Classic Chess Pie Recipes

CLASSIC CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crust: Whisk together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Remove the butter from the freezer and work it into the dough by hand, working quickly to keep the butter as cold as possible. (Cold butter flakes are the secret to a flaky crust.) Be sure to leave pea-size butter flecks visible. Slowly pour the ice water into flour mixture. Using your hands, mix until a dough starts to form. Be careful not to overmix. It should appear shaggy but cohesive.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch-thick circle, 12 inches in diameter. Transfer the dough round to a 9-inch pie dish. Press the dough down into the dish. Tuck any overhanging dough back under the rim, using your hands to create a thick outer edge. Use a fork to crimp the edges or your hands to pinch for a more professional look. Place in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer. Using a toothpick or a fork, poke holes in the bottom of the crust. Line the crust with parchment paper and fill the raw pie shell with pie weights or dried beans. Blind bake for 15 to 20 minutes until it begins to lightly brown. Remove from the oven and remove the parchment and pie weights.
• Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Brush the edges of the crust with the egg wash. Return to the oven and bake until light golden, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before filling. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Whisk together the melted butter, sugar and eggs in a large bowl. Once combined, stir in the buttermilk, cornmeal, vanilla and salt. Pour the custard into the cooled pie crust. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, checking the pie after 30 minutes and tenting the crust with foil if it is browning too quickly. When the pie is ready, a skewer inserted into the center should come out clean and it should reach an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.
• Cool on a wire rack for 3 to 4 hours. If cut while too warm, the filling will not be set. Once cooled, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, cut into slices and serve.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar and vanilla together. Mix in the eggs, then stir in the cornmeal, evaporated milk and vinegar until smooth.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 40 minutes. Let cool. Cut and top servings with whipped cream. You will think you have died and gone to heaven.

CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt; cut in butter and shortening until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape dough into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., On a floured surface, roll dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Trim and flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights. Bake on a lower oven rack until light golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 3-6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 325°., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, melted chocolate, milk, flour and vanilla. Gradually whisk in butter. Pour into crust. Cover edge with foil to prevent overbrowning., Bake at 325° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Remove foil. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate, covered, for 3 hours or until chilled.

CLASSIC CHESS PIE

Steps:

• By hand, beat eggs slightly.
• Add sugar, flour and meal.
• Add in the milk, butter, vanilla and vinegar.
• Pour into an unbaked pie shell.
• Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees, then at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.