Description
Southern Chess Pie is a custard dessert made from simple ingredients like eggs, butter, sugar, cornmeal, and milk.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Filling:
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons fine-ground yellow cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the Crust:
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature. Pre-bake pie crust for 10-12 minutes with pie weights, then remove weights and bake 2-3 more minutes until lightly golden.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs until well beaten. Gradually add sugar, whisking continuously until smooth.
- Whisk together cornmeal, flour, and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add this mixture to the egg-sugar base, whisking constantly.
- Slowly add melted butter while whisking vigorously. Add milk and vanilla extract, whisking until combined.
- Pour the custard mixture into the pre-baked crust, filling to about ¾ full. Gently tap the pan to release air bubbles.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until the center jiggles slightly. The internal temperature should reach 160°F.
- Allow pie to cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours before slicing.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for best results.
- Cool the pie completely to set the custard properly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg