Simple Classic Chess Pie Recipes

OLD FASHIONED CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400.
• Line a 9 inch pie plate with crust and crimp the edges. (Or if using the frozen pie crust that is already in a pie pan - just thaw).
• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and almond - mix well using a whisk.
• Melt the butter in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl and allow to cool.
• If adding the butter while still hot - then temper the egg mix by pouring a small amount of the butter into the egg mix while whisking. Whisk for a minute and then add more. Whisk again and keep repeating until fully incorporated.
• Place the pie on the middle rack in the oven at 400 and bake for 10 minutes then lower the heat to 350 and bake for another 30 - 35 minutes.
• The pie is done when golden brown on top and when the pie wiggles only a little when you bump it from the side of the pan.
• Place the pie on a cooling rack and allow it to completely cool before serving.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the flour and cornmeal.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. When the egg mixture is well beaten add the milk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest beat until smooth.
• Add pie crust to 9'' pie plate and crimp the edges. Pour in filling.
• Bake at 350 degreed F for 55-60 minutes. Check the pie after 30 minutes and place a piece of aluminum foil on top to keep it from getting too brown. (I spray the foil with a non-stick spray to keep it from sticking to the top of the pie.)
• Allow to cool for one hour before serving.

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.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the piecrust into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate (no more than 1 ¼" deep). Tuck the edges under and crimp as desired. Freeze for 20 minutes. Prick the bottom of the crust 8-10 times, all over, with a fork.
• Line the frozen piecrust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes just until the edges of the crust are dry. Carefully remove the paper with weights. Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes until the bottom of the crust is dry and the edges just start to turn light brown. Let cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
• Place the melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk in the eggs, then the cornmeal and flour. Add the milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract and pinch of salt and mix to combine.
• Carefully pour the filling into the crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the edges and center of pie are set completely. (Tent the pie with foil towards the end if either the crust or surface of the pie look darker than golden brown). Let the pie cool completely, about 2 hours. Garnish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.

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.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425° F.
• Unroll pie crust in ungreased 9-inch pie plate; press firmly against side and bottom. Fold over excess dough along edges, and pinch to seal; flute edges or press down with fork.
• Place sheet of cooking parchment paper on top of pie crust; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust 5 minutes, then remove parchment paper and beans. Bake another 2 to 3 minutes or until crust is just set and golden brown. Set aside to cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir granulated sugar, cornmeal, flour, salt, melted butter, milk, vinegar and vanilla until well combined. In small bowl, beat eggs slightly, then add to sugar mixture; stir until well combined.
• Pour filling into pie crust. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until filling is set and top of pie is deep golden brown. If crust edges brown too quickly during baking, cover edges with foil.
• Cool pie about 1 hour or until completely cooled on cooling rack before cutting. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.