Chess pie is a southern delight that your guests will gobble up in a matter of seconds. It's custardy, sugary creation of perfection ideal for any get together. Try out the below recipe today!
Specialty Equipment List
- Pie Dish 9-10 inch
- Rolling Pin or Wine bottle
- Paring Knife
- Pastry Brush
Homemade Pie Crust Dough
If you don't have time for homemade crust, the recipe works just as well with pre-made pie doughs or shells.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour 2 1/2 cups
- Sugar, granulated 2 teaspoons
- Salt 1/4 teaspoon
- Butter, unsalted 1/2 cup
- Shortening 1/2 cup
- Icy water 4 - 6 tablespoons
1. The most important step is starting with extremely cold butter and shortening, soooo freeze that fat first!
2. Then once solid and chilly cut both fats into small 1-2 cm cubes and return to the freezer.
3. Now place the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix till well combined.
4. Next, get your dry mix and place it on a clean work surface.
5. Then grab the cold fats from the freezer and cut the fat into the flour with a bench scraper.
6. Once mixed it should look like a crumbly dough now gently fold a tablespoon at a time of the icy water. Only add enough water so that the flour is almost incorporated - you don't want the dough to be sticky.
7. Once the dough is combined; divide it into two equal round discs and wrap it up in plastic wrap, place in fridge to rest for 2 hours.
8. After resting take the dough and roll it out to the desired width and length for your pie dish with a rolling pin or wine bottle. Use a pairing knife to remove the excess edges around the dish or screw the knife and fold the excess under the crust to create a thicker crust edge. (Waste not want not)
9. Now you have a fabulous pie crust to fill with whatever your heart desires and brush the edges with a well-blended egg wash to ensure a golden-brown crust.
10. Preheat oven at 350 degrees and bake until golden brown. Or if you are blind/par baking set your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit and bake for 4 to 5 minute with pie weights or dry beans as the filling. (This ensures your bottom crust doesn't puff up + stays flat while baking) Once complete, let the pie shell cool before filling.
Egg Wash Ingredients
- Milk 1 tablespoon
- Egg 1 ea
1. Place ingredients in a bowl and whisk them vigorously until well combined and is a fluid consistency. (I prefer to use my emersion blender to reach a perfect consistency)
2. Dip a pastry brush in the wash and paint the edges of the pie crust. Make sure not to put too much or it can burn.
Chess Pie Ingredients
- Sugar, granulated 2 cups
- Cornmeal 2 tablespoons
- All-purpose flour 1 tablespoon
- Salt 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Butter, unsalted melted 1/2 cup
- Milk 1/4 cup
- White vinegar 1 tablespoon
- Vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon
- Eggs, large 3 each
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine everything in a bowl except the eggs, mix until well blended.
3. Next, add eggs in the mixture then pour filling into par-baked pie crust. (See the pie dough recipe for blind baking pie crust instructions)
4. Apply egg wash with a pastry brush.
5. Bake pie on the center rack of the oven for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 1 hour.
7. Garnish with powdered sugar and edible flowers of choice.
8. Then nom nom nom 😋