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Home » Creative Recipes » Desserts » Pies / Pastries » Old Fashioned Chess Pie

Slice of chess pie on white plate with green napkin and whole pie in background.

Old Fashioned Chess Pie

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Dec 9, 2019
UPDATED: Aug 12, 2021
24 Reviews / 4.8 Average
Featured Comment
This is the perfect recipe to create dessert out of practically nothing! So easy and the sweetest most delicious outcome!
Gina
14 More Comments
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Old Fashioned Chess Pie Pin with red label
Old Fashioned Chess Pie Pin with 2 photos and red label

This Old Fashioned Chess Pie is a simple, classic, authentic Southern custard pie recipe with cornmeal that makes an absolutely delicious dessert.

Chess Pie is a simple pie made with eggs, butter, sugar, and milk that is an iconic dessert most commonly associated with the American Southern states.

Slice of chess pie on white plate with green napkin and whole pie in background.
Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • What Do I Need To Make Chess Pie
  • How To Make Chess Pie
  • How Long To Bake Chess Pie
  • Cooling The Chess Pie
  • How To Store Leftover Chess Pie
  • Pro Recipe Tips
  • Variations of Chess Pie
  • What To Serve With Chess Pie
  • How Did Chess Pie Get Its Name?
  • Why Is Chess Pie So Sweet?
  • More Southern Pie Recipes
  • Recipe
  • ⭐ Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Delicious. Sweet but not too sweet.
  • Requires only a few common Ingredients that you likely already have on hand.
  • Easy to make
  • Step By Step Photos with recipe
  • Tips For A Perfect Chess Pie Every Time
  • Authentic Southern recipe handed down from generation to generation

This recipe is an adaption of the recipe handed down to my Mother-in-Law from her Mother, who lived in rural Oklahoma during the 1930’s “dust bowl” during the Great Depression.

They actually lived through the situation that John Steinbeck’s book, Grapes of Wrath, described in Oklahoma. At that time, available ingredients were very limited.

However, for special occasions, they liked to make this simple chess pie. It was one of my Mother-in-Law’s favorite desserts growing up, and today I’m happy to be sharing it with you.

Horizontal photo of slice of Chess pie with green napkin Fall leaves and remainder of pie in the background.

What Do I Need To Make Chess Pie

Equipment

Below are tools to use to make this recipe. If you click on the affiliate links below, you can view the product on Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase the item from Amazon.com, I will receive a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

  • Stand Mixer – I like this KitchenAid model Stand Mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a hand mixer  or whisk and large mixing bowl.
  • Pie Plate

Ingredients And Substitutions

Below are the ingredients needed, as well as a few substitutions, to make Old Fashioned Chess Pie. For specific amounts of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the complete printable recipe card.

  • One 9-inch refrigerated pie crust – or a homemade pie crust.
  • Butter. You will need 1 stick of butter. Either salted or unsalted butter will work.
  • Granulated sugar. You will need between 1 cup to 2 cups of sugar. I give a range because chess pie is extremely sweet. Some people may think it is too sweet. If you have never tried Chess pie before, you may want to start with 1 cup of sugar and see if that is sweet enough for you. If not, you can always add more sugar but you can’t take it away.
  • 4 eggs. Yes, that number of eggs is correct. It is a very rich custard pie.
  • Vanilla. I recommend using pure vanilla and not imitation vanilla. If you use imitation vanilla then you may only want to use 1/2 teaspoon instead of 1 teaspoon.
  • Cornmeal. You will need 1 – 2 tablespoons of cornmeal. Yes, this pie has cornmeal in it. While the pie cooks, the cornmeal rises to the top to create a thin crust.
  • Salt.
  • Milk. I recommend using whole milk or buttermilk. I don’t recommend using low fat milk or skim milk.
  • White vinegar. You will need just 1 tablespoon white vinegar. If you don’t have white vinegar, you could use lemon juice instead.
  • Ingredient Amounts. Once again, if you are looking for the list of ingredients with the specific amounts of each listed, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card.
Ingredients For Chess Pie - Southern Dessert

How To Make Chess Pie

Below are high level instructions for the major steps of How to Make Chess Pie. However, for more detailed instructions with specific ingredient amounts, scroll down to the bottom of the article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card.

  1. Start out beating butter and sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer and mixing bowl.
  2. Add eggs, vanilla, cornmeal, milk, vinegar, and salt and mix until smooth.
  3. Pour into a prepared 9-inch pie shell.
  4. For more specific instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the article, just above the comments, to the printable recipe card.
Step-By-Step-Photos-How-To-Make-Chess-Pie-A-Southern-Dessert

How Long To Bake Chess Pie

Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for about 60 – 65 minutes.  Watch the edges of the pie crust to make sure that they don’t brown too quickly. If needed, shield the edges of the pie crust by covering them with strips of aluminum foil.

