspsalt
  • 4 largeeggs
  • 1/4 cupbuttermilk
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick)unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tbspwhite vinegar
  • 1 tspvanilla extract

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Method

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, crimp the edges, and chill while making the filling.

  2. 2

    Whisk sugar, cornmeal, flour, and salt together in a large bowl to distribute the cornmeal evenly.

  3. 3

    Whisk in the eggs one at a time, then whisk in buttermilk, melted butter, vinegar, and vanilla until smooth.

  4. 4

    Pour the filling into the chilled crust.

  5. 5

    Bake 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is just set with a slight jiggle — it will firm up as it cools.

  6. 6

    Cool completely on a wire rack, at least 3 hours, before slicing — the cornmeal is what gives the classic filling its slightly grainy texture and sunny color.

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