Description
A classic Southern American dessert, Lemon Chess Pie offers a rich, tangy filling made with fresh lemon juice, buttermilk, and a buttery custard baked in a flaky unbaked pie crust. This old-fashioned pie features a lightly crisp top and a smooth, luscious texture that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 unbaked 9 inch pie crust
Filling
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the pie.
- Prepare the crust: Place the unbaked 9-inch pie crust into a pie plate, then crimp the edges as desired to form the pie shell.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cornmeal, all-purpose flour, and salt until well combined.
- Add eggs: Crack in the eggs and whisk the mixture until smooth and uniform in texture.
- Incorporate wet ingredients: Stir in the melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Mix until the filling is fully combined and silky smooth.
- Fill the crust: Pour the lemon filling mixture evenly into the prepared pie crust, spreading it out gently.
- Bake the pie: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The center should be set with a slight jiggle and the top should be lightly golden. If the crust edges brown too quickly, cover them loosely with foil.
- Cool completely: Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool fully on a wire rack before slicing and serving, allowing the filling to firm up.
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh lemon zest for the best bright, fresh flavor.
- If the crust edges brown too quickly during baking, cover them loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- The lightly crisp top layer on the pie is traditional and expected for chess pie.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