Slice of Chess Pie on White Plate with green napkin and whole pie in the background.

Cooling The Chess Pie

Let the Chess Pie cool for about 1 hour at room temperature before serving.

Vertical photo of slice of pie on white plate in front of rest of pie with black background.

How To Store Leftover Chess Pie

Cover the pie and refrigerate it until you are ready to serve again. 

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Sugar. Traditional Chess Pie is a very sweet pie. Start with 1 cup of sugar and if you need to add more, add 1/4 cup at a time to see if it meets your desired level of sweetness. The old recipe originally called for 2 cups of sugar but my family and I found that it made the pie much too sweet for us.
  • Room Temperature. Start with eggs and butter at room temperature. This will soften the butter and ensure a better filling.
  • Vanilla. Use pure vanilla and not imitation vanilla. It does make a difference. If you still decide to use imitation vanilla, then I recommend reducing the amount of vanilla to 1/2 teaspoons because imitation vanilla tends to be stronger than pure vanilla.
  • Shield Edges of Pie Crust. If the edges of the pie crust start to brown too fast, cover them with thin strips of foil to prevent them from overcooking.
  • Cooling. Don’t serve the Chess Pie immediately out of the oven. Instead, let it cool on a wire rack for about an hour, and then refrigerate the pie after that until ready to serve.

Variations of Chess Pie

  • Chocolate Chess Pie – Add 4 tablespoons cocoa powder to the pie filling.
  • Lemon Chess Pie – Add 1/4 cup lemon juice to the pie filling.
  • Coconut Chess Pie – Add 1 cup of flaked coconut to the pie filling.
  • Eggnog Chess Pie – Replace whole milk and vinegar with 1/3 cup eggnog.

What To Serve With Chess Pie

Make an entire meal by serving Old Fashioned Chess Pie as a dessert to go with these other Southern dishes.

  • Instant Pot Smothered Pork Chops
  • Instant Pot Pulled Pork
  • Instant Pot Chicken And Dumplings
  • Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and Balsamic
  • Cheesy Bacon Ranch Hash Brown Casserole

How Did Chess Pie Get Its Name?

It is not known for certain how Chess Pie got its name. Theories abound. According to the Washington Post, some say it came from a mispronunciation of “just pie” or “jes’ pie”, others say it is because it was served to gentlemen as they retreated to a room to play chess. Others say that it got its name because it would be stored in a pie chest. Another possibility is that it was because it came from chestnut flour.

Why Is Chess Pie So Sweet?

One of the reasons Chess Pie is so sweet is that hundreds of years ago, people would add sugar to milk and unsalted butter to keep them from going bad. This pie originally had 2 cups of sugar. Since that was overly sweet to us today and we don’t need to use the sugar as a preservative, I have cut back on the sugar in the recipe by 1/2 cup. It remains still very sweet but not overly sweet. Be sure to read my notes below about recommendations on adding the sugar.

More Southern Pie Recipes

  • Crustless Pumpkin Pie – This pumpkin piekeeps only the best part of the pumpkin pie, the pumpkin pie filling, and is so delicious that you won’t miss the crust.
  • German Chocolate Pecan Pie – This German Chocolate Pecan Pie combines German Chocolate Cake and Pecan Pie into one fabulous holiday dessert!
  • No Bake Banana Pudding Cream Pie – This easy No Bake Banana Pudding Cream Pie recipe is super easy to make and requires no baking!

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Recipe

Slice of chess pie on white plate with green napkin and whole pie in background.
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4.75 from 24 votes

Old Fashioned Chess Pie Recipe

This Old Fashioned Chess Pie is a simple, classic, authentic Southern custard pie recipe with cornmeal that makes an absolutely delicious dessert.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword Chess Pie, Old Fashioned Chess Pie
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cool 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 405kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

  • 1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust (or a homemade pie crust.)
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened (8-Tablespoons or 1 stick butter)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar (See note below)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • In a stand mixer, or mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together.
  • Add eggs, vanilla, cornmeal, milk, vinegar, and salt and mix until smooth.
  • Pour into a prepared 9-inch pie shell and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for about 55 – 65 minutes.  
  • Watch the edges of the pie crust to make sure that they don't brown too quickly. If needed, shield the edges of the pie crust by covering them with strips of aluminum foil.
  • After the pie has finished baking, remove it from the oven onto a wire rack and let it cool at room temperature for 1 hour.

