Classic Lemon Chess Pie
A bright, tangy twist on the traditional Southern chess pie. This custard-based dessert has a silky smooth filling with a beautiful golden top and intense lemon flavor that'll make your taste buds sing.
Prep Time
20m
Cook Time
50m
Servings
8
Difficulty
Medium
Nutrition Per Serving
fat
19
carbs
52
fiber
1
protein
6
Share This Recipe
Watch How to Make It
Video coming soon! Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Ingredients
Shop- 1 refrigerated pie crust (or homemade)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup melted butter, cooled slightly
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream for serving
- Fresh lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roll out pie crust and fit into a 9-inch pie pan. Trim edges and crimp decoratively. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
In another bowl, beat eggs lightly. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
Pour filling into chilled pie crust. The filling will be quite liquid - that's normal!
Place pie on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake 45-50 minutes. The center should still jiggle slightly when gently shaken - it will set as it cools.
If edges brown too quickly, cover them with foil or a pie shield.
Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack (at least 3 hours). The pie will continue to set as it cools.
Once cooled, refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight for best slicing.
Serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream and thin lemon slices.
Store covered in refrigerator up to 3 days.
Chef's Comfy Tip
The secret to chess pie is patience - don't overbake it! The center should still have a slight jiggle when you take it out. As it cools, that custardy center will set perfectly. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor - bottled just doesn't compare. This pie is even better the next day after the flavors have melded together in the fridge!
Recipe FAQs
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Never Miss a Recipe!
Get Southern comfort food recipes delivered to your inbox weekly. Plus exclusive tips from our test kitchen!
Join 50,000+ home cooks!
Comments (0)
Please sign in to leave a comment