Chess Pie

Print out this chess pie recipe—it's about to become a new favorite in your home! If you've never made a chess pie before, you may be surprised to learn how simple it is to make. The filling is whisked together in one bowl and poured into a par-baked pie crust. As far as toppings? Don't overthink it! Dust the top with a little powdered sugar, or leave it completely unadorned. This is one of the easiest pie recipes and should certainly be a part of your Thanksgiving dessert spread.

What is chess pie?

There's nothing complicated about what goes into this pie. In fact, you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand! The filling is made of butter, sugar, eggs, cornmeal, flour, and milk, along with vanilla and a little tart lemon juice to balance out the sugary sweetness. The filling gets poured into a pie crust, baked, and cooled, then it's ready to enjoy.

Can you use store-bought pie crust for chess pie?

Yes, if you don't have time to make a homemade pie crust, a refrigerated store-bought crust will work perfectly for chess pie.

Is chess pie the same as pecan pie?

Nope, there are no nuts in chess pie! The two Thanksgiving pies do, however, share a similar caramelized, custardy base that's decadently rich and sweet.

What does a chess pie taste like?

Chess pie is a decadent combination of butter, sugar, eggs, and milk—and tastes as sweet and custardy as you can imagine! Cornmeal gives the filling a little bit of texture and all of the sugar in the pie bakes to a crispy, caramelized layer on top.

What is the difference between chess pie and buttermilk pie?

Both pies are very similar but have a few distinct differences. Like a chess pie, buttermilk pie starts with the same main components of butter, sugar, and eggs. But instead of milk and lemon juice (or vinegar), it uses straight buttermilk to give it a tart lusciousness. Chess pie is thickened with cornmeal (and sometimes a little bit of all-purpose flour!), whereas buttermilk pies uses only all-purpose flour. Many buttermilk recipes will play up the tartness, with added lemon juice and zest, giving it a pleasant citrus flavor.

How do you store chess pie?

Once the pie has cooled to room temperature, cover it with plastic, and refrigerate for up to five days.