Video

Notes

  1. I used a refrigerated pie crust for my pie.
  2. Amount of Sugar. Chess Pie is a very sweet pie by design. If you have never had chess pie before, I recommend starting out with a lower amount of sugar, like 1 cup of sugar and see if that is sweet enough for you. If not, gradually increase the sugar by 1/4 cup until you get the desired level of sweetness. You can always add more sugar, but you can’t remove sugar once it has been added.
  3. Variations of Chess Pie
    • Chocolate Chess Pie – Add 4 tablespoons cocoa powder to the pie filling.
    • Lemon Chess Pie – Add 1/4 cup lemon juice to the pie filling.
    • Coconut Chess Pie – Add 1 cup of flaked coconut to the pie filling.
    • Eggnog Chess Pie – Replace whole milk and vinegar with 1/3 cup eggnog.
  4. More Southern Pie Recipes
    • Crustless Pumpkin Pie – This pumpkin piekeeps only the best part of the pumpkin pie, the pumpkin pie filling, and is so delicious that you won’t miss the crust.
    • German Chocolate Pecan Pie – This German Chocolate Pecan Pie combines German Chocolate Cake and Pecan Pie into one fabulous holiday dessert!
    • No Bake Banana Pudding Cream Pie – This easy No Bake Banana Pudding Cream Pie recipe is super easy to make and requires no baking!

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 310mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 486IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Filed Under: Christmas, Desserts, Pies / Pastries, Southern Recipes, Thanksgiving Tagged With: butter, chess pie, Milk, old fashioned chess pie, sugar, vanilla

DISCLOSURE: Flavor Mosaic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Please note: This blog may contain affiliate links to products I use and love. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help with blog expenses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!

Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author, recipe developer, and photographer. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot recipes and Southern and Mexican cuisines.

Comments

  1. Danielle Wolter says

    August 12, 2021 at 5:54 am

    This sounds just incredible! I haven’t had chess pie in forever, def going to try this.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      August 12, 2021 at 6:32 am

      Hi Danielle, yes, it is incredible! I hope you love it.

      Reply
  2. Teodora Grujic says

    August 12, 2021 at 6:47 am

    Sounds delicious! And those variations, too! Can’t wait to try them all!

    Reply
  3. Natalie says

    August 12, 2021 at 6:54 am

    This pie is super easy! And looks delicious. I’m going to make it for my family this weekend. Can’t wait.

    Reply
  4. Gina says

    August 12, 2021 at 7:20 am

    This is the perfect recipe to create dessert out of practically nothing! So easy and the sweetest most delicious outcome!

    Reply
  5. Helen says

    August 12, 2021 at 7:49 am

    This looks delicious. My daughter loves anything custardy, so I think she’ll love this pie!

    Reply
  6. Wanda Thompson says

    October 26, 2021 at 11:55 am

    Made this pie when I was 11 years old.after school I worked for family ,getting there meal ready for dinner,an working for wife who had cancer,I grow up fast ,it was there favorite pie,,it’s been my family fav,I grew up in Tennessee,I love how it had a large crust swell up an drop to make a crust top ,yum the best,the husband an wife were great people ,she wasn’t able to get out of bed ,put when I lotion her back she taught me lots about cooking,as my mma did. I’m now 74 an still make them .Great pie♥️

    Reply
  7. Jamie says

    November 20, 2021 at 6:49 pm

    What kind of Cornmeal? White or yellow?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      November 20, 2021 at 7:09 pm

      Hi Jamie,

      Thanks for the question. I used yellow cornmeal. I updated the recipe to specify.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  8. colby says

    February 2, 2022 at 4:05 pm

    Do you recommend blind baking the pie crust?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      February 2, 2022 at 8:30 pm

      Hi Colby,

      When I made the pie, I used a store-bought refrigerated pie crust and did not blind bake it, and it turned out well. However, you certainly can blind bake the pie first if you like.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  9. Brigette says

    March 2, 2022 at 7:42 pm

    Was this a deep dish pie crust or regular? What is blind bake lol

    Reply
    • Michele says

      March 2, 2022 at 8:16 pm

      Hi Brigette,

      I used a regular pie dish. See this Wikipedia article describing blind baking a pie crust.

      Thanks,

      Michele

      Reply
  10. Joyceann Gray says

    November 26, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    Family recipe handed down

    2 chess Pie Recipe

    3 Cups of White Sugar
    6 Eggs
    1 Cup of Butter (soften)
    2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
    2 unbaked Pie Shells

    1. Combine sugar and butter until smooth
    2. Add eggs one at a time, mix well
    3. Add Vinegar and mix well
    4. Pour into pie crust.
    5. Bake at 350o F for 50 Minutes or until browned and toothpick comes out pretty dry.
    6. Let Set before cutting! Yes, you can refrigerate

    Enjoy!

    Reply
    • Joyceann Gray says

      November 26, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      I forgot to say the desired crust forms without having to use cornmeal, vanilla or salt. It is a custard without milk products.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes. Read More…

